Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!njin!paul.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: credmond@watmath.waterloo.edu (Chris Redmond) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: please post in soc.religion.christion Message-ID: Date: 8 May 91 08:14:58 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Waterloo Lines: 39 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article sokolove@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Deborah Sokolove) writes: > Some time ago, in another context, there was some mention that >Christians in general did not need to follow the 'ceremonial laws' >in the Hebrew Scriptures but that (perhaps) Jewish converts >were indeed required to do so. OFM said that he did not want >to get into this question as he did not have the necessary >expertise. Nevertheless, as a person who was raised in the Jewish tradition and >has come to know Christ, I would be interested in netters' >informed opinions as to whether "the Law" is still incumbent >on me, or do I enjoy the same "freedom in Christ" as those of >Gentile ancestry? >If it matters to this discussion, I worship with a committed >Christian community whose membership does not expect anything >more (or less) of me than they expect of themselves. In my opinion, Christian thinking does not require that you observe the Jewish law. It does require that you try to govern your life by Christian ethics ("love" interpreted in whatever way your conscience and your Christian denomination direct) and worship in a Christian way (again, interpreted by your judgement and your brethren). If you find it comforting, you might remind yourself that Judaism expects non-Jews (and you have become, de facto, a non-Jew) to obey the "Noachide" laws (laws of Noah) against murder, idolatry and other such offences. These laws are happily compatible with Christian living. Rider #1: Since you have already decided to adopt Christianity, I won't jump back into the debate about whether adopting Christianity is a necessary or even an appropriate thing for Jews to do. Rider #2: In my view, following the Jewish law voluntarily is likely to contribute to a healthy and happy life. This is true whether or not one is Jewish. I refer to the laws of kashrut (purity of food, a.k.a. kosher), sexual behaviour, daily prayer, and just about everything else of which I am aware. (This statement should not be taken to mean that I follow any portion of the Jewish law myself. I don't.)