Gil over at Hihurim has a great post on the issue of gaining Torah insights from a gentile. I have thought about this issue from time to time, since my work involves developing eBooks for a christian company and I invariably end up reading parts of the books I work on. I dislike some of the books we publish, and I disagree with all of them in major and minor points, but occasionally I see a teaching that is both right and beautiful.

How can I justify doing the work that I do despite the fact that my company's books teach theology that runs counter to my own and at times is even anti-Torah? My best response to that question is to say that I have the ability to influence my company's decisions on whether or not to publish books that contain anti-Semitic or blantanly anti-Torah teachings. When we get a preview copy of a book that has anything to do with Judaism or a related topic, my boss brings it straight to me. He trusts my opinion on those works and has declined publication offers on every occasion when I have expressed concerns. If I can contine to be a positive influence on the quality of materials being made available to pastors and teachers in the christian world, straining out the schmutz and encouraging better content, then I feel that my job is worthwhile.

I am also taking an active role in encouraging the publication of original lanuguage works in our program, with the goal of seeing more christians engage the original texts with understanding. I would love to get us access to some good Jewish commentaries and even to develop a library of Jewish works that will encourage even more learning in that direction.

Now, while it may seem like I am encouraging cencorship, I should say that I am not. If I were promoting censorship I would raise issues with every book I edit. My goal is to raise awareness and remove impediments. If a proposed book screams that the Jewish people are not G-d's chosen people, then I see no reason to condone its publication. If a proposed book advocates the speaking of G-d's name or ridicules Judaism for its practices, then I feel that I am obligated to contest its publication. That is, after all, why my boss brings me these books in the first place: to get the opinion of someone outside the camp on how the books will be seen by others in the same position. It is both an honor and a huge responsibility to represent Jewish thought in that discussion.

The only way to point people to truth is to get out there and stick out a finger. And you know me... I have no qualms about pointing my finger where I think the truth can be found.

Labels: Messianic Judaism