Dusty Differences Between Jew and Gentile

Should a Jew be as a Gentile and a Gentile as a Jew when both have accepted JESUS as CHRIST? For over 1800 years many Christians have held to a belief that Gentiles become spiritual Jews through CHRIST and to be Christians, Jews must leave behind the feasts and commandments contained in the Original Testament and conform their lifestyle to the typical Gentile. This belief takes some root in the words of Paul to the believers in Rome, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile…" (Rom 10:12). Standing alone this statement would seem to support the proposition that Gentiles and Jews in CHRIST should possess uniformity in beliefs and actions. However, this verse is proceeded by one that qualifies how Jew and Gentile are equal, each comes to a righteousness from GOD, "through faith in Jesus Christ" (Rom 10:11).

In a like manner, Paul told the Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28). Does this statement of Paul mandate equality of belief and action among Jew and Gentile? Certainly, not! For the statement itself contains examples that we know in the physical realm are not equal. Slave is not the equal of free and man is not the same as woman. For equality does not mean uniformity. For example, GOD is a unity, yet the three persons of Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct in position and function. The Jew and Greek, slave and free, and man and woman are equal only in the aspects of "faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26).

Therefore, is a Jew required to act as a Gentile or a Gentile as a Jew? Only if a slave can act as one who is free and a man can become a woman (Gal 3:26) would a Jew be obligated to act as a Gentile. For "each one should remain in the situation which he was in when GOD called him. Were you a slave when you were called?" (1 Cor 7:20-24). And why remain as called, because "the body is not made up of one part, but of many…(whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free)" (1 Cor 12:13-14). GOD needs witnesses for CHRIST everywhere in the world among Jews, Greeks, slaves, free, men, and women.

Contrary to popular belief, Paul remained a Jew in word and deed. Upon his arrival in Rome before the Jewish leaders, Paul testified, "I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors" (Acts 28:17). The word "customs" even goes so far as to imply that Paul followed aspects of the Oral Law, in addition to the written law. Although Paul "became like a Jew, to win the Jews…like one under the law to win those under the law…to those not having the law to win those not having the law…weak to win the weak…all things to all men so that by all possible means I might win some" (1 Cor 9:20-22), the passage does not say, what I thought I remembered in scripture, "I became a Greek to the Greeks". Unless, I am missing the verse in my search, please help me if I am, Paul never claimed to become a Greek.

We remember that Gentile believers became known as "Christians" at Antioch (Acts 11:26), but what escapes our notice is that Hebrew Christians were separately called "Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5) because they maintained an attitude "zealous for the law" (Acts 21:20). Am I saying that a Gentile cannot participate in the celebration of the Jewish Feasts or be as the man who "delights in the law of the LORD" (Psa 1:2)? Certainly not, the Gentile can participate in what is "holy, righteous, and good" (Rom 7:12). Gentiles have the freedom to participate in matters of the law, but not the obligation. I can ride the "Judge Roy Scream," but that does not obligate me, despite my children’s position, to ride "Mr. Freeze". But some day I might ride "Mr. Freeze".

The same freedom which allows the Gentile to participate or not, cannot prohibit the Jew from participating in that which identifies the Jew with the unique promises given to the Jewish people by GOD. How did Gentiles ever conceive that a Jew, who accepted JESUS as Messiah, was mandated to give up the unique nature in which GOD created him? Or as Tina said in the past, "Spanish, celebrate Cinco de Mayo and other Mexican festivals, and eat cultural foods without getting grief from anyone. Jewish believers, however, are expected to give up all of their festivals and kosher foods if they want to be "one of us." My brothers, this should not be."

Scott