Every year an evangelical Christian organization known as “Jews for Jesus” (JFJ) stages “Passover” presentations at Christian churches.
The missionary group recently staged one of their annual “Christ in the Passover” productions at a Presbyterian church in Newton Massachusetts this month, reported the Watertown Tab.
Another such event will take place tonight at a Mennonite church in Albany, reports the Democrat-Herald.
Reportedly “ancient and modern Jewish customs will be discussed and described.”
JFJ claims it has done such presentations at more than 5,000 churches to date.
However, these presentations actually distort and/or negate the meaning and real significance of “ancient and modern Jewish customs.”
Perhaps more importantly JFJ may damage inter-faith understanding between those Christians they influence and the authentic Jewish community.
JFJ, which was founded by a Baptist minister, also specifically targets Jews for special missionary consideration. But Baptist evangelist Billy Graham has denounced such efforts.
Obviously, if Christian churches wish to truly understand the historical meaning of Passover and the actual religious significance of that traditional family dinner observed annually by Jews, they should contact a local synagogue and/or the organized the Jewish community.
Likewise, when Jews wish to better understand Christian observances such as Easter, they should contact Protestant or Catholic clergy and/or churches as a resource.
Meaningful inter-faith understanding is not accomplished by misrepresenting and/or distorting another faith’s beliefs, practices or actual history.
JFJ itself has a deeply troubled history, which includes complaints about excessively confrontational evangelism and allegations of abuse made by former members. Jews have described the organization as essentially “anti-Semitic.”
Though JFJ may benefit through fund-raising opportunities made possible by such Passover events, it seems that the misleading information and subsequent false understanding often left behind might actually damage the churches involved and their members.
Organizations like JFJ come and go through communities, moving on to their next program somewhere else.
But churches, synagogues and their members remain behind and must live together.
Shouldn’t living together be based upon mutual respect and understanding achieved through meaningful dialog and education?
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