Tzitzit: Challenging Thoughts for Christians/Messianics & Muslims
This portion originally appeared on Torah Echad. Please read the first portion to understand what tzitzit are. I moved it to remove any perceived antagonism; this article is a challenge of dogma directed against the Jewish practice of tzitziyot by other religious (supercessionist) attitudes, not a rebuke or admonition for Christians and Muslims to adopt Torah. It asks why these two faiths chastise us for our beliefs when one can find two sides that say that it is good and others that their tradition teaches we are wrong; so here I'm attempting to challenge narrow-minded attitudes and ask challenging questions. This site is more suited to host this since this is a challenge.
Specific Thoughts for Christians and Muslims
There are two tendencies in Christianity: traditionally an antinomian (anti-Torah observance) one that is prevalent or the emerging one to be “Torah observant.” In Muslim thought tzitzit are not commanded and thus not part of Islam. Tzitzit can be seen from a Muslim perspective as one of those extra commandments given to the Israelites (that were not originally intended) or a Muslim can unfortunately see tzitzit as one of the ways that the Israelites “perverted” G-d’s Laws.
The following may seem polemic, but it is intended only to probe and challenge; it is not meant to be disrespectful. In fact, sometimes I employ traditional and liberal Christian apologetic methodology in order to demonstrate how the arguments need to be examined based on evidence and not some preconceived belief.
To those Christians friends who are antinomian, I will play the debater and ask why do you reject Torah? You may pull out all the traditional arguments, but I will pose some questions (hopefully, I don’t encourage more Messianic-esque movements unless it leads them to the truth).
Why do you dichotomize grace and law, faith and works, commandments from the “OT” and the “NT?” In Judaism, they are not disparate. Hellenized philosophy is the kind that takes “virtues” and separates them into different and opposing categories. For instance, emunah (faith in Hebrew) is not belief, but firmness in what is certainly true. It is everything that we do; we do in reverence to HaShem: when we plow the field we remember the poor, when we sell goods we remember to be equitable – and we do all this because we love and have faith in G-d and His promises to bless us. To borrow your terms, faith and works are not competing values – they are symbiotic. They compliment each other because what we believe affects what we do and what we do affects what we believe.
Why, if Jesus says that the greatest commandments are to love G-d and mankind (Mark 12:28-33 which he quotes from Deut. chapter 6), do you not wear tzitzit – the one commandment (Numbers 15:37-41) that reminds us of all others; a commandment that he commands so that we are holy like Him? If Jesus wore tzitzit, should you (Mt 5:17-19)? Doesn’t Jesus say to be perfect and holy like G-d? If you don’t want to wear them because the “OT” is no longer in effect, could it not be akin to saying, “Murder is okay because it was in the OT; and tithing is also done away with because that was in the OT too” or even saying, “I won’t uphold the command not to commit adultery because I know I have lusted in my heart, so why should I obey the outward sign?” Isn’t this just giving up? My sincere hope is that you find that Judaism (not Messianic or another form of Jesus-worship) provides the answers you seek.
And, what about these verses from your Bible? Please, use a lexicon and you will find that hem of the garment is the tzitzit.
Matthew 9:20-21
20 And see, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the tzitzit of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I shall be healed.’”
Matthew 14:35-36
“35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding country, and brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him to let them only touch the tzitzit of His garment. And as many as touched it were completely healed.”
Matthew 23:5
“And they (scribes, Pharisees) so all their works to be seen by men, and they make their t’fillen wide and lengthen the tzitziyot of their garments...”
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you shall guard my commands.”
Matthew 4:4; 5:19; 7:1
Mark 6:56
Luke 8:44
John 19:23, 24
Acts 3:20
2 Tim 3:16
1 John 3:4,5; 5:3
Rev 12:17; 14:12; 19:13,16
For the Messianics, Nazarenes, 7th Day Adventists, and “Hebrew Roots,” “Sacred Names,” and “Torah observant Christians” I too also play the debater, but I do have a critique on wearing tzitzit.
Messianics (I use this as all encompassing for the above; though I know some of the groups above are more or less strict) as far as I have encountered do not themselves wear tzitzit. Why? See above for my critique. Messianics will wear kippahs and “talk the talk” with Jewish terminology. If being a Messianic does not negate the Jewishness of the convert, why are tzitzit not encouraged? In fact, Torah is still seen as optional or partly negated by most Messianics – what is being Jewish to a Messianic? My honest assessment of their belief is that they act like it is purely genetic and cultural. To them, the religious expression of Judaism is not correct unless it is Christianized by adding Jesus-significance to everything and taking parts of Judaism away.*
(*I believe in people’s right to define and believe what they want and so I will discuss in a future article why, as Jews, we need to respond differently to these Messianic-type movements by encouraging the positive of Judaism. We can only do so much damage control via anti and counter-missionary work or by calling it offensive or arguing it is invalid. We need to outreach and proclaim liberty through Judaism and encourage exploration of what Judaism means to the person rather than forcing any stream. Maybe then, these brethren of ours will freely return to Torah Judaism.)
Of course, the next thing I know Messianics could be regularly donning a tallit everyday with tzitzit in order to convert more Jews (usually secular ones). This is in fact what Messianics do – they are “Jewish” enough to win converts. They speak with the terminology (careful about their selections so as not to be offensive; usually removing traditionally Christian terms) and (probably from a form of goodness in their hearts) try to speak to Jews in order to convince us that Jesus (Yeshua) is the Jewish messiah and that we should believe and if we do, we become more fully Jewish (or at least don’t lose our Jewish identity). This may seem harsh, but the stated goal of Messianics is to convert Jews (or, in their terms, to bring them back to the truth by hearing the good news).
Many (or at least some) messianic gentiles are well intended and want to worship Jesus in a Jewish context (since he was Jewish). So, they are drawn to this “early movement” form of Christianity. Do you think that by wearing tzitzit as a gentile that you are upholding the commandments of HaShem? Are you really sojourning with Jews? Have the Jews (the large body of them) decided that you fit into this category? Do all Gentiles have to follow all the commandments in Torah, or just some? Let’s not even discuss the possibility that Jesus worship is idolatry. What if you are wrong and lead Jews away (consider and study about what assimilation has done to the Jewish people; even without us, where would your movement as Messianics be – we would be in a purely Greco-Roman Christian context)? Won’t it eventually be obvious who the Messiah is? According to your book of Hebrews David, Moses, etc. were all saved and yet they never knew that Jesus as the promised Messiah. The book of Romans teaches that “all Israel will be saved.” We are not saved by works, we are delivered from oppression because this is HaShem’s promise; if He wanted us to believe in Jesus, He would’ve revealed it to the nation like at Sinai rather than in secret in the garden. At the very least, my encouragement is to truly speak our language if you want us to listen. Give charity to the poor, sick, needy, orphan and widow. This should come first, unfortunately of all the Messianic websites I checked (and I did many) only 1 was performing tzedakah (charity) as a primary “mission” and they were located in Israel. Most often, conversion is the main goal.
Now, what about the other intents of those who do wear tzitzit? Is it a way to be justified or attain salvation - is it a way to love your Creator and to follow the command He set forth? Some people may wear them “to be seen by men” as in that they do so to get admiration by men (likewise, someone who told others of how much money he donates is doing so “to be seen by men”). The intent to wear tzitzit so that they receive admiration by people then is not what G-d asks of us (from both a Jewish and Christian perspective). Should Messianics who are not Jewish by blood wear tzitzit? Why would you want to blur the line between Jewish and Gentile? I’ve met Messianics who don’t know how to answer if they are or are not Jewish. It’s a simple question only made difficult because the Gentile believer wants to be Jewish and does some Jewish stuff. Perhaps if they truly obeyed Torah, then we can talk. Most of them “obey” some semblance of kosher, Sabbath, and High Holy Days. They are from a “Messianic” perspective however. And then there are those who are Ephraimite/Two-House doctrine Messianics who believe that “gentile” believers in Jesus become or already are from the lost tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. How far will Christians go to dissolve Jewish identities and replace Israel with the “church?” Is it not enough you portray our religion and values as antiquated and no longer necessary in light of your (that is, to accept yours) religion and values? Now you want to claim you are the true, "perfected" Jews? Even if these aren't your "motivations" in your own mind, do you not see these are the values and results of your advocacy and misrepresentations?
If you are a Messianic and wear tzitzit: it should be done because you love Adonai and are answering His call to be holy as He is holy. Therefore, it is important to understand the significance of the tzitzit and the context so that the intent is not to serve ourselves or look “more holy” to others, but simply because it is on the individual heart to serve G-d and wear them. Regardless, a non-Jew should not feel compelled by anything to wear tzitzit and they should think carefully before donning them – what message does it send? Also, Jewish law (Torah) forbids, or at least greatly chastises, Gentiles who would want to wear them (for a plurality of reasons).
To my Muslim friends, what is the evidence that tzitzit are not what G-d originally wanted to command us? Why would He institute fewer commandments for you and not for the people of Israel? I am not advocating donning tzitzit and making it part of a new movement in Islam (some sort of Torah-observant Islamic movement; that would be interesting though) – I only ask because Moses was the greatest prophet and these are the words that were recorded. Are you sure that tzitzit were a perversion or only for Jews – do we not worship the same G-d? In fact, Judaism teaches that Gentiles can have a full and meaningful relationship to G-d; they need not become Jews and are discouraged from doing so! Torah indicates 7 commandments for nonJews (Laws of Noach/Noah), which does not include tzitziyot or other commandments made directly to and for the Jewish people.
My hope and prayer to my Christian and Muslim friends is that you become open to the truth and let presumption of your beliefs be challenged. For then, perhaps you will be open to a positive approach to Judaism (even those who are positive still have their misgivings; for instance Messianics can be heard talking with disdain about non-believing Jews and about Jewish practices and theologies that should “prove Jesus is the messiah.” Oy).
I don't encourage "good works" in order to achieve salvation (like some Christians think of Judaism), but encourage doing what is right because it is iberating (anyone who has been an alcoholic will testify that not drinking is liberating; the comparison should not be taken too far, I only use this to show that doing or not doing certain things can be liberating rather than burdensome – though often there is some burden to escape the wrong desires), to make the world a better (more just & peaceful, i.e. whole) society, and because we love HaShem and seek to worship Him according to the truth. To use a Christian argument and change it (Pascal’s wager), wouldn’t it be more prudent to obey all the commandments of G-d rather than some or none? If you’re wrong that believing is enough, then you could lose everything. Or, for those who believe and obey Torah – what if Jesus was not the Messiah (as I believe) and so it turns out that you did not obey Torah because you committed idolatry by praying in his name and believing in another god? If you’re right and obey Torah as a Jew, what have you lost? Nothing, you are not only a better person from it, but made the world around you better (for instance, by charitably giving, by respecting animals, by not lending at interest to other Jews, fair business deals, helping orphans and widows, etc., etc.).
In fact, please, read the following article about how some of us Jews feel and think about salvation according to Scripture (Tanakh; the so-called “Old Testament”).
