Are Jews still God's Chosen People?

[Pegg]

Jesus is Deific to Xians. Therefore, Jesus isn't ''Jewish'', any more than a deity would be. He happened to incarnate in Israel, so we get the perspective of the 'man' God, as He walked among us, from that area,/tradition; however 'Jesus', , JHVH, is for everyone. For the more historically minded people, *Josephus claimed that the 'Christians' were a group of Jewish and non-Jewish people, so the earliest message would seem to be one that wasn't just about a "Jewish Messiah". The 'messiah' aspect of Jesus is incidental to His Deity nature.
*I don't adhere to everything Josephus writes, in fact I disagree on some points; however in this instance I believe the veracity of his writings.

where in the bible does it say that Jehovah 'incarnated' into the form of a man?

 

[Levite]

It could be that Jesus who spent his life teaching straight line Judaism.
ended up as the joint deity??? Of a new and massive religion.

That would be very funny indeed, but the history of how Christianity has treated Jews and Judaism makes it something akin to gallows humor.

 

[Kolibri]

That would be very funny indeed, but the history of how Christianity has treated Jews and Judaism makes it something akin to gallows humor.

Christianity defections mirrored the Israelites defection when they served Molech. Neither proved loyal. Only most of Christendom is still worshiping their calf and calling it "Jehovah."

 

[Flankerl]

As for Muslims, it's more complicated because Islam came centuries after Christianity and we certainly don't accept Muhammad as a prophet. It's been the official line at the Vatican to say that Christians and Muslims adore the same God (which makes sense because the Vatican is concerned about diplomacy, as well) but there's no agreement about that and we're not doctrinally required to believe that. Nevertheless, we are called to have respect and show charity to all. But so far, this respect and dialogue seems awfully one-sided.

This is so funny because you can change a few words and its about Judaism and Christianity.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Astounds me somewhat, they build statues in their churches, ask saints to intercede,
worship a tripartite deity ... and somehow imagine it is not all Idolatry ..

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

This is so funny because you can change a few words and its about Judaism and Christianity.

If you look at it that way, then the part about respect and dialogue becomes even more interesting.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Astounds me somewhat, they build statues in their churches, ask saints to intercede,
worship a tripartite deity ... and somehow imagine it is not all Idolatry ..

Because it's not. Idolatry, in the Biblical sense, is the worship due to God being accorded to created things in lieu of the Creator.

 

[Flankerl]

If you look at it that way, then the part about respect and dialogue becomes even more interesting.

For you probably in the entire different direction than for me.

 

[Kolibri]

Because it's not. Idolatry, in the Biblical sense, is the worship due to God being accorded to created things in lieu of the Creator.

If Jesus was created, than worshiping him, though he is the 2nd most honored personage in the universe, would be idolatry.

Respect and honor are due the Son. But not reverence in the fullest sense.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

Because it's not. Idolatry, in the Biblical sense, is the worship due to God being accorded to created things in lieu of the Creator.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
— Exodus 20:4-6 (KJV)

Seems to me that simple law has 3 parts, 1: not make the Image, 2: not venerate them,
and 3 most certainly Not Worship .....
So making the statue be it saint, Mirriam, or Yeshua. or his Cross is against Hashem ...

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

For you probably in the entire different direction than for me.

I should think so!

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

If Jesus was created, than worshiping him, though he is the 2nd most honored personage in the universe, would be idolatry.

Respect and honor are due the Son. But not reverence in the fullest sense.

That would be true if Christ was only a man.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
— Exodus 20:4-6 (KJV)

Seems to me that simple law has 3 parts, 1: not make the Image, 2: not venerate them,
and 3 most certainly Not Worship .....
So making the statue be it saint, Mirriam, or Yeshua. or his Cross is against Hashem ...

If you want to take that verse out of context and take it to its logical conclusion, then we could not make images of anything. No drawings, artwork, photos, TV, film, etc. So be careful in how far you wish to take that before you get into Taliban-esque extremes.

Also, God did order the Israelites to create images, such as the golden Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. We are allowed to have such things as aids to focus in worship and as also to give glory to God's majesty.

 

[Kolibri]

That would be true if Christ was only a man.

To the "Jesus is God" camp it is dishonoring to not worship him.
To the "Jesus is not God" camp it is dishonoring to worship him.

It really creates a quandary for someone who wants to seek the truth w/o taking into consideration preconceptions.

For myself I take Colossians 1:18 literally. "[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." He is not God but the reflection of him. He is not the creator, but the very earliest of God's creation.

 

[Deidre]

From a purely theistic standpoint, I'd answer yes to the OP, because the Jews were the first to bring about the idea of 'one, true God.' This isn't to be confused with Judaism suggesting that Jewish people have special rights above others. (which is often misconstrued when people look at the term 'chosen') That's my understanding, anyway.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

I agree Deidre

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

To the "Jesus is God" camp it is dishonoring to not worship him.
To the "Jesus is not God" camp it is dishonoring to worship him.

It really creates a quandary for someone who wants to seek the truth w/o taking into consideration preconceptions.

For myself I take Colossians 1:18 literally. "[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." He is not God but the reflection of him. He is not the creator, but the very earliest of God's creation.

I'm well-aware of what JWs believe about this subject, and we'll never agree so it's best just to leave it here and not take this thread off-topic. There's dozens of threads on the Trinity on this site.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

That would be very funny indeed, but the history of how Christianity has treated Jews and Judaism makes it something akin to gallows humor.

The Christian attitude to Jews has tended to be episodic.
The Holocaust was never a religious affair, it was an attempted Racial extermination along with other Sub races defined by nazism.
Most of the Christian nations that attacked or threw out Jews in the middle ages did so because Christian rulers saw it as a cheap way to avoid their debts. The call of God Killer was an excuse and rallying cry to the masses.
In the early years of Christianity It was not Christianity, but the enmity between Israel and Rome that was the problem.

Jewish peoples have throughout the ages made themselves so easily identifiable, that they have been easily picked on by anyone looking for a scapegoat.

In the real world of day to day living, many of us have no Idea if our friends are Jews or not.
An event that well illustrates that, is that my Daughter and Son in law Invited a few fellow Doctor friends for a meal.
One of the dishes was a Quiche lorraine. It turned out two of their friends were Jews.

However, as no christian kitchen observes the necessary culinary rules anyway, It was a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[muhammad_isa]

From a purely theistic standpoint, I'd answer yes to the OP, because the Jews were the first to bring about the idea of 'one, true God.'

I don't agree with that..
Moses, peace be with him, was not the first prophet 'recruited' by Almighty God. Abraham, peace be with him, is well known to have been particularly single-minded when it came to the Oneness of God/Yahweh/Allah
[ only three different languages, not 3 gods ]

Abraham was not a Jew. Neither was he a Christain or Muslim as such. He was a true believer in Almighty God .. Judaism was 'born' with prophet Moses.

The Jews were certainly 'the chosen people' when they were being oppressed by Pharaoh, but the concept of 'chosen' is not something that lasts, unless 'the contract with God' is being fulfilled. It's not just a matter of being a Jew, or being a Christain, Sikh whatever..

Almighty God chooses whomsoever He wills .. He raises any nation that sincerely turns to Him for help. The converse is aslso true. We can see that in the 'rise and fall' of civilisations throughout history.

 

[bretzter]

Judaism was not "born" the time of Moses.
Jews are actually considered to be Jews because of a son of Jacob,Judah.
And there was no such thing as far as I can recall that is,of any mention of
the word Jews in Egypt under Pharaoh.
Hebrews or Isrealites maybe,unless you want to refer to the tribe of Judah
personally.
Actually I think the term Jews began during the reign of King David after he
took the Ark of the Covenant with him and began reigning in Jerusalem.
And originally the Isrealites were made up of 12 tribes,but God picked only
Judah and Benjamin to serve him at a later date when God cast away the
other 10.
Look at the current flag of Isreal in modern times,is it not the "Star of David"
on it?.
Btw,what makes Jerusalem so significant to all 3 monotheistic faiths in our
modern time?.