Differences Between Judaism and Evangelical Christianity Explained for a 12-Year-Old

Understanding the Differences Between Judaism and Evangelical Christianity

Both Judaism and Evangelical Christianity are religions that many people follow, but they have some important differences. Let me explain them step by step in a way that's easy to understand.

1. Beliefs About God

Both religions believe in one God, but their ideas about God and how to connect with Him can be different.

• Judaism: Jews believe in one God who created the world. They follow the teachings of the Hebrew Bible (especially the Torah), which includes laws and stories for living a good life. They believe that God made a special agreement (called a covenant) with the Jewish people.
• Evangelical Christianity: Evangelicals also believe in one God, but they believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He came to Earth to save people from their sins. They follow the Bible, including the New Testament, and believe that trusting Jesus is very important to being close to God.

2. Important Books

• Judaism: The main holy book is the Tanakh, which is similar to the Christian Old Testament. The Torah, the first part of the Tanakh, is very important because it includes laws and teachings.
• Evangelical Christianity: Evangelicals use the whole Bible, which includes the Old Testament (similar to the Tanakh) and the New Testament, which tells about Jesus's life and teachings.

3. Religious Practices

• Judaism: Jews follow many traditions, like celebrating holidays such as Passover, keeping the Sabbath (Saturday) special by resting and praying, and following dietary laws (like kosher food).
• Evangelical Christianity: Evangelicals attend church on Sundays, pray often, read the Bible, and celebrate holidays like Christmas (Jesus's birth) and Easter (Jesus's resurrection). They believe in sharing their faith with others.

4. Role of Jesus

• Judaism: Jesus is not considered the Son of God or the Messiah. Jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah to come.
• Evangelical Christianity: Jesus is central to their faith. They believe He is the Son of God, died for people's sins, and rose from the dead.

Summary

In short, Judaism and Evangelical Christianity both believe in one God but have different ideas about Jesus and how to live. Judaism focuses on the laws and traditions given to the Jewish people, while Evangelical Christianity focuses on faith in Jesus and the message of the New Testament.