Secular Jewish People

Who are Jewish people?

For many, this question conjures images of Orthodox Jewish men with black coats and hats. Or a synagogue service with all the men wearing a yarmulke. But did you know there is a large percentage of Jewish people whose Jewish identity is not connected with religious observance?

Around 45% of Jewish people worldwide consider themselves secular,* meaning they are Jewish ethnically, but don’t practice Judaism. This group is larger than any of the other religious classifications of Jewish people (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc.) There are varying beliefs among secular Jewish people: atheists, agnostics, those influenced by eastern religions, and even those who believe in a “higher power” but have no desire to follow a religion! The one thing most have in common is striving to be a good person in this world, but defining for themselves what “good” is.

The statement in Romans 10:3 could accurately apply to this group: “For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”

The sad truth is that most secular Jewish people do not know about the righteousness available through Messiah’s sacrifice. They know Christians believe in Jesus. They know there’s something about a cross and blood. But most will go through life without ever hearing the gospel. Most have not read any of the New Testament. They’ve never been challenged to believe in Jesus!

Life in Messiah staff around the world are reaching out to secular Jewish people who have this mindset. Through relationships, outreach campaigns, street evangelism, and more, we are consistently looking for ways to reach them with the truth of the righteousness available in God alone.

Click to hear the story of *Jacob, a secular Jewish man who found Messiah through the outreach of a messianic congregation.

  • Jacob hadn’t been to a Jewish service since his Bar Mitzvah at 13 years old. Like many secular Jewish people, Jacob felt there was no need for God or religion. It was enough to live a good life and be a good person.

    In the eyes of the world, he was a good man, but the years dealt him some hard blows. The battle to save the life of his first wife proved harder than his twenty years of service in the Navy. His one healthy kidney wasn’t enough to save her. He couldn’t suspend the inevitable. But even with the death of his wife, he did not seek God.

    Years later a friend, *Sarah, invited him to a Messianic Rosh Hashanah service where Jesus was clearly proclaimed as the Messiah. Curiosity was written all over Jacob’s face as he eagerly approached our LIFE staff member. “Thank you for the service. I’ve never heard anything like this before.”

    This curiosity drove him into the Scriptures, studying and reading. He attended every service and Fall Feast. The light from the bonfire at the Sukkot celebration illuminated Jacob and Sarah as they danced to Hava Nagila. Jacob was revelling in the joys of the Jewish life cycle for the first time in his life.

    Weeks later in the cool of the evening service, Jacob stood and boldly interrupted. He had been reading the Bible and needed to share what he found. “How could any Jewish person read Isaiah 53 and not see Jesus?!” Being secular, he had never paid much attention to the Scriptures. But now, the power of God’s Word moved him from his secular apathy to a newfound faith in Jesus, the Messiah.

    Jacob’s faith immediately began to impact those around him. His grown children were furious at the knowledge of his upcoming baptism. But eventually they both came to faith and were baptized! Sarah and Jacob were later married, and the shared faith has brought peace to the whole family. They continue to share the truth of Messiah with those around him.

    Jacob has gone from a secular position of “trying to be a good person,” to sharing with others the goodness of God in Messiah Jesus.

    Life in Messiah staff around the world are reaching out to secular Jewish People who hold this same mindset. Most, like Jacob, have never considered the validity of the Scriptures. Most have never heard a presentation of the gospel.

Would you pray and ask God what part He would have you play in sharing the gospel with these precious people lost in their self-righteousness?

One immediate way you can get involved is by donating to Life in Messiah today. Your gift will further the spread of the gospel among secular Jewish people.

Please prayerfully consider this opportunity to partner with us in taking the gospel