Jewish-flavored Church
I recently witnessed a Jewish believer in Yeshua trying to concisely describe Messianic Judaism to a roomful of Christians. Now, I completely understand and can relate to the challenges a speaker faces when he needs to close the frame of reference gap and establish rapport with his audience. So I empathize with this man and the monumental task he set out to accomplish.
But this does not change the fact that I was completely mortified by the explanation that came stumbling forth. I can only hope that the words employed came out of nervousness or ill-preparedness, but alas, Messianic Judaism was forever characterized for these Christians as “Church… with a Jewish flavor.” If we are nothing more than “church” with a kippah—or a synagogue with Yeshua on top, for that matter—we have failed in our mission, and utterly lost our way.