Jewish Movements Toward Christianity
By Editor
SPEAKING of missionary operation the Christian at Work says:— "No less than three different places have movements originated among the Jews that have led them toward Christ and the New Testament. It is all the more notable that these have been inaugurated entirely independent of each other. Of the Kishner agitation in Southern Russia, under the leadership of Rubinowitch, the papers have made repeated mention. Yet it seems not generally to be understood that this is a peculiarly Jewish-Christian movement, i.e., the converts do not want to cease to be Jews, but at the same time they want to become Christians. Their models are the Jewish-Christian churches of the apostolic age. They retain Jewish faith, and worship whatever they regard as reconcilable with the full acceptance of the fundamentals of Christianity. They practice circumcision, keep the Sabbath, celebrate the passover as heretofore, but they place all their trust and hope of salvation in Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Moses and the prophets. Accordingly none but Rubinowitch have been as yet baptized, although others are seeking baptism." We suppose that the principal objection to the baptism of these believing Jews is the fact that they keep the Sabbath. Probably very few would object seriously to their keeping the passover and practicing circumcision, so long as they did not rely upon those things in any measure for salvation; but undoubtedly a large majority of so-called Christians of the present day would agree with the Council at Laodicea (A. D. 364), and forbid the keeping of the Sabbath under an anathema.