- Jews for Jesus
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- Moshe Ben-Chaim
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- Reader: Shalom,
- I am writing to ask for help: The mother of my daughter's husband
grew up in a Jewish home; married a Jewish man in a Jewish ceremony;
has been a member of a Shul for some time, 25+ years... And yet, she
has "drifted" to the Jews for Jesus. She attributes this to
the fact that her family was the only Jewish family in the Valley, and
so they celebrated all the holidays; actually, according to their
albums, they also had a christmas tree while my son-in-law was growing
up! This change in outward behavior/beliefs has occurred over a short
period of time, paralleling her husband being hospitalized for a
surgical removal. At first, I attributed it to "grasping at
straws," the way most people do in times of crises... But things
have changed. She really DOES believe that jesus christ is the
messiah, the lord and savior; in a rather heated argument between her
and my daughter while they were visiting, she said as much to my
daughter.
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- How should I deal with this? What can I say to her, without
condemning her for abandoning her given faith? I appreciate any advice
I can get, thank you.
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- Mesora: First
of all, refrain from approaching her when she is in an emotional state
of mind. I would also wait until she is on "your turf" in
your home, when her support system is weakened. Then engage her in the
following conversation: Ask her 'advice' about a "fictional"
friend of yours. Ask her , "(her name) what do you think about
this,.....my friend's cousin is seeking a doctor for serious surgery.
Should she take the first one who has the best reputation, or search a
bit longer since there is no immediate urgency, and locate a doctor
whose procedures make more sense?"
She will undoubtedly suggest that you seek a more rational doctor, as
opposed to a more "popular" doctor. Upon her answer, tell
her this is your situation. You have clung to a more
"attractive" approach to religion, i.e.. Jesus, but you have
abandoned a rational approach, which you have just confessed to me is
your own ideal. You should now follow your own mind and approach YOUR
religious values similarly, on what makes sense.
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- Now is when you must introduce her to the
basis of what makes Judaism a provable, rational system, and expose
Christianity as a baseless, blind fait system which has no rational
foot to stand on.
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- Read our article "Why
Be Observant" so you have the basic
arguments to deliver to her. This will take your patience and
determination, but with perseverance you can affect her to think
rationally and abandon her blind faith Jesus.
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