Why would a Pentecostal celebrate Jewish Holidays? First and foremost, Hannukah begins today!  I grew up Southern Pentecostal (Church of God). My roots go deep, my great-grandmother (on my father’s mother’s side) left a strong legacy of faith behind. Though the years I’ve gone to some non-denomination churches, but my heart always find home when I walk through the doors of Pentecostal church, so we found one local that has ties to the church I grew up in two hours away. However, I also celebrate Jewish holidays as a Messianic Jew does. This sometimes confuses people. Do I consider myself Pentecostal or Jewish – well, here’s the thing, I believe I’m somewhere in between. I’ll share a chart of some core beliefs of both and highlight where I stand. My entire life I’ve felt a pull towards the Jewish people. It’s something I can’t fully explain. As I got older and began researching my ancestry I was astonished and excited to learn that many of my ancestors were Jewish. I’m only going as far back as my 6th great grandparents (on my father’s, father’s side), they were Juan Segui II and Agueda Agata Enrique. Both were born in Menorca, one of the Balearic Islands of Spain. Juan in Ciutadella and Aqueda in El Mercadel. They were Jewish Spainards that were part of the expulsion of Jews from Spain that followed the Alhambra Decree in 1492. While their families found ways to hide that they were Jewish for many centuries eventually they too left as well. My Minorcan ancestors first stepped foot onto North America in New Smyrna. <– This article even mentions my 6th great grandparents!! “The Minorcans of St. Augustine in the late 1700s and early 1800s were no strangers to relocation. They had survived two major moves since 1768, once from the Old World to the New, and then from New Smyrna to St. Augustine. It should come as no surprise then, that some of these families began to move to the beach along the northeast coast of St. Johns County. They had come to the New World for an opportunity to own their own land. In acquiring land along the North and Guana Rivers, they were finally realizing their dream.” Once I learned of my Jewish heritage everything finally clicked into place for me. I understood the deep love and connection I had always felt for the Jewish people. It also made more sense to me why I had such a longing to learn and participate in Jewish holidays. A few years ago, I got tired of thinking about doing it and got to work. I still have so much to learn and I’m still finding how to navigate life as someone who has Pentecostal beliefs but is also very strongly pulled into the direction of Messianic Judaism. We are blessed to have wonderful Jewish friends who have included us in their holidays over the past few years and have been teaching us. This year we have the joy of hosting a night of Hanukkah at our home for them!  I find myself on the fence when it comes to conversion, although it is something I’ve thought about from time to time. I’d love to hear your thoughts!  Pentecostal vs. Messianic Judaism Beliefs Pentecostal Messianic Judaism How does one get saved? Most believe sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection alone to save you. Oneness Pentecostals believe you must also be baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit. Sola fide: Repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection alone to save you. Who gets saved? Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God’s gift of grace will be saved. Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God’s gift of grace will be saved. Can one lose his salvation? Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. Eternal security: No, once a Christian is saved, he is always saved. Who gets baptized and why? Most believe saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. Saved people get baptized as a public demonstration of their new lives. How should baptism be done? Most believe baptism should be by immersion. Baptism should be by immersion. When does one receive the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation, but being filled with, or baptized in, the Holy Spirit happens later. The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. What is the trinity? Most believe God exists as one god in a Trinity—three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. Oneness Pentecostals believe Modalism: that God has no distinct persons and just manifests Himself in different ways. Most believe the Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. What is the human nature? Total depravity: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. Humans have a יֵצֶר הַרַע (yetzer hara)—an inclination to do evil—and, upon reaching 12 for girls and 13 for boys, develop a יֵצֶר הַטוֹב (yetzer hatov)—a weaker inclination to do good. Are we guilty of Adam’s original sin? No, we are not guilty of Adam’s sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. No, we are not guilty of Adam’s sin, but we did inherit the consequences and a corrupt human nature from him, causing us all to sin. Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? Holiness Pentecostals believe Christians can become perfect and must do so before receiving the Holy Spirit. Other branches of Pentecostalism reject Christian perfection. No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. What spiritual gifts are available today? Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers. How many books are in the Bible? There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.