Rebuttal #5 to Reason #5

Thank you for allowing a short break in the action of responding to Asher Norman’s Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus.  I hope you were both inspired to do and reminded about the urgency of Jewish evangelism.  Now on to Rebuttal #5 …

Norman makes a critical mistake of beginning hermeneutics.  He fails to look at context, he fails to discover background, and he fails to view the entire panorama of Scripture as a collective whole and not simply individual parts.

Norman again confuses the meaning of “fulfilled” and perhaps does it suit his own purposes (for a clear Biblical Greek explanation of fulfilled see Rebuttal #4 to Reason #4).  By confusing the issue and the Greek denotative language, the 26 Reasons author is successful at deflecting the issue at hand — the reality of the Messiahship of Jesus!

In Reason #5, Norman does this by attempting to play Pauline theology against the teachings of Jesus.  He is not the first to try this, will not be the last, but his efforts are to recognized for what they are … specious argumentation.

First, the writer attempts to deny that Jesus claimed to be Messiah through the use of one verse — Matthew 19:16-17.  What Jesus was attempting to do was to create a rhetorical argument with the rich young ruler to state that no one is God but God and that Jesus himself is good.  Look at the context — the young man approaches Jesus about what to do to achieve eternal life and Jesus’ ultimate answer to him was to “follow me” (verse 21).  If this is not a clear assessment of Jesus’ understanding of Himself, I don’t know what else could it be.  In addition, John 8:58; 10:30-31; 14:6 seem to indicate that not only did Jesus know who He was but also the Jewish people also knew what He was saying.

Second, and do not read me wrong on this issue, I was bemused by Norman’s “kosher” arguments.  There is nothing wrong with being Kosher but to argue that it is a condition for the elevation of the soul becomes awkward when one realizes that Abraham was not always kosher himself (Genesis 18:8).

Finally, the writer of 26 Reasons claims that Jesus was contradicting Torah based upon his views of divorce (Matthew 19).  First, Norman ignores the fact that Jesus was responding as a rabbi to a rabbinical question.  Second, the people were attempting to get a response based upon the debate between Shammai and Hillel.  Third, Jesus’ response was not only a common one but also an expected one and one that continues to this day in the Talmud itself.  Issues are debated between rabbis and evaluations are given as to what is the true and ultimate meaning of the Torah … and this is what Jesus did!  And His answer was correct since after all He is the Messiah, the fulfillment of Torah, and God himself.

Shocking Statistics (Short-Time Break from Rebuttal Series)

I am taking a SHORT-time break (CHANGED THIS TO REFLECT MY FRIEND CHRIS’ OBSERVATION THAT THIS IS PROBABLY HYPERBOLE!) in the rebuttal series of 26 Reasons to answer a question.  People have asked me why I have devoted my life (and some say that I will shorten my life due to the pressures, lack of sleep, and physical/emotional/spiritual toll) to Jewish evangelism and missions?  I tell them truthfully that I have no choice.  This is my calling from Messiah Jesus and to do anything else is to be outside of His will … and nothing terrifies me more.

So I thought I would share some numbers with you that remind me, and hopefully will energize you, why Jewish evangelism is so important.

Estimates are that …

• One every four minutes
• 16 every hour
• 388 every day
• 2,718 every week
• 11,649 every month
• 141,741 every year

of God’s Chosen People die without hope, without Jesus, without an eternity with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

YET, AND DESPITE BIBLICAL MANDATES, THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED OR UNDERVALUED WHEN IT COMES TO PLANS FOR WORLD-WIDE EVANGELISM.  WHY?  I DON’T KNOW!  IF I DID PERHAPS I WOULD GET MORE SLEEP AT NIGHT.

If that was not enough to wake us up, here are some numbers from the Pew Forum’s last study on religion in America which included a snapshot of American Jewry:

• Only 41% are certain that God exists.  22% either do not believe in God at all or are not certain that God exists.
• 69% considered religion to only be somewhat important or not important at all.
• Only 16% go to synagogue either once a week or more than once a week.
• 44% would describe their prayer life as seldom or not at all.
• 53% believe that the Tanakh (Old Testament) was written by men and not God and another 27% believe that it was written by God do not believe it to be inerrant and/or literal.

So now you know why I have to respond to every fallacy, every misinterpretation or misunderstanding, and every mistake regarding Jewish evangelism.  Their eternal souls are at stake and someone must tell them Jesus is their Messiah.  He is the only way (John 14:6).

Rebuttal #4 to Reason #4

After a while it becomes frustrating to respond to all 26 Reasons opined by Asher Norman.  Frustration begins to set in and there is a desire to go onto other topics and leave reasons 4-26 unanswered.  However, this cannot be done as it is imperative to the Jewish soul that these reasons be rebutted and the truth of Jesus’ Messiahship be revealed to all who are seeking the truth of the Jewish Messiah.

Perhaps this is the point of Norman’s book.  If one can be distracted by the tedium of hyperbole and minutae than perhaps one will go away.  I have no doubt that the writer of 26 Reasons is a talented attorney as he is very gifted at spin, double-talk and ad hominem arguments (please no lawyer jokes!!!).  However, the souls of God’s Chosen Ones give me the strength to persevere and to bring light to the fallacious arguments of the writer.  So let’s go on to Rebuttal #4.

The purpose of Reason #4 is to claim that believe in Jesus diminishes the truth of the Torah.  Nothing could be further from the truth which Norman would realize if his Christian source material was more than from (and this is a paraphrase of his own words) the Christian liberal theological perspective (p. xx).

Norman attempts to state once again that Matthew 5:17-20 is a Christian claim that Jesus obliterated the Law.  He uses his own connotative definition of “fulfilled” to assert that we who believe in Jesus believe the Torah has diminished or terminated.  And this is his primary problem of argument, he attempts to define “fulfilled” to set his own agenda.  I teach speech at a local college (Arlington Baptist College) and one of the instructions I give to my class when they are preparing to debate for the first time is to try to force the opponent to debate the topic from your terms and not theirs.  For if you can, you will win 99% of the time. 

However, I am not going to allow the writer of 26 Reasons to define fulfilled for me or for the Jewish people who need to hear the truth of Jesus.  I would like to propose some alternate definitions which are more in keeping with Jesus’ intent (in other words from the original biblical language). The fulfilled of Matthew 5:17 (plerosai) in the Greek is a Aorist Active Infinitive of Purpose which should seen in connection to “I have come not to destroy but to fulfill.”  This is a parallel of emphasis which shows that Jesus was not about destruction but about bringing it to a full expression of its meaning.  Ultimately Matthew 5:17 should be understood that Jesus is all about Torah because Torah is all about Him.  Paul reinforces the believer in Jesus’ honor of Torah (and all the Tanakh) in 2 Timothy 3:15-17.  Peter states this truth in 2 Peter 1:20-21 as well.  Therefore, Norman is correct when he cites Psalm 19:8-10 about the perfection of the Word of God.  Unfortunately, Norman does not have all of the Word of God because if he did he would have Jesus.

Norman in the remainder of Reason #4 and his summation of his part one attempts to again categorize the Christian faith in ways that it should not be understood.  First, he attempts to argue that Christians add to and/or take away from Scripture.  If he understood Revelation 22:19, he would know that true Christian scholars and not his liberal sources would never do such a thing.  Second, he offers an incorrect explanation of the doctrine of the Incarnation and Trinity but those will come up again and so I will leave a detailed rebuttal for another day.  However, it should be noted that Christians do not believe that God is finite or that God is a man but that He became a man so that we could reach Him.  That is the depth of His love for us.

God bless.  Shalom!

Rebuttal #3 to Reason #3

It might be difficult and it might even be a little long but Reason #2 in Asher Norman’s Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus is a little compact and so this post will attempt to do so as well.  But remember … NO PROMISES!

I personally think this chapter/reason is short because the writer’s arguments are more than a bit of a hermeneutical stretch!!!  However, he does something very interesting and a bit sneaky.  For while he wants no Christian or missionary to read this book (p. xxvi), he certainly wants Jewish folk to respond to them even though Norman believes Christians are incapable of rational thought (p. xxv).  Why I wonder?  Perhaps because the writer is afraid of our rational response?  Maybe.

Regardless, Reason #3 is an attempt to argue from evidence that God’s Word (Torah/Tanakh) is eternal.  Two quick responses.  I agree and in fact 2 Timothy 3:15-17 (which must be the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament/Jewish Bible because no canon had been established at this time) tells us that Paul instructed Timothy to know that all Scripture is inspired and profitable for four specific things — (1) teaching, reproof, correction, and righteous training.  Moreover, Jesus himself referred constantly to the entire Tanakh in regards to both how people should live and what it says about His Messiahship (Matthew 7:12; 22:40; Luke 24:27; 24:40) and (2) Norman admits that he utilizes liberal Christian scholars as his resource (p. xx) and I think that everyone can agree that this is a case of an attorney using selected evidence and not the whole canon of thought.  OKAY, OKAY, this is going to be a little long of a rebuttal.

Now as to the meat of the chapter, the writer first makes what I consider to be two hyperbolic statements: 

First, he states that Christian missionaries tell Jewish people that they no longer have to keep the law after salvation.  There are two responses to this statement:  (1) where is evidence to back this claim and (2) he must not realize the big debate going on within Messianic congregations regarding this very issue.

Second, he states that the Torah teaches that people are required to keep the law to the best of their ability.  Maybe he should consider the following verses and rewrite this chapter — Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7; and 20:6.  God through Moses informs us that we are to be holy as He is holy.  Clear cut, bottom-line, no questions asked or answered.  However, and this is the epitome of God’s graciousness, He realizes that we cannot and so He provided a substitute (Jesus) to be our holy sacrifice for our sins.  And that was the point of God’s command in Leviticus.  He wanted us to realize that holiness is impossible in and through ourselves and so therefore we must turn to the only Holy One … God himself.

In addition to these two hyperbolic statements, Norman continues to misrepresent Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5:17-20 about the Law (but perhaps this is because his source material is one-sided, lacking, and slanted).  We as believers in Jesus understand that the Law is for perpetuity and was both realized/fulfilled and continues through the testimony of Jesus.  What I would like to ask the writer of 26 Reasons is how can he be comfortable knowing that it is impossible for him and all Jewish people to fulfill the 613 Commandments when about 2/3 refer to the Temple and sacrifice.  If these Laws continue forever (and I believe they do) how can they be observed without a Temple and sacrifice; unless Jesus is the answer to the question?

The answer to all the questions in this rebuttal is that Jesus is the Answer, the Fulfillment, the Perpetuity, the Hope, and the Messiah.  God bless.  Shalom in the name of the Sar Shalom Messiah Jesus.

Rebuttal #2 to Reason #2 (Part Two)

I truly wish that each rebuttal to each reason in Asher Norman’s Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus could be summarized in one response.  However, this does not appear to be possible.  Therefore, we will continue along because these rebuttals are just too important to merely gloss over.

First in the latter part of Reason #2, Norman utilizes Cain and Abraham as examples that the 613 Torah commandments are not that difficult to follow. 

First the problem with his usage of Cain.  Norman tries to explain that if Cain has just “bucked up” and got over his anger than all would have been well.  The writer misses the point of verse 6 (verse 7 in the Christian Bible).  God was cautioning Cain against his anger and not that he could improve himself. 

Second the problem with his claim that Abraham was saved not through faith but through the Torah.  One quick response — Abraham was not Kosher in his diet.  In Genesis 18:8, Abraham prepares for the Angel of the Lord (Theophany Alert!!!) a meal made with calf and the mother’s milk (i.e., perhaps a modern-day cheeseburger).  For Norman to focus and create a huge hermeneutical stretch by alluding that the laws (Torah) in Genesis 26:35 refers to both the Written and Oral Law ignores basic hermeneutical principles.  What Norman doesn’t understand, and this applies as well to the unity of the echad in Deut. 6:4, is that a singular entity can be comprised of many components.

 In addition, the writer focuses on the “efficacy” of the Law utilizing Psalm 19 and 119 as prooftexts.

The writer of 26 Reasons is correct.  The Law is perfect.  However, he is incorrect when he states that Paul saw it as abolished or unnecessary.  Paul reminds the reader through Romans 5-8 that the law is a tutor/schoolmaster/mirror of our failings.  It is perfect in that it shows our inadequacies and desperate need for Messiah Jesus.  Jesus himself stated he did not come to abandon the Law but to fulfill it through his sacrifice on the cross (see previous posts for more in-depth analysis of Matt. 5:17-20).  The Law is Perfect because the Law is Messiah Jesus.

Finally, Norman undercuts the value of faith.

Let me ask this one simple question in closing.  Is he and all he deny the Messiahship of Jesus doing so based upon an idea of faith.  Faith is the essence of existence.  To believe in Messiah Jesus is a faith premise.  To deny Him is one as well.  Faith is what it is all about.  So which one should be chosen?

Rebuttal #2 to Reason #2 (Part One)

In many ways one should admire Asher Norman and his work, Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus.  He has devoted much time to writing down his thoughts and as an attorney he is very gifted in presenting and spinning the information.  And while credit should be given, it is the responsibility of those of us who believe in Jesus to respond, rebut and refute his inaccuracies.  And hence the purpose of this rebuttal (part one) to his second reason for not believing in Jesus.

For this rebuttal, I am going to slightly change the method of refutation.  Simply I am going to list the various problems with Norman’s arguments and attempt to show why Jesus is truly the answer for them all.

• The writer states that Judaism and Christianity both believe in the afterlife and reward/punishment for conduct committed in this world.  However, Norman is incorrect.  First, A great percentage of Judaism (esp. within Reform and Reconstructionism) do not believe in the afterlife, heaven, hell, eternity, etc.  I would state that most of Judaism has abandoned faith in Rabbinical Judaism and often go through the motions of religious practice without the heart for it.  Second, the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) does speak of the world to come.  Such books as Job, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, etc., etc. speak to the hope/fear/rejoicing over what comes after this life is over.

Jesus speaks of the afterlife but his focus for those who believe in Him is to how we can change and affect this present world.  Even while I personally long for my heavenly home, live to serve my Messiah Jesus at this present moment.  My life verse is Acts 20:24 because it constantly reminds me that my purpose in being here is to share the joy of Messiah Jesus with everyone that God provides me the opportunity with whom to share.

• Norman very cleverly provides an incomplete picture of the faith of the followers of Jesus.  He states that achieving salvation is to believe in Jesus’ redeeming death and that is it.  Nothing about the resurrection.  He also attempts to state that faith in Jesus just requires “mere ‘belief’”.

Our salvation was achieved through the redeeming sacrifice on the cross.  Our salvation was realized and manifested with His resurrection.  Our salvation is promised by not mere belief but in providing evidence of our faith (this is not about works but about fruit).  Paul reminds believers of this truth in 1 Corinthians 15.  For the writer of 26 Reasons to leave out the most important aspect of the story would be to attempt to have Passover but no First Fruits.  Wait isn’t that the point of the death and resurrection that he is the first fruit of those raised from the dead?!!! (Colossians 1:12-29)

• The writer encourages his readers to ask a very interesting and very clever question.  He wants Jewish folks to ask why there is no mention of personal salvation and Messiah ben David.

Very clever and potentially very confusing for Christians and missionaries who are not trained in the use of rhetorical and Socratic and Rabbinic argument.  However, it is the absence of a character that damages Norman’s point.  As has been pointed out in previous posts, the writer focuses on the “person” of Messiah ben David but ignores the “suffering servant” persona known in intertestamental times as Messiah ben Joseph.

And while the intertestamental Jewish scholars were on the right track, they confused two comings with two individuals (one to suffer and one to reign).  Instead we can now realize that it is one person with two comings — Jesus as Suffering Lamb and Jesus as Reigning Lion.

Oh, and by the way, was it not David who wrote Psalm 2, 22, 110?  David seemed to understand the order and purpose of the Messiah’s comings.

• The writer consistently refers back to the Noahide Covenant as the non-Jewish way to the “World to Come.”  He states that the Jewish Bible (OT) states that is all we have to follow.  I decided to check out his apparent prooftext, even though he never provides passage and verse, what exactly is the Noahide Covenant in Genesis 9 (see also the JPS Tanakh version).

The passage does not list the Seven Noahide Laws.  Those are additions.  For while a few of the “laws” could be inferred from the passage, not the big ones of blasphemy and idolatry.  They are man-created, man-driven, and completely outside of the text of the Scripture.  The writer in essence wants to have “his cake and eat it too.”  For he knows that a true believer in Jesus could never hold to the man-driven Laws because it would require us to deny the divinity and deity of Messiah Jesus.

More could be written on part one but this is a good place to stop.  Be prepared for Part Two for it will be interesting!

Rebuttal #1 to Reason #1 (Part Two)

The last post was the beginning response to Norman’s “First Reason” why Jewish people could not believe in Jesus.  This post was respond to his statements regarding sin, Torah, and God.

Sin:

Norman makes five definitive statements about sin and the Jewish Bible (Old Testament/Tanakh/Hebrew Scriptures).  He states that the Word of God teaches:

1. God gave humanity a dichotomous approach to sin and we have the free will to or not to sin.
2. Torah and the Torah alone is the solution to evil.
3. We can achieve personal greatness if we have the right inclination.
4. Satan is not God’s adversary.
5. “God is the source of good and evil.”

 Well … let me make the following observations:  (1) The writer makes a lot of definitive statements but provides no evidence (Scriptural proofs) to make his points; (2) Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that our righteousness is as filthy rags before God and therefore we do not have the inclination to do good and Hosea 6:6 reminds us that what God wants is not a regimented adherence to rules but the longing for a presence with God in our lives; (3) Read Job and tell me if Satan is not an adversary of God; and (4) By accusing God of being the source of evil, Norman is rushing headlong into Zoroastrianism which is a holdover from Babylonian captivity about 600 years before Jesus.

Norman also contorts and misrepresents what Jesus’ sacrifice meant on the cross.  The writer of Hebrews (Paul I believe) explains that as a fulfillment of Psalm 110 and the order of Melchezidek that Jesus was the High Priest and the only one could make true atonement for our sin as demanded throughout Leviticus and especially in chapter 17-18.

Torah:

Norman attempts to place the Oral Law on the same par as the written Word of God from Moses at Mount Sinai.  The writer attempts to make this statement due to two factors:  (1) the Oral Law (Talmud, etc.) has become more relevant to many than the actual words of God; and (2) the Oral Law places more upon the people than the Scriptures demands and Norman must justify this action.

I once remember in a Chaim Potok book that a rabbinical student was chastised and maligned because he dared to focus his studies on the Tanakh and not the Talmud.  His professors and fellow students could not understand this decision as the Talmud was everything to them.  The Talmud had replaced the Covenant as most important and viable in the eyes of Potok’s characters.  This is what I see when I read the writer’s attempt to validate the Torah by misrepresenting what believers in Jesus believe about the Law.  I understand Jesus to say in Matthew 5:17-20 that He is the fulfillment of the Law because He is/was/forevermore will be the perfect manifestation of the Law.  We as believers in Jesus are bound to the Law of God as realized in Jesus who taught us to love God and love each other.  Choosing to drive or not drive on the Sabbath does not affect loving God or each other but preventing someone from hearing the truth of Messiah Jesus does.

God:

Norman as has already been expressed in a de facto manner attempts to blame God for evil and free will and sin.  Much could be written on this alone; however, this post will focus on some other aspects of Norman’s arguments.  The writer states two things which must be addressed.  First, he again states without Scriptural backing that the Jewish Bible teaches radical monotheism … which is true … along with the absolute oneness and unity of God … which is not quite as true as Norman states.

Believers in Jesus are monotheists.  We believe that God is one while being manifested as Son and Holy Spirit as well.  We also believe that God is knowable, approachable, and concerned about humanity something which Maimonides (and not the Hebrew Scriptures) teaches.  The radicalness of Norman’s arguments are not Biblical but based upon the 14th century teaching of Moses Maimonides (Rambam).  Rambam could not deal with the “US” passages such as Genesis 1:26.  He even incorrectly ignores the ECHAD of Deuteronomy 6:4 which gives the best understanding that within the one of God there is diversity.  Norman does not deal with this truth because He cannot.  Finally, the writer incorrectly argues that the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 elected Jesus God.  This is hyperbole at its finest.  The Council while flawed in many areas correctly recognizes that Jesus was both human and God (i.e., the Incarnation promised in Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6).

I still feel as if I have left something out in the response.  However, there cannot be a part three rebuttal to this reason.  Reason #2 awaits and it should not be delayed.

Rebuttal #1 to Reason #1 (Part One)

We are finally able to begin posting a rebuttal to Asher Norman’s Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus.  We had to go through several posts on prefatory materials (see earlier posts).  And after this series is complete, I will begin a new series on 10 Reasons Why Jewish People (and all peoples) Must Believe in Jesus.  However, and for now, we will look at each reason given by Norman along with a brief response to him.  Because of space, a full and detailed response is not possible but that will come in the 10 Reasons Series in the near future.  However, and because of the desire to keep each post a manageable read, some of the rebuttals to the reasons will require two or three parts.

Norman’s “First Reason” is his argument that Christianity and Judaism are not compatible and that faith in Jesus is not “completed” Judaism.

Before I get into his argument phase for his reason, I would like to point out two or three important things to consider.  First, if one fails to consider the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) roots of the Christian faith then our faith is shallow.  Believers in Jesus cannot have a faith in Jesus without seeing His fulfillment of Tanakh prophecies, feasts, etc.  Second, the phrase “completed Jew” is an unfortunate phrase and I believe that Norman is reacting to it.  You will never see this blog use that phrase except to contradict its argument.  Jewish believers in Jesus are not more Jewish than anyone else; however, they are not as Norman will argue less Jewish.  They are simple Jewish people who believe in the truth of Messiah Jesus.

Okay?!  Now for Norman’s arguments for Reason #1 (along with a brief rebuttal):

• Norman argues that the Jewish Bible provides the case that Jewish people are bound by the 613 Torah Laws while Gentiles are responsible to abide by the Noahide Covenant.

First, I would like to ask him where this is stated in the Hebrew Scriptures (OT).  Norman makes a lot of claims but never validates his arguments with Scriptures.  Second, as has already been shown in previous posts it is impossible for Gentile Christians to follow the Noahide Covenant because we affirm the truth that Jesus is God the Son or the Son of God (take your pick!).  Therefore, if Norman truly believed this statement should he not be leading out the call to Christendom to abandon this faith instead of allowing us to follow what he sees as heresy.  Because, and the third reason, the Jewish people were called in Isaiah 42 to be a light to the nations and to bring the truth of God to the rest of the world.  Their failure to do so is one of the root causes for the Babylonian Captivity.  Scripture contradicts Norman’s argument as well as logical reasoning.

• Norman also argues that there is no sense of the Messiah cominig to die for the sins of the people and that faith in this belief is silly.

Have to give credit to Norman on this cleverly worded paragraph.  He focuses on Messiah ben David (2nd Coming of Jesus) and neglects the ancient intertestamental arguments that Messiah ben Joseph (1st Coming) would come to be a sacrificial servant — Isaiah 53 — for the people.  BTW, this argument of Messiah ben Joseph was prevalent until the time of Rambam and Rashi.

Regarding the issue of faith.  Norman fails to consider the arguments of Habbakuk 2:4 and Hosea 6:6.  Habbakuk reminds us that the righteous will live by faith but Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.  Therefore, the faith that we can have is not through our own merits but through the righteousness of God himself.  A righteousness that is impossible for humanity to achieve without the sacrifice of someone greater than ourselves.  Furthermore, our efforts at sacrifice and holiness don’t cut it as Hosea 6:6 reminds us.  We can put on a good show of fidelity but God knows the heart and it is wicked without the sacrificial gift of Messiah Jesus on the cross and His triumphant resurrection.

Part two of Rebuttal #1 will deal with the writer’s incomplete understanding of Sin, the Torah, and a good definition of God.  This might be a long series!

Rebuttal #P2 to 26 Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus (Part Two of the Prefatory Material)

Despite the best of intentions, it is necessary to have one final rebuttal to the prefatory material written by Asher Norman in his work, Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus.  Part one of the rebuttal is available here and the introductory post about the book is available here.  We are going to follow the same pattern as #P1 of quotation/paraphrase and rebuttal.  If you have a better idea, please let me know.

• Asher Norman provides an interesting statement about the fact that God gave the Jewish people a particular mission that was critical for the “spirituality” of everyone (p. xxix, xxxiii, xxxiv).

Norman is absolutely correct, although he will disagree with my interpretation, and Walter Kaiser discusses this mission in his work Mission in the Old Testament:  Israel as a Light to the Nations.  But just what should this mission look like?  Should it appear as Norman describes as a requirement for Gentiles to follow the Noahide Covenant which is impossible for those who affirm the divinity and deity of Jesus?  Or should it appear as Norman advocates that he is not attempting to denigrate the Christian faith?  If Jesus is not the Messiah for the Jewish people he is not the Messiah for any of us?  And if Norman truly believes that he is not, the mission that he advocates should be to warn the rest of us of our folly. 

In an interesting twist, one of the reasons for the captivities by the Assyrians and Babylonians in Old Testament times was because the Jewish people had failed to be a light to the nations and to the call the world to monotheism and true faith.  Surely Norman does not wish to be guilty of the same sins as his forefathers?  Obviously the answer is no.  But Norman would not agree that true obedience to this call in Isaiah is found in sharing the truth of Messiah Jesus with all peoples (but first to the Jewish people) of the world.  The writer of this work is attempting to straddle the fence on the issue but ultimately just demonstrates that truly one cannot have it both ways without a lot of awkwardness.

• Norman states that God only demands that the people keep the law to the best of their ability (p. xxx).

Interesting argument, and one that truly has a great deal of appeal, but is that what God and the Torah state in Leviticus or Deuteronomy?  Leviticus states six times (11:44; 11:45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26; and 21: that we are to be holy because God himself is holy.  The word holy (Kadosh) is the same in reference to both humanity and God.  We are to strive not for what is acceptable but for holiness.

As a corollary to this demand for holiness, that is impossible for humanity to achieve through our own efforts, God recounts the 613 Torah Laws in Deuteronomy.  There is not an option about which laws to fulfill or to do so to the best of our ability.  They are all demanded to be kept and the consequences of failure is punishment … unless a sacrifice is given that assuages God’s wrath.  This sacrifice was Jesus on the cross who came not to abolish but to fulfill every aspect of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20).

More could be written regarding the author’s attempt to split hairs and create nuances where none exist.  However, it is time to develop a counter-argument to the 26 reasons.  It is important to do so not only to defend the faith of Messiah Jesus but also to provide support for Jewish people who are discovering the freedom of grace in which they do not have to give up their Jewishness but also receive who Jesus is.

Rebuttal #P1 to 26 Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus (Part One of the Prefatory Material)

As mentioned in the introductory post on this issue, Asher Norman wrote Twenty-Six Reasons Why Jews Don’t Believe in Jesus as an anti-missionary response to those (i.e., me and others) who long to see the Jewish people realize the glorious truth that Jesus is the Jewish (and Gentile) Messiah.

Obviously it would be easier to go response for each reason; however, Norman very cleverly writes out some very crucial comments in the prefatory material that must be responded to as well.  Therefore, this post (Rebuttal #P1) and the next one (to be called Rebuttal #P2) will begin where Norman begins “at the very beginning.”  For convenience’s sake, I am going to bullet point Norman’s statements and then block off my rebuttal argument.  Hope that makes sense … we shall see!  Let me know.

• Norman contends that he bears no animosity towards American Christians and does not desire to convert them to Judaism (page xxi).

Interesting statement which I could examine in greater detail.  However, he contradicts himself in later sections in which he argues that non-Jewish people are redeemed by the Noahide Covenant.  In order to affirm the Noahide Covenant, Christians would have to deny the deity of Jesus.  Something that is impossible for us to do.  Therefore, and in order to defend the claims of Rabbinic Judaism, Norman must attempt to undermine the faith of Christians … except of course he does not wish for Christians to read this book (see previous post).

• The writer suggests the absurd sum of over one billion dollars has been given to missionary organizations dedicated to Jewish evangelism (p. xxi).

Where does this large dollar amount come from?  There is no citation.  There is no evidence to back up his claim.  In reality, and this is a great tragedy, many churches and Christians give little evidence that they are concerned over the salvation of God’s Chosen Ones.  I realize that this is a good claim (albeit unprovable) to make but the evidence is just not there.  If it was true, the work of Jewish missions would not be as difficult as it is.

• Norman advocates that Jewish people are awaiting the arrival of Messiah ben David to usher in the Messianic Era as this man is a descendant of King David (p. xxiv).

In another part of this series, I will respond in greater detail about the anti-missionary claim that Jesus’ lineage is suspect (it is not!).  However, the interesting focus in this sentence is on the Messiah ben David argument.  The question left hanging by Norman is whatever happened to the concept of Messiah ben Joseph from intertestamental times in which everyone understood that the Messiah must come first to suffer for His people?  Isaiah 53 anyone?   Jesus anyone?

• The writer acknowledges that Christian missionaries to the Jewish people are both good at debate but are unaffected by “rational” arguments.  Norman even admits that there are translations of the Tanakh that “superficially appear to refer to Jesus” [emphasis mine] (p. xxiv-xxv).

Wow …!  I feel both complimented and insulted all in the same sentence.  I also appreciate his begrudging admission that just perhaps it could be interpreted that Jesus does appear to be present in the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures and/or Jewish Bible) … but more on that later.

I pray this series will be both informative, enlightening, and provide evidence that the Jewish Messiah is none other than Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth.  I also pray that these words will be written in compassion and love and kindness.