I’m currently working in New York, and there is something unique on what seems like every street corner here: people passing out Jews for Jesus literature. Some of the literature is actually quite clever. So, in the tradition of these pamphlets, I will ask the denizens of the Bloggernacle to consider a provocative question: are Jews for Jesus allies of Mormons or not?
First, I would ask you to visit this web site if you don’t know much about Jews for Jesus. To sum up, this is an organization run by Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Jehovah (Y’shua) of the Old Testament and as their personal savior and God. They believe that if you sincerely pray and accept Jesus as your savior and as the Son of God who died for your sins you will be “saved.” This NY Times article may sum up what’s happening this summer in New York the best and explain some of the controversies surrounding Jews for Jesus.
In terms of their beliefs, Jews for Jesus follows the basic evangelical format. Most evangelicals believe that if you sincerely accept Jesus as your savior you will be saved (some believe you must be baptized — others do not).
In this sense, Jews for Jesus are no more allies of Mormons than other evangelical organizations. If they are telling people they do not need to be baptized by someone with authority, they are giving false information, especially in light of the response that Joseph Smith received to the question of which church was true. But I tend to see organizations such as this as part of the greater continuum of bringing people to Christ. One of the key purposes of the Book of Mormon is to convince “the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations.” In that sense, Jews for Jesus is helping in ministering to Jews who may not be ready yet for the fulness of the gospel.
What say ye, denizens of the Bloggernacle?