Lausanne World Pulse – Reaching Families from Different Religious Traditions
By Tuvya Zaretsky
Jewish-Gentile couples present an interesting case study for reaching families from different religious traditions. It has humorously been said, “Jews are like everybody else, only more so.” A thoughtful approach to Jewish-Gentile couples and their families may provide valuable insights for reaching couples and families from other mixed religious traditions as well.
What does this remarkable opportunity for evangelistic ministry to intermarrying Jewish people look like? What are the challenges that Jewish-Gentile couples face? What are some practical approaches that can reach couples and their families for the sake of the gospel?
Terminology
A cross-cultural case study has specialized terms. Jewish-Gentile partners are distinguished by ethnic backgrounds. Their different religious traditions add a unique cultural complexity. Let us start with the difference between ethnicity and religion.
Ethnicity is the classification of a nation as people. Jewish ethnicity refers to the people who came from Jewish parents going back to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So, ethnicity is the common connection of people by a bloodline. It does not change except in children, through ethnically mixed marriage.
On the other hand, religion is a component of culture. Cultural variations are learned. Religious beliefs can change. Therein do couples from different religions experience a key source of tension.
Case Study: Jewish-Gentile Couples
Jewish-Gentile couples are a good case study for reaching families from different religious traditions. They are also a population that presents a wonderful missiological opportunity since they are in the midst of transition.
Demographic studies of Jewish people reveal surprisingly high rates of intermarriage. A 2005 study of world Jewry estimated intermarriage rates over the last twenty-five years.1 Jews of the former Soviet Union (FSU) intermarried at a rate of eighty percent. Jews in Europe had married Gentiles in forty to sixty percent of the cases. In Australia, the rate was fifty-five percent; in the United States, fifty-two percent; and in Latin America, forty-five percent. Even in Israel, at least ten percent of the marriages since 1980 were to non-Jews. This growing population of couples from different religious traditions presents an opportunity for evangelism.
Challenges
Formulating an appropriate approach for gospel ministry to Jewish-Gentile couples begins with understanding their challenges. Social research has revealed that religious faith is an important factor in marital stability. Without spiritual harmony, couples face a greater threat of marital dissatisfaction and divorce. Studies have shown that Jews who are married to Gentiles are twice as likely to divorce than those who are married to other Jews. Spiritual help is needed.