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Based on Long Island, Beth Yeshua stands on the Word of God, and under the grace of God, its mission is to bring the Gospel to the Jew and to the Gentile. Since 1971 Beth Yeshua has been teaching the harmony between the Old (Hebrew scriptures) and the New Testaments. In addition to the teaching, tract distribution and seminars, we are a New Testament Fellowship where both Jew and Gentile worship together. The foundation for this teaching and worship is grounded in Yeshua (Jesus) having fulfilled the scriptures as the promised Messiah of Israel.
Beth Yeshua, our messianic fellowship and congregation, provides an informal, cozy atmosphere devoid of church symbols, and ritualism which may be uncomfortable for the unsaved and new Believers.
We are a congregation of Jewish and Gentile believers who come together for weekly worship and fellowship Our non-Jewish brothers and sisters enrich their relationship in the Lord by learning about the Jewish roots of their faith. We are not concerned about external trappings or legalism, but believe great benefit is derived through a better understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and prophetic fulfillment.
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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK US!
Q. What is Beth Yeshua and what does it mean?
A. Beth Yeshua literally means the House of Jesus or House of Salvation. It is a congregation of Jewish and Gentile believers who worship in the New Testament tradition as described in the Book of Acts.
Q. Why have a Beth Yeshua or a Hebrew-Christian fellowship as a separate place of worship since, essentially, it is a New Testament church like any other?
A. The original church was comprised primarily of Jewish worshippers who came to faith in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. They, in turn, brought this message to the Gentiles. Eventually, the gentiles predominated the church, resulting in its loss of Jewish traditions and Old Testament teachings. Many churches today do not realize the foundations of Christianity laid in the Hebrew Scriptures. This not only diminished understanding the gospel, but overlooks reaching the Jewish people with the gospel message.
Q. Is there a biblical basis for such an outreach?
A. Yes, Romans 1:16 states that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also the Greek. Jews do not generally go into churches where they will hear this message. Obviously, a synagogue does not teach about Jesus being the Messiah. Thus, we bridge this gap in an informal atmosphere, where both can come and not be intimidated by formality and ritual. We also avoid the use of Christian symbols that may be offensive to Jews.
Q. Are there other differences that set you apart from other churches?
A. Beth Yeshua emphasizes the harmony between the Old and New Testaments. We, also, teach the Jewish festivals and traditions observed by Jesus and the disciples. These festivals are found in the Bible and enhance our understanding of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul spoke of them as the shadow of things to come. (Colossians 2).
Q. The Messianic movement reverts back to present day synagogue worship, including keeping aspects of the law. How do you feel about this?
A. Since we do not look to turn Jews into gentiles, it would be equally inappropriate to make gentiles into Jews (Gal. 2:14). We believe, as the Bible states, that the middle wall of partition has been torn down (Eph. 2:14). There is no difference between Jew and gentile. They have become one new creation in Messiah (II Cor. 5:17). We stand on the word of God which tells us that Jesus fulfilled the law for us. We are all under the grace of God. Simply put by the Apostle Paul, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Messiah is dead in vain." (Col. 2:14)
Q. Some might argue that adopting Jewish names, worshipping on Saturday and embracing Torah (Jewish law) is a better way to reach Jews. Since you have the same concern for the Jewish people, don't you agree that this make sense?
A. These Messianic Jewish congregations are highly criticized by members of traditional Judaism. They accuse these outreaches as being surreptitious and misleading (Christianity in sheep's clothing or camouflage with the insidious intent to convert innocent Jews to Christianity). Scripture teaches that we are to avoid every hint of such practice and we feel an open and honest approach is wiser. We do not hide our passion to worship the Lord Jesus who, per the word is the one of whom Moses and the prophets testified.
While we find no basis for legalism, and prefer to worship on Sunday for the reasons cited, we fully respect the decision for some congregations who prefer to meet on Saturdays, but are in agreement that we are under grace and not under law.
Q. Wouldn't it make more sense to worship on Saturday, as do the Jewish people?
A. Here again, we do not sacrifice scriptural truth in order to gain appeal. The Jewish believers of the New Testament began meeting on the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection of their savior. This day that follows the Sabbath is also spiritually seen as the eighth day or the new beginning. We honor that teaching. The Sabbath prophetically speaks of entering into the rest of God. In the old dispensation, that was limited to the seventh day. In the new dispensation, we enjoy the rest of God every day of the week (Hebrews 4:3)
Q. Many traditional Jews will still find fault with you no matter how sensitive you try to be. So, why not simply follow Jewish custom to appeal to the Jewish people who would be more comfortable in a synagogue setting?
A. We feel obliged to be sensitive to both Jew and gentile as revealed in God's word. We do not regard this as the lesser of two evils, but what is right and appropriate for a loving atmosphere that seeks to rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15). Jesus died for all, and we feel this message is best presented in the surroundings and format we have been using for thirty-five years.
Q. Many messianic congregations are generally headed by rabbis who may or may not be of Jewish descent. Is your leader a rabbi?
A. No. Although Martin Fromm, who leads this congregation, was raised in a typical Jewish setting and formally kept a kosher home with his Jewish wife of over forty years; he refuses to use the title "rabbi". It implies that he has the credentials and qualifications of a rabbi as demanded by orthodox Jews. Marty has spent almost thirty-five years studying the word of God, but only one who has taken smicha and has been ordained under stringent requirements has the right to call himself rabbi.
Q. Is there any closing comment that you might add to help understand this ministry?
A. Paul wrote in Romans, Chapter 10, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." We say, AMEN, to this.
If you have any further questions about our ministry, please do not hesitate to e-mail us, or better yet, if you are in our area, drop on by our Wednesday night class or Sunday services.
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