The Messianic Times - International Messianic Jewish News and Information

I just received my Messianic Times. While reading the letters to the editor, I noticed there is a debate going on among Messianic rabbis or some scholars concerning the salvation of secular Jewish people—those who have never accepted or believe in Jesus as their Messiah. Some seem to feel that if they are in good standing with God they shall be saved. Others object to their belief vehemently. I myself look at it this way. When Jesus comes for his bride the Scripture says, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

I note that it says the dead in Christ only will rise then (the first resurrection) and those who are caught up from earth will likely be those in Christ, too, all who have heard of, believed in and accepted Christ as their personal savior, and are awaiting his appearing. The Bible goes on the say these saints will return to the earth with Jesus when he comes to stay and to rule, and they will rule with him 1000 years.

The Bible also says the rest of the dead will not be resurrected until the 1000 years are up (the second resurrection).Then follows the Great White Throne Judgement where God will judge all according to their works, and we can be sure they will be judged justly. What God will do with those who never heard, never accepted Christ for their justification, we aren’t told, but we are sure all will be done justly. So I’m one of those who believes that anyone who has heard has had the chance to accept Christ, and depends instead on his good works to save him, will miss the boat. Period.

Elsa Bader
Canada

Shalom. Having read your recent article on Chalutzim Academy, I feel compelled to point out that your article was deeply inaccurate in the following way: it entirely omitted me as one of Chalutzim’s pioneerera teachers for more than eight of its early formative years, and having been its “Head Teacher” (Principal) for my last four years there until 1988. I note for the record that I personally created much of the school’s curriculum and many of its programs, including its first high school classes, its affiliation with Delaware County Christian Academy that lasts to the present day and far more: I financially contributed to and sacrificed for its establishment, also supplying its library with hundreds of books including a full Encyclopedia Judaica—and more. My former students across the world from Seattle to Jerusalem still stay in touch with me to the present, and still cite me as among the key influences in their God-following, including published scholarly works. I gave nearly a decade of the best years of my youth to teaching in, and leading Chalutzim Academy, and with all due respect, I feel the natural desire of The Messianic Times for journalistic integrity would make it wish to avoid cooperating inadvertently with any politically-motivated deliberate erasure of my service-record. In truth, any history of Chalutzim so entirely omitting my years there would be vastly journalistically inaccurate. Thank you for considering correcting this.

Rabbi Bruce L. Cohen
Congregation Beth El of Manhattan
(1993–present)

MJAA Development Chairman
(1988–1993)

Chalutzim Head Teacher (Principal)
1984–1988

Chalutzim Teacher of Elementary & Secondary
1980–1988

Chalutzim Part-Time Teacher
(Volunteer) 1978–1980

The Wider Hope
Dear Messianic Times,

Dr. Michael Brown presented us with an article that thankfully did not attack motives but expressed his heart concerning the issue of the “Wider Hope.” I agree with Mike that the texts he quoted for diffusion are not convincing. I would urge that these issues have to be settled on Scriptural grounds. The use of the word heretic, even when quoting a third party, is inappropriate and divisive.

My view on this was presented in Jewish Roots first published some 22 years ago. I also have an extensive paper soon to be published in Kesher. Basically, I agree with Mike that if the wider hope position is too wide it will pragmatically undercut our witness and our growth as a movement. However, we do have to deal with Scriptures that prima facia say that there is hope in Yeshua beyond only those that have made explicit profession. This is what I call a "narrow wider hope." John Wesley argued this fully and adequately. So did Charles Strong, the famous Baptist Systematic theologian in the 19th century. However, both were pessimistic concerning the probability of such a response. That pessimism was based on their reading of Scripture. To this day, I believe these men did rightly perceive the balance on this matter.

One thing is important to me. As a Messianic Jew schooled in Evangelical education and taught by wider hope proponents in the late 60s and early 70s, such as Stuart Hackett, David Wolfe, and Clark Pinnock (professors of very dear memory at Wheaton and Trinity), I believe it is very important that we not use words like heresy on these issues. If Wheaton, Trinity and the National Association of Evangelicals accepts members who hold to wider hope views and does not call them heretics, I think we can and should do the same.

I will oppose a “wide wider hope” view as a problem to our movement, but not as heresy. This is my concern with Loren J. He is in the fundamentalist camp more than the mainstream Evangelical camp on this. I do want our movement to be Biblical, but not fundamentalist in attitudes when dealing with brothers who affirm the historic doctrines of our faith.

Sincerely,
Daniel Juster