As our conversation progressed, we became warmer towards one another with a growing mutual respect. As I asked David, the orthodox Jew seated next to me on a flight, hard questions about his faith and how it was different from mine, he continually prefaced his statements with “With no disrespect to you and your faith, I believe that…”, or “I don’t want to offend you, but I believe that…”. Interesting, isn’t it, that two people who believe very different things about Jesus, can have a warm and honest conversation. I wonder how often we fail to believe this is possible with people.
Anyway, as I probed my new friend’s belief and the reasons for his belief, I found that he kept repeating this phrase: “We are not allowed to question this, we just accept it.” David was referring to the authority of tradition handed down through the centuries. In other words, even if things didn’t add up in tradition, even if things do not seem quite “right”, one is not to question, just to accept, believe, and move on.
Of course, being a protestant, I was a bit perplexed by this. On the one hand, I find that kind of faith admirable—the kind of faith that is happy to be blind and leave certain questions unanswered, unresolved. On the other hand, if love of God and neighbor is the cornerstone of Jewish faith (and the Old Testament teaches that it is), does love not leave room for questions? Also, if God is Sovereign, is there any question or doubt that he can’t thoroughly deal with? Is God not big enough to deal with human skeptics? I ask these things knowing that the argument can, in fact, go the other way as well. “Who are we to question the sovereign God?
In my dialogue with David, I became more and more thankful for the fact that in the midst of Thomas’ doubt, Jesus says, “Come and see, my doubting friend.” Jesus welcomes our questions, our concerns, our worries, and yes, even meets us in the midst of our doubts.
In the Christian faith, questions are welcome. Question, inquiry, helps build a firm tower of faith when we come in a spirit of holiness, reverence and obedience, God responds. He answers.
Now for those of you wondering, here are a few of the questions I asked David.
Me: The Hebrew Scriptures contain prophecies of a messiah who is to come. One of the things that the messiah will do is make famous among the nations the God of Israel and bring them to obedience to Him, correct?
David: Yes.
Me: So what do you do with the fact that the name of Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures, namely the Torah, are known and obeyed around the world with around 1 billion people claiming to follow Jesus, as the Jewish Messiah? Is this not considered a fulfillment of those prophecies?
David: No, it is not. We know that Jesus isn’t the messiah for a number of reasons.
Me: Such as?
David: Such as thousands of Jews killed in his name [the Crusades]. God’s people don’t do that. We don’t do that. People who follow the God of Israel do not do that.
Me: Good point. I can understand that.
[Reflective pause]Me: So what do you think about all these people following Jesus as their Jewish messiah?
David: Well, I don’t want to offend you.
Me: Friend, if I was worried about being offended, I wouldn’t have asked 🙂
David: Okay, well, with all do respect, we believe that those who follow Jesus are misled.
Me: Do you believe that Jesus was a faithful Jew who obeyed the Torah?
David: No!
Me: So you do recognize Jesus as an historical figure?
David: Oh, yes.
Me: What are you sources for coming to knowledge of who he was and what he taught? [I asked this thinking and hoping he would say the Gospels]
David: The Talmud. And the Talmud divests of Jesus quite quickly and since we [orthodox Jews] believe the Talmud to be as inspired and authoritative as the Hebrew Scriptures, we must believe this to be true: that Jesus was not a faithful Jew and therefore not the messiah.
Me: Interesting. So what is the state of messianism currently among those of your tradition? Are you still waiting for the messiah?
David: Yes. We are still waiting . . .
David and I finished our conversation with warm smiles, handshakes, and the exchanging of business cards. David teaches the Talmud to young Jews in the orthodox tradition all over the US.
To finish let me say this. I mentioned above that Jesus welcomed Thomas’ questions, doubts, concerns. He met Thomas where he was. I also suggested that God would be more like a wobbly Jenga tower rather than a fortress if we weren’t able to ask our questions honestly and openly. He is big enough…He’s big enough.
In light of this, Church, let us reflect God’s image. The Crusades didn’t exactly do that. The testimony of the Church has become a barrier for many because of it. Let us be like Jesus. “Come, touch and see, my doubting friend,” are to be our words to skeptics as well—we’re to talk like Jesus. Let’s meet people where they are, if we do this, they will see Jesus.
