Come, Let Us Reason Together: The Unity of Jews and Gentiles in the Church

Excellent resource!!! This book is so helpful in understanding Messianic Judaism movement. Baruch Maoz, due to his own walk in life, is so qualified to help shed light on this movement. He does so with tremendous depth of compassion. I do highly recommend this book.

An excellent correction to modern day views of Jewish Christianity. Maoz does yeoman work in demonstrating that Jewish believers in Christ retain their ethnic identity while being Christian in the truest sense of the word.

Good book

Great book and a great read!

In process of reading it.

It was a litte deep for what I expected. It is a good book for those into philosophy and bilbe study

Come Let Us Reason Together: The Unity of Jews and Gentiles in the Church by Baruch Maoz is a title that I have been eager to read for some time. I had personal concerns about Messianic Judaism, but was quite frankly so poorly informed that I was not able to formulate an educated opinion about it. Thankfully, Baruch Maoz has provided this helpful critique of the movement as someone who holds great knowledge and insight into its beliefs and practices. For anyone looking for clarity on what Messianic Judaism is and a sound scriptural argument against it this book will prove to be a great resource.One of the main things that stood out to be throughout this book was the grace with which Maoz spoke. He clearly feels that Messianic Judaism is an error that needs to be corrected and is not inline with biblical Christianity, yet he chooses his words carefully and doesn't resort to bad-mouthing and tearing down straw-men. For example he states: I agree with many of the motives behind the movement I criticize. But the Messianic Jewish movement has erred in important areas of truth. The result of such errors is a misinformed spirituality that needs to be corrected by the word of God. I'm convinced that the Messianic Movement has sparked a trend that leads increasingly away from biblical truth. The number of Messianic converts to rabbinic Judaism and the increasingly numerous expressions of discomfort with the doctrines of the Trinity and of the deity of Messiah are but the inevitable, logical conclusions of Messianic Jewish teachings.One error that Maoz exposes is the obedience to the Torah in Messianic Judaism. He rightly says that, "Judaism understood faith in Jesus to be a contradiction of continued obedience to the Torah, even when such a faith was accompanied by dutiful practice of the Torah. How, then, can modern Messianic Jews think otherwise?" This is certainly a question worthy of thought and consideration from Messianic Jews. He also shows how the desire to connect with Jews could have harmful consequences. He states, "if acceptance by the Jewish people is the major objective, Messianic Jews will have to increasingly erode their biblical convictions with regard to Jesus and his atoning sacrifice, until they ultimately turn their backs to him and embrace a wholly rabbinic Judaism." Jews have a problem with Jesus as Messiah. This problem isn't going away because Messianic Jews hold to some similar customs. In the end, acceptance from the Jewish community at large would only come if foundational truths about Jesus were discarded.Throughout the book Maoz helps the reader to see that "one of the errors of the messianic movement is that it has placed Jewishness at the center - where Jesus should be. He alone deserves to be the focus of our devotion. He alone has the right to our hearts. A congregation that focuses on Jewishness (or anything else but Jesus) has misplaced its focus..... The messianic movement's focus on Jewishness, the law, and rabbinic tradition has dispossessed Jesus, removing him from his rightful place in the center." Christ should always be central, and any custom, tradition, ritual or movement that displaces Him from that position proves to be problematic.Another great problem that Maoz exposes is how Messianic Judaism divides Christ body, those for whom He dies to make one new people. "In spite of its best intentions, the messianic movement has divided the body of Messiah. Most messianic Jews act according to their convictions by disavowing "Gentile" church history, creedal achievements, hymnody, and theologizing." Again, the over-emphasis on Jewishness divides the body and robs people of being blessed by a rich heritage from gentile Christians. Overall I found this book to be a great blessing as it examined Messianic Judaism in light of Scripture. This book would be highly beneficial for anyone seeking a better understanding of Messianic Judaism.I received a copy of this book from P&R Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I did not purchase my copy of this book from Amazon (though I do buy many books here!). I had the privilege of hearing Baruch Maoz preach and bought the book from a table in the lobby. Baruch Maoz has an amazing gift of humility in both his preaching and his writing and yet at the same time speaks with the authority of Scripture behind him. I have studied the Bible since I learned to read (almost 50 years) and still am learning and growing. Baruch's preaching and writing is simple and yet very deep - bringing to light truths that I had missed or had not really understood fully. This book clarified for me the struggle that exists in the idea of "Messianic Judaism" in a way that I did not know existed. His writing is clear and concise yet rich and passionate. His books are rooted in the Bible with many references given and is not prone to take verses out of context as many authors are prone to do. Baruch's background and station in life make him the perfect voice on this particular topic, and I believe God has providentially planned it to be so. This is the second of Baruch's books that I have purchased (also own "A Prophet on the Run" - a devotional commentary on Jonah - a great book too!) and I plan to read more of his work.

This discussion is placed in the ongoing search of the correct understanding of both Jews and Gentiles in view of the Gospels. It is a study book, very extensive and to be read slowly and alongside the Bible.Excellent study book which I recommend reading.