# No, old lady, DON'T invite the Jews to church! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 14, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824 "2009-02-14T15:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/1 "2009-02-14T15:38:27Z")
This happened during a good deed someone was doing for me, so it’s going to be a mild Pitting. I brought my car in Tuesday for a brake job. I planned to have my wife drive me to pick it up on Wednesday. Unfortunately, she was sick that day, so I decided to go walk the four miles to the repair shop. I got about halfway there and it started to rain. Someone pulled over to the side of the road and offered me a ride. It was an older lady, and I accepted. We got to talking, and it turned out she knows my next door neighbor - they go to church together. So she asked me about my religion. I told her “We’re Jewish”. She then proceeded to tell me about a “non-denominational” church near where we live, and that we should go there. “After all, Catholics go there, and Jews.” This church is called the CHURCH OF CHRIST. What sort of Jews are going there? They’ve gotta be Messianic or something like that. Oy vey! I don’t think she goes to this church. My next door neighbor is Southern Baptist. I just think she was going for the two-point conversion. Lady, if you wanna convert me, just say so! Just don’t tell me the fucking Church of CHRIST has a Jewish congregation! ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/2 "2009-02-14T15:47:57Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > This church is called the CHURCH OF CHRIST. What sort of Jews are going there? They’ve gotta be Messianic or something like that. Oy vey! Whatever the kind of Jew the original Twelve Apostles were, i suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/3 "2009-02-14T15:50:30Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > Whatever the kind of Jew the original Twelve Apostles were, i suspect. 1st Century? What is this - Church of Christ, Time Traveler? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/4 "2009-02-14T15:57:19Z")
[QUOTE= Alessan] What is this - Church of Christ, Time Traveler? [/QUOTE] I would so TOTALLY join that congregation. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/5 "2009-02-14T15:58:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > 1st Century? > > What is this - Church of Christ, Time Traveler? My point was that Being Jewish and Christian are not mutually exclusive, as the OP seems to assume. Christianity is merely a belief system, while “Jewish” could describe someone’s culture or ethnicity. Jesus himself was a Jew, after all. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/6 "2009-02-14T16:23:34Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > My point was that Being Jewish and Christian are not mutually exclusive, as the OP seems to assume. Christianity is merely a belief system, while “Jewish” could describe someone’s culture or ethnicity. Jesus himself was a Jew, after all. Oh, bullshit. If I tell someone “I’m Jewish”, why should they think my belief system is Christian? She specifically asked me about church! ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/7 "2009-02-14T16:30:35Z")
I agree with the pitting. The old lady asked what religion the OP professed. “We’re Jews”, came the reply. This clearly means, in context, “We are of the Jewish religion.” To proceed to invite them to a Christian non-denominational church is just crass. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/8 "2009-02-14T16:34:42Z")
> [@Lizard](#): > > My point was that Being Jewish and Christian are not mutually exclusive, as the OP seems to assume. Yes, yes the are. Christianity recognizes Jesus Christ as the messiah. Judaism does not. Pretty fundamental difference there. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/9 "2009-02-14T17:01:20Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Yes, yes the are. Christianity recognizes Jesus Christ as the messiah. Judaism does not. Pretty fundamental difference there. > > :smack: Perhaps she is ignorant of this fundamental difference. I didn’t know that until I was in my early twenties. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/10 "2009-02-14T17:21:36Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Yes, yes the are. Christianity recognizes Jesus Christ as the messiah. Judaism does not. Pretty fundamental difference there. > > :smack: Or another way to say this is Christianity recognized Jesus Christ as the messiah, Judaism is still waiting for the messiah to be revealed to them. Their role may be to reveal Jesus through them as part of the great commission. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/11 "2009-02-14T17:29:15Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#): > > I would so TOTALLY join that congregation. Heck, I’m an atheist who would go at least once. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/12 "2009-02-14T18:03:39Z")
Uh, let’s assume she is Christian. Perhaps you didn’t notice it, but Christianity is a _missionary_ religion. What, did you expect Christians to simply ignore you? Dumbass. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/13 "2009-02-14T18:13:17Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Uh, let’s assume she is Christian. Perhaps you didn’t notice it, but Christianity is a _missionary_ religion. You know, my father was a Christian, pretty fervent, son of a minister, church elder, etc. In the entire time I knew him he never once attempted or even expressed a desire to convert someone to Christianity, either his own branch or Christianity in general – not even me when I converted out. Actually, of all the Christians I’ve known personally, I can only think of one or two who I can even picture trying to convert someone. Christianity and witnessing do not go hand in hand and it is not unreasonable to be surprised if some individual person who happens to be a Christian tries to convert you. It’s not a common experience for many of us. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/14 "2009-02-14T18:23:39Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Or another way to say this is Christianity recognized Jesus Christ as the messiah, Judaism is still waiting for the messiah to be revealed to them. Their role may be to reveal Jesus through them as part of the great commission. Jesus cannot be moshiach for a variety of reasons abundantly discussed on this board in the past. Or, if you like, it is explained in clear language [here](http://www.jewfaq.org/moshiach.htm). Most importantly, Moshiach will be an ordinary human being with nothing supernatural about him. A person claiming divine origin is not moshiach, definitionally. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/15 "2009-02-14T18:58:51Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Uh, let’s assume she is Christian. Perhaps you didn’t notice it, but Christianity is a _missionary_ religion. What, did you expect Christians to simply ignore you? Dumbass. :rolleyes: YES! It’s called not being a dick. Not that the old Lady is a dick. I think she’s the nice, well meaning but ignorant sort. Inb4 “but their g-d says to!” [http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/WhyCantIOwnACanadian\_10-02.html](http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/WhyCantIOwnACanadian_10-02.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/16 "2009-02-14T19:16:41Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Uh, let’s assume she is Christian. Perhaps you didn’t notice it, but Christianity is a _missionary_ religion. What, did you expect Christians to simply ignore you? Once I’ve expressed a religious preference that’s non-Christian, that’d be the polite thing to do, yes. Miss Manners has a thing or two to say on unsolicited advice. (Of course, my standard answer on religious manners is a polite version of “None of your business”) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/17 "2009-02-14T19:21:15Z")
It really is a fairly progressive denomination. > **[United Church of Christ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ)** > > The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a socially liberal mainline Protestant Christian denomination based in the United States, with historical and confessional roots in the Congregational, Continental Reformed, and Lutheran traditions, and with approximately 4,700 churches and 745,230 members. The UCC is a historical continuation of the General Council of Congregational Christian churches founded under the influence of New England Pilgrims, as well as Puritans. Moreover, it also subsu The Evan... ETA: They’ve even apologized for their role in helping to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/18 "2009-02-14T19:37:15Z")
Was it Church of Christ or United Church of Christ. See, UCC is sometimes known as “Unitarians Considering Christ”, kind of an in-joke in that both the UCCs and the UUs are happy to include anyone in their club, regardless of faith or creed. Yes, it’s a Christian church, but it’s about as liberal as anything out there. I wasn’t there, but my guess is that the lady wanted to share her faith community with you, was stumped by you being Jewish, and instead of connecting the idea that “Jewish” means “synagogue” offered up the place of worship she knew of where a Jew might be comfortable - the UCC. So, she meant well, even if she was clumsy as all get out. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/19 "2009-02-14T19:52:31Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Or another way to say this is Christianity recognized Jesus Christ as the messiah, Judaism is still waiting for the messiah to be revealed to them. Their role may be to reveal Jesus through them as part of the great commission. Perhaps you do not realize that Jews do not generally believe the Messiah will be a person in the sense that Christ was (assuming he was any less mythical than Heracles & Bacchus). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/20 "2009-02-14T19:54:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Perhaps you do not realize that Jews do not generally believe the Messiah will be a person in the sense that Christ was (assuming he was any less mythical than Heracles & Bacchus). But he will be descended from the house of David? Sounds mutually exclusive. No wonder they are still waiting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824.md?page=2)