Pocket Thoughts #1: Jews, Missions, and the Unsaved Christian

An Idea

A La Carte: small, standalone bites of thought—each separate, each worth savoring. I would’ve loved to use that as the name of this series, but Tim Challies already coined it. So, here I am with Pocket Thoughts.

I wanted to try something new that isn’t so time-consuming and doesn’t require intensive study—something a little more… nonchalant and informal. That doesn’t mean I won’t study for anything that I write on Theologia at all—obviously, I want to be a faithful steward concerning the Gospel and its truths.

Something about me is that I am an observer. I desire to grow and learn. I love thinking. And from time to time, I want to share with you these small observations, reflections, and thoughts—things that, you might say, can all fit in my pocket. So, here’s my phone, wallet, and keys.

The Phone: Orthodox Jews and Jesus

In my early mornings on the way to work, I usually have just enough time to listen to a podcast or sermon. One morning as I was driving, I came across a video of a debate—not the sharp and critical one you might think of, but a civil discourse—between a Messianic Jew and an Orthodox Jew. 

I know what you might be asking: What are the two? For the sake of simplicity, a Messianic Jew is a Jewish person who believes that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament (what Jewish people call the Tanakh), and an Orthodox Jew, on the other hand, does not.

As I listened, I couldn’t help but notice how Orthodox Jews see Christ and the Scriptures. Their views are shaped a lot by the teachings of Maimonides, a rabbi from the 12th century. They don’t believe Jesus fulfilled the prophecies concerning the Messiah, nor do they see Him as holy or divine. Some even call Jesus the “failed Messiah,” saying He led Jews astray, changed God’s law, and inspired anti-Semitic movements.

These Orthodox Jews view the Torah as the divinely revealed law that guides Jewish life. They also believe that Gentiles are called to follow the Noahide Laws—basic moral laws—which is how non-Jews can live righteously according to God’s will.

When asked if they’d ever read the New Testament, every single one said no. Their reasoning? They were “1000%” sure they had already found the true religion (i.e., Judaism), so reading it would be pointless. I found that really interesting because it somewhat reminded me of the first century Jews and Pharisees whom Jesus encountered. 

The Wallet: Overseas Short-Term Missions Trip—A Secret Vacay?

There seems to be a rising trend when it comes to short-term missions trips. From conversations with peers in Bible college to people within the Hmong community, I fear that there are sometimes hidden intentions behind such “missions” that we don’t really speak of.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I should be clear here that I am not against missions, I am for it… however, I think there needs to be a lot of self-examining behind our intentions of going.

We need to think through what the mission is. And if that mission—which, I assume, is to share Christ and His teachings with others—is only something we can do overseas, we’re probably already going for the wrong reasons. 

When we look at the Great Commission, I think some might read “go therefore and make disciples” and think the initial commandment is to “go,” but that would be a faulty interpretation in and of itself because “go” isn’t the commandment of focus; it is a participle. Every single believer is called to make disciples wherever they are and wherever they go.

If those whom we’ve “evangelized” to in other countries saw how we lived our lives back in America, would they see us as true believers who genuinely long and live for Jesus? Or would they see dramatic disconnect? 

Of course, God can and will use anyone whether they have right intentions or not, but wouldn’t it be tragic when such money, for the sake of missions, has deliberately gone to waste just for personal leisure, finding a significant other whom we might cross paths with throughout the mission trip, or for social media clout? 

Are missions about us, or about God?

The Keys: The Unsaved Christian

Never would you think to pair the words “unsaved” and “Christian” together. They almost feel antithetical, don’t they? The term Unsaved Christian comes from Dean Inserra, who wrote about people who call themselves Christians but are actually unsaved—caught up in the whim of Cultural Christianity instead of true, life-changing faith.

When you look at the numbers, Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Yet Jesus said the path is narrow, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:13-14). How do we reconcile that?

In Jesus’ time, He faced people who claimed to know and follow God—people who seemed outwardly religious, yet they were the ones who rejected Him and put Him on the cross. He even pronounced the Seven Woes upon their religious leaders. 

What does this tell us? Profession doesn’t always mean personally knowing Christ.

There are countless professing Christians. Countless churches claim to be a people of God. And yet, inside many of those churches, you find pride, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness. Spirituality has become a measure for condescension.

Some grew up in Christian homes. Some love the idea of an all-loving and all-gracious Jesus who is never wrathful. Some honor the Bible only when it fits their life. Some avoid accountability and secretly live in sin. As long as they attend church and serve in visible ways, they feel secure in their supposed salvation. They are those who know all the Christian language and practices, yet truly don’t know God. 

Wouldn’t it be strange if a community intended for love was known for gossip and slander? Or if a faith-filled community is nothing short of a self-righteous club, full of moral posturing and self-help nonsense?

The Lord hates gatherings done in vain. He dreads worship that isn’t done in spirit and truth. He despises the kind of worship and offering we give when we deliberately choose to live in sin, for Christ Himself said, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Matthew 9:13).

There’s so much more to say on the topic of Cultural Christianity—perhaps, I might just write another article expanding on it in the future—but for now, I’ll leave you with Isaiah 1:9-20:

If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 

“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.

“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.

“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

If you are reading this and feel as though you are the Unsaved Christian (and don’t confuse this with being a new or immature believer), there is grace available for you. The Apostle Paul says that the Lord’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4). Don’t take God’s grace for granted. Ask the Lord to search your heart to test you and your thoughts that, in the process, He might reveal what you need repenting of (Psalm 139:23-24). 

We are not saved because we grew up in a Christian household. We are not saved because we serve. We are not saved because we attend church services.

Rather, we are saved through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins and place our faith in Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9). It's by His saving grace, through our faith, that the atoning blood of Christ is applied to us.