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Messianic Christianity «vs» Noahidism

Messianic “Judaism” is a modern, Gentile-created religion that emerged out of the Hebrew Christian movement in the 1900's. They're people who legitimately believe in Christian theology that Jesus is and has appropriately fulfilled all conditions to be considered the Mashiach. Adherents often consider themselves to be fully or partially Jewish (despite being derisive towards Judaism and actual Jews- who they consider to be "lost" or "astray" because they "haven't accepted their true Messiah yet"). However, they are not and have been actively been rejected by all movements and groups within Judaism- which considers them a fully Christian (and entirely antisemitic) religion.

Noahidism, however, is Jewish created, Jewish taught, and Jewish led. It dates back (at minimum) to the Second Temple era, and is based on Jewish theology and their own interpretations of their religion and its doctrines. And it's been repeatedly confirmed by Jewish Rabbis and Sages throughout the ages.

Noahidism is also not necessarily a religion in and of itself (and indeed, leaders of the modern Noahidic movement have explicitly prohibited Noahides from making it into its own unique religion), so much as it is a system of rules and guidelines for Non-Jews for how to live and worship alongside the Jewish community as "righteous Gentiles". And that itself is centered on the Judaic belief that you don't have to explicitly be Jewish to have a place in Olam Ha-Ba ... But that you do, at bare minimum, have to follow the 7 Laws of Noah as divinely ordained commandments from HaShem for all of Humankind.

It can sometimes be considered / suggested as an option for those who don't actually have the capability of full conversion for various reasons — or as a sneaky way of trying to get someone not to convert (if you really want to be rude). Though it's incredibly frowned upon to actually suggest Noahidism to a prospective convert unless you're actually specifically their Rabbi.

It has the support of at least the Orthodox movement (though not without controversies). I'm unsure of how well it's acknowledged and accepted by other movements currently, though. But due to gaps in its history because of antisemitism, it's still reemerging as a modern movement- and so a lot of people are no longer familiar with it and its history within Judaism in general. Regardless of that gap in modern knowledge, though, from what records show us the two have always been intertwined.

That gap also means, however, that there's still a lot of ongoing discussion regarding how Noahides may approach and participate appropriately; without using Jewish rituals and celebrations incorrectly, or overstepping inappropriate boundaries laid out by the Jewish community surrounding their stuff. But thankfully, there's enough literature to work from (Rambam arguably wrote the most comprehensive series on Noahides), to aid Rabbis in figuring out an appropriate path for us to follow in the modern era.

Or, to put it short, sweet, and simple: Messianic Judaism Christianity is a bunch of Christians antisemitically larping Judaism as part of a decades (actually over half-century, now) long ploy to convince the Jewish people to finally "accept Jesus", and no one in the Jewish world likes or accepts them.

Noahidism, on the other hand, may be little known today but is a historically attested Jewish created movement that's explicitly intended for Gentiles who want to worship HaShem with them without being Jewish; with a lot of rules for how to do that right and respectfully according to their rules, and what they're willing to share and let us participate in with them.

Main Sources

  • An answer to an ask received on my own Tumblr