Not Ashamed: The Story of Jews for Jesus chronicles the exciting birth and development of this high-powered evangelistic movement. Historian Ruth Tucker presents an unbiased, clear perspective on the fresh band of youthful zealots who, led by Martin "Moishe" Rosen, took to the streets of San Francisco in the early 1970s to win their world for Christ. Their compelling sidewalk evangelism and "broadsiding" of passersby with pointed, self-published tracts, produced massive conversions in the "Jesus People" era, and almost immediate conflict with Orthodox Jewish church leaders, who held that no one could be a Christian and a Jew at the same time. Fascinating reading!
Ruth Tucker, who takes a back seat to no one in terms of academic and personal integrity, has done a masterful job in conveying a challenging story. The "warts" and all-too-human aspects of the Jews for Jesus organization are well examined; the claims of "cultic" behavior and some of the disaffected former staffers are dissected and, frankly, debunked.What many of this book's critics won't tell you -- besides the admission that they have (probably) not even READ the book -- is that those who turn away from belief in Jesus are fighting their own battle, and it's not against Moishe Rosen or any other JfJ leader. Being a believer in Jesus is not for everyone, even if the L-rd intended it to be so! Some will fall away, some will be overcome by the cares of modern life, some will succumb to "anti-missionary" arguments.That is the privilege of each and every person on planet Earth. We each, we all, have to make our own decisions. But the mark of the truly mature, I would submit, is that those who dissent are happy to let others make their own choice, without disparaging or dissing those who choose differently.Ruth Tucker's masterful examination of the issues surrounding Jewish belief in Jesus will inform, educate and challenge every reader. It sets an example for would-be authors of similar books to follow and strive after.
Good book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
I found this book to be very informative and well written. It was interesting to see the inner working of the ministry. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more information on Jews for Jesus.
Curious about Jews for Jesus
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I was raised Jewish, but have been a practicing Christian forthe past 20 years. I look for books on others who have similarbackgrounds. This book is about such a group of people. It is writtenby a Christian, but she tried very hard to be fair. She included thearguments that critics have made as well as a fine support for thisgroup. Jews For Jesus is unique in that it is not a denomination. It'smembers worship in a number of ways, some Jewish, some not...
Long term staff member offers comments
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Jews for Jesus has been sailing on the seas of controversy, negativity and opposition from its infancy. Ruth Tucker's book accurately captures the Jews for Jesus response to the opposition. She tells the story of many small triumphs in the day to day lives of our staff. I found it refreshing to have our story told, warts and all.
Not exactly...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is a wonderful book, with great insight into the organization. It was wonderful to read the anecdotes of these people that I love. Ruth Tucker does a wonderful job of giving an unbiased picture of the history of this mission's desire to reach the Jews of the world with the amazing news of the Messiahship of Jesus! However, the title of the book is actually, "Not Ashamed: The Story of Jews for Jesus," not "Called by His Name."
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