B'nai Yisrael Messianic Congregation's
Quick Answers about our Messianic Faith
(These answers serve to give a simple introduction to our ministry, but they do not explain every detail.)

1. Do you believe in Jesus?
Yes, except we know Him by His Hebrew name, Y'shua, which was the name He heard while He walked on earth. To us He is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world.

2. Why do you use the Name Yahuwah instead of Lord and Elohim instead of God?
Just as we have a proper name, and like people to use it, so does our heavenly Father. In the Scriptures He tells Moshe (Moses) that His Name is Yahuwah (YHWH) Elohim. Yahuwah is His Name, and Elohim is who He is, the Mighty Ones (plural). YHWH is Echad, a term showing a singular plurality.

3. Are you Christians or Israelites?
Both, with qualifications. We are non-Israelites and Israelites who follow and love Y'shua, but our faith is built on the foundation of the Hebrew Torah, not historical church traditions or Jewish rabbinical determinations.

4. Do you accept the Scriptures as inspired of Elohim, including the New Testament? Yes.

5. Do you believe that Elohim works the same today as in Bible times?
Yes. He works whatever He wills, unhindered by time or space. If Elohim did it or promised it in the Bible, then it can happen today and at any time.

6. Do you believe in being "born again?"
Yes. Because of the sinful spiritual nature in all people that accompanies physical birth, a new creation of the human spirit is needed to fully relate to our holy Elohim. The act of new creation of our spirit by Elohim in us is in effect being "born over again." Y'shua our Messiah offers this to all who trust Him.

7. Do you believe the Torah of Moshe is valid today?
Yes, as a standard for righteousness. All Torah remains valid for practice if the circumstances remain available. For instance, Temple laws cannot be performed without a Temple in place. However, the principles and shadows found in these remain useful. The Torah is for protection and instruction, not perfection.

8. Do you believe we should all keep the Seventh Day Sabbath?
Yes. We proclaim that from the time of creation Yahuwah set aside sundown Friday to sundown Saturday as a gift of physical rest to us. We should accept the holy gift gladly.

9. Do you believe we should all eat only kosher?
Yes, according to what is the plain Scriptural instruction of what animals may be consumed. We do not believe that it is required or even necessarily helpful to be restricted to a rabbinically approved kosher diet.

10. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
Yes. In Hebrew, Holy Spirit is Ruach HaKodesh. Elohim is spirit, which is breath in Hebrew. Breath is life. Elohim is life. The Ruach HaKodesh is continuing daily to perform the miracles of bestowing holy life upon the hearts of receptive people.

11. Do you believe in the gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh, like healing?
Yes. With Elohim nothing is impossible, ever.

12. Do you keep all of the Jewish Feasts?
Yes, we celebrate the Seven holy feasts which are the Feasts of Elohim, not just the Feasts of Israel, as a "memorial throughout your generations forever."

13. Do you keep the Christian holidays, like Christmas and Easter?
No. We only celebrate scripturally commanded holy days. Neither Christmas nor Easter are the actual days for the events they propose to celebrate, and they represent the worship of a different "god", not the God (YHVH) of the Bible. We, rather, celebrate the actual days of the birth and resurrection of Y'shua, which were already scheduled in the Feasts of Elohim.

14. Are you Israel?
Yes. We are grafted into Israel through Y'shua the Messiah, and with all those who keep the Covenant of Torah (instructions) that Elohim gave to Israel.