This is Part 3 in our series on “Athens or Jerusalem? Establishing the Spiritual Heritage of Jesus’ Followers”

I have heard many Christians, and even some Messianic Jews, express the idea that “we don’t have anything to learn from the Jews or their dead legalistic religion, but they have everything to learn from us.” This elitist and exclusive attitude has not only denied fair and honest access to the true gospel of Jesus Christ for our Jewish brothers and sisters, but has stripped the Church of much of her own rich heritage as heirs to the faith of our father Abraham.

Much of the anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism found in many churches today can be traced directly to these negative attitudes towards Jews and the Jewish faith.

Much of the bad blood between Jews and Christians is a result of the unfortunate decision by the Church to call the Jewish Scriptures the “Old Testament.” This title implies that the Hebrew Bible is passé, out of date and...