# 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:** 4
**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 15, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/61 "2009-02-15T23:54:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Hey, I think they are[sharp.](http://www.getreligion.org/wp-content/photos/lubavitch_1.jpg)🙂 “Jews - keeping the fedora industry in business for 48 years.” ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/62 "2009-02-16T00:00:16Z")
I’m more amazed no one’s tried to make a song out of “Hanukkah Man”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/63 "2009-02-16T00:24:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > “Jews - keeping the fedora industry in business for 48 years.” I just wish you could wear them with Levis. The coats, too. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/64 "2009-02-16T00:58:00Z")
It is threads like these that make me glad I no longer live in Jesusland. ---
**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 16, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/65 "2009-02-16T02:09:40Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Hey, I think they are[sharp.](http://www.getreligion.org/wp-content/photos/lubavitch_1.jpg)🙂 Would it be wrong to convert for the hat?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/66 "2009-02-16T02:27:26Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Would it be wrong to convert for the hat?🙂 I’m pretty sure it’s ok to do it for the hat _and_ the [coat.](http://lh3.ggpht.com/mordechai7215/RcJ8wD7AdtI/AAAAAAAAAAg/Uu7izgxGJDQ/s512/DSCF5861.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/67 "2009-02-16T02:52:09Z")
I must be missing something. How does “non-denominational” church near where we live, and that we should go there. become " She was trying to get me to go to services there regularly." Doubtless though, such a random act of kindness in giving you a lift, but then inadvertantly commenting upon religion in such a manner would provoke outrage. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/68 "2009-02-16T02:57:39Z")
> [@Juliana](#): > > Yup. That’s our position. 😃 Cute.😃 ---
**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 16, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/69 "2009-02-16T03:14:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’m pretty sure it’s ok to do it for the hat _and_ the [coat.](http://lh3.ggpht.com/mordechai7215/RcJ8wD7AdtI/AAAAAAAAAAg/Uu7izgxGJDQ/s512/DSCF5861.JPG) Sign me up! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/70 "2009-02-16T03:16:18Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Hey, I think they are[sharp.](http://www.getreligion.org/wp-content/photos/lubavitch_1.jpg)🙂 Hey, look! It’s ZZ Top! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/71 "2009-02-16T03:19:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why, there is, but we’re not allowed…that is, we’re not supposed to…never mind. _slap_ The first rule of the Skald-Hating Club is you don’t talk … Oh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/72 "2009-02-16T03:23:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > “Jews - keeping the fedora industry in business for 48 years.” Hey, you should see me in my dark suit jacket, black fedora & full-grown beard. I could totally freakin’ pass. I oughtta try that during my L.A. April vacation & visit the Chabad. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/73 "2009-02-16T03:33:05Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > _slap_ The first rule of the Skald-Hating Club is you don’t talk … > > Oh! > > :smack: It was that nice man from the Witness Protection program… ---
**Author:** ![butwhat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@butwhat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butwhat)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/74 "2009-02-16T03:58:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I just wish you could wear them with Levis. The coats, too. I’ve seen it done. Looked just fine to me. “I’m pretty sure it’s ok to do it for the hat and the coat.” Only if you can sing, dance, drink and be merry. Those jews put on one heck of a wedding party. The whole dang 2 weeks of it. Made me want to convert right there. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/75 "2009-02-16T04:02:11Z")
Let’s see, how does this go… Two Lubavitcher guys want the best of the long, black wool coats. They are made by the tailor Pincus. They explain to Pincus that the coats must be as black as a Nun’s habit. The tailor agrees, and produces the coats. Anxious to see that the color is as they wished, they see two Nuns on the street and compare their coats to the habits. They mutter something and hurry away. Later the Nuns discuss what happened. “What did they want?” “I don’t know, but they were speaking Latin.” “They were? What did they say?” “Pincus Fuctus.” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/76 "2009-02-16T05:37:02Z")
“You should go there” is not the same as “You should begin attending church there regularly.” What you related that she said can be interpreted in more than one way. Since you are not familiar with the UCC or the Church of Christ that claims to have been founded in 33 BC and I am familiar with both of them, you might want to be open to a little more input. The mission statement that you quoted is from the **denomination** known as the Church of Christ. They were fundamentalists before it became the latest Christian craze. The woman you described mentioned that Catholics, Jews and her neighbor (a Southern Baptist) attend **a** Church of Christ. It is possible that she was lying. It is possible that she is old and confused about the truth. It is possible that it is a non-denomination church and still not the UCC. But if her facts are accurate and if you are also telling the truth, then that church is not the fundamentalist church called the Church of Christ whose mission statement you quoted. That denomination does not even believe that Southern Baptists are going to “heaven.” No one is but other members of the Church of Christ. On the other hand, members of the UCC are _very_ open. Their website (linked below) contains links to some of the statements of faith and writings from other denominations. It is very inclusive, but each congregation can be very different. Statement of Mission of the United Church of Christ: > [@](#): > > As people of the United Church of Christ, affirming our Statement of Faith, we seek within the Church Universal to participate in God’s mission and to follow the way of the crucified and risen Christ. > > Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are called and commit ourselves: > > To praise God, confess our sin, and joyfully accept God’s forgiveness; > > To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our suffering world; > > To embody God’s Love for all people; > > To hear and give voice to creation’s cry for justice and peace; > > To name and confront the powers of evil within and among us; > > To repent our silence and complicity with the forces of chaos and death; > > To preach and teach with the power of the living Word; > > To join oppressed and troubled people in the struggle for liberation; > > To work for justice, healing, and wholeness of life; > > To embrace the unity of Christ’s church; > > To discern and celebrate the present and coming reign of God. > > About this testimony > > The UCC Statement of Mission, 1987, was drafted by a churchwide conference on mission in Houston, Texas, in which representatives from all communities in the church—including evangelicals, liberals, and others—tried to find common ground. The statement was affirmed by General Synod XVI later that year. (Color of some text changed for emphasis.) [Cite](http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/statement-of-mission.html) I live in Nashville and I found four congregations within six miles of my house. I don’t think that a practicing Jew would find fulfillment of her (or his) religious obligations in this or any church. But at least she (or he) would be welcome. On the other hand, there are many non-practicing Jews who might welcome the chance to be involved in activities that promote social justice in an atmosphere which is not terribly pushy. Although the UCC as a whole _is_ very liberal, the only way to know about an individual congregation is to check it out. Since the UCC does not stress doctrine in their Statement of Mission, it considers itself non-denominational and many Christians have no problem understanding what they are saying: It’s okay to hold many differing views within this church. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/77 "2009-02-16T14:17:55Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > The mission statement that you quoted is from the **denomination** known as the Church of Christ. They were fundamentalists before it became the latest Christian craze. > […] > Since the UCC does not stress doctrine in their Statement of Mission, it considers itself non-denominational and many Christians have no problem understanding what they are saying: It’s okay to hold many differing views within this church. I’ve never heard a UCCer describe their church as “non-denominational.” If you search for “denomination” on the [UCC website](http://www.ucc.org/), you’ll see several mentions of the word apparently referring to the UCC. OTOH, the Church of Christ is usually not referred to as a denomination, since they tend to avoid any sort of hierarchy or organization above the level of the local congregation. I couldn’t even find a clearly official website, although [here](http://church-of-christ.org/) are [two](http://www.newtestamentchurch.org/) claiming to represent them with long lists of local congregations. The first explicitly says at the top of the page, “We are undenominational and have no central headquarters or president.” The latter states, “The Church of the New Testament, consisting of those who are ‘called out,’ is not and never was intended to be a denomination among denominations.” They also state the following in reference to their list of local churches: > [@](#): > > To the best of our knowledge, the listed congregations conduct their worship services according to the scriptural pattern you can read about in the New Testament, as follows: > > 1. The speaking in all assemblies is done by faithful men only, one at a time, and the assemblies are not divided into Bible classes, groups, or Sunday schools. > > 2. All men leading the services are baptized believers who practice and adhere to sound Bible doctrine. > > 3. Prayers are prayed in the name of Jesus Christ to thank God for His rich blessings and to request His continued help. > > 4. All music is a cappella, “the way of the Church” (vocal only with no instrumental accompaniment). > > 5. Communion (the Lord’s Supper) is observed every Sunday with one loaf of unleavened bread, from which each participant breaks and eats, and one cup containing fruit of the vine (grape juice) from which each participant drinks. > > 6. The “collection for the saints” is gathered every Sunday with each disciple giving of his means as he has purposed in his heart and as he has been prospered. ETA: I wasn’t able to find a list of those “F.I.R.S.T. values” on the web. Where are they from? ---
**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 16, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/78 "2009-02-16T15:14:26Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > " > The woman you described mentioned that Catholics, Jews and her neighbor (a Southern Baptist) attend **a** Church of Christ. No, I didn’t. She, and my neighbor, don’t go to this church as far as I know. They go to a Southern Baptist congregation. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/79 "2009-02-16T15:17:08Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Since you are not familiar with the UCC or the Church of Christ that claims to have been founded in 33 BC How can any Christian church claim to be founded in 33 BC? > [@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? But saying “We’re Jewish” often does work to get proselytizing Christians to leave you alone. It has worked on the Jehovah’s Witnesses for me. > [@Love Rhombus](#): > > I’m more amazed no one’s tried to make a song out of “Hanukkah Man”. It should be set to the tune of “Particle Man”. ---
**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 16, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824/80 "2009-02-16T15:18:09Z")
To help clear some confusion, here’s more from the website of the church in question: \*At First Church of Christ We Believe… In one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the creator and sustainer of all things. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind. The Holy Spirit indwells believers and empowers them for ministry. The Bible is God’s inspired Word, the final authority for matters of faith and practice. Man is created in the image of God, but through sin is separated from God and in need of a Savior. Salvation is by grace through the blood of Christ. The New Testament pattern for accepting this salvation is to believe in Jesus as God’s Son, to repent of personal sin, to confess Christ publicly, to be immersed in baptism, and to live each day for His glory. Each Christian is gifted by the Holy Spirit for ministry; therefore, every Christian is a minister. The church is the Bride of Christ, and consists of all faithful believers. T **he congregation is locally led by elders and pastors, with no outside agency determining our doctrines or actions.** Christ will literally return and will then pronounce the eternal destination of each person; those who accepted salvation will enter heaven; those who did not accept salvation will be eternally separated from God. Membership is accomplished by submitting to the Lordship of Jesus and being obedient to Him in the pattern of the New Testament, then committing to the mission and ministry of First Church of Christ. Life change happens best in small groups. The church is to carry the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to reach people locally and globally.\* So it looks like they’re unaffiliated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-old-lady-dont-invite-the-jews-to-church/485824.md?page=5)