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Letters to the Editor
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ALL READERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE MESSIANIC TIMES NEITHER AGREES OR DISAGREES WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS FORUM
___THE MESSIANIC TIMES
Standing by His Views
Dear Editor,
I appreciate the graciousness of the Messianic
Times in providing a venue for various
perspectives in our movement to be
expressed. I don’t know of many forums
apart from MT where disagreements can
be aired. I’m grateful that you exist so that
our movement can challenge itself and be
strengthened and grow. Thank you.
I am disheartened however, to see the
kind of personal criticism that came as
a result of my letter to the editor. I did
make strong statements about what I see
as false teaching on the Gospel and salvation
by a Messianic leader in a paper
he wrote for a major conference of Messianic
leaders. I called for strong yet appropriate
action to be taken. However, I
wrote what I did out of concern for the
well-being of the Messianic movement of
which I am a part.
Even if everything that was alleged
about me—and even more—is true
(which it's not), that does not change the
reality that we have a serious problem
in the Messianic community with false
teaching and bad doctrine.
Rather than answering my critics in
this letter, I recommend that people go to
my website (www.shema.com) and read
for themselves the background information
having to do with what those who
criticize me are saying (see the article:
"Very Serious Problems with the Union
of Messianic Jewish Congregations"). Let
the readers decide for themselves.
This issue is not about me—it’s about
false doctrine being taught and tolerated.
I stand by what I wrote. I hope that there
will be others who speak up.
Rabbi Loren Jacobs
How Wide is Too Wide?
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Loren Jacobs’
comments on Stuart Dauermann’s paper
at the Brooklyn forum. First of all, I want
to say that I have many times agreed and
disagreed with Dr. Dauermann. However,
I think that it was unfortunate to
print the refutation of Mr. Jacobs. Why?
Because it unfairly questions Stuart’s
motives as seeking to be accepted or
to garner the favor of the Jewish community.
We do not know what Stuart’s
motives are. Maybe he is just seeking the
truth as he has studied theology. Maybe
he wants to run for president of the
United States some day, and a less narrow
view will be helpful in his getting
the Jewish vote. I Corinthians 4 warns us
to not judge motives. So I do not think
we should credit anyone who is violating
this Scripture.
Loren Jacobs has had a history of attacking
ministries outside of the parameters of
due process. I wrote a book on this subject
called Due Process. His ordination was removed
by the Union for this and for other
reasons.
On the other hand, the issues raised by
Stuart’s paper are important and theological
response is important. David J. Rudolph, who recently received his Ph.D.
at Cambridge, had a very good response
to Stuart’s theology and I would that
all could read it. It is a fair response
that does not attack Dr. Dauermann,
but strongly disagrees with some of his
theological points and gives exegetical
reasons why.
On the issue of the Wider Hope—
there are many Evangelicals who hold
wider hope views, and they believe it
is really based in sound exegesis. Historically
this includes John Wesley and
the famous Baptist theologian Strong.
However, their view was not so wide as
to undercut the sense of the need for
evangelism that people might be saved.
Historically, when any group or movement
develops a wider hope view that is
too wide, it has always gone into decline.
I do not know of one exception.
Sincerely,
Daniel C. Juster,
Director Tikkun International
First President and General Secretary
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations,
1979–1986
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