In this installment of the series "Back to the Root", I'd like to delve more into the consequences for the modern western church of being severed from the root of our faith, which is the root of Israel, the Word of God. Just seeing that the consequences are so far-reaching and so detrimental to the health of the Body can stir a hunger for righteousness. It is then that I would like to take a look at what being re-connected to that root might look like. This is inspiring for a number of reasons mainly of which is a purification process the Lord might choose to take us through.
REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY
As I have touched on in previous posts, one of the ways we can see how the church has been disconnected from her Hebrew roots is through an error in doctrine known as replacement theology. Replacement theology is built upon the notion that the church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people and therefore have superceded Israel in the promises God has made to His people including the promise of land. It can be as blatant as outright anti-semitism and persecution of the Jews, and can be as subtle as minimizing Israel's importance or significance in any number of ways.
During the reign of Constantine (306 A.D.), there was a growing segment of the population, the Christians, whom Constantine saw as a catalyst for solidifying his power and homogenizing the Empire. According to reports, Constantine had a "conversion" experience during which he saw an illumined vision of a cross. There is much dispute about whether or not Constantine became a convert to Christianity or not. The fact of the matter is that he said he did, although those who look with discernment at this experience may come to a different conclusion. (I happen to believe the latter). It worked to Constantine's favor politcally. Nonethless, he became very influential in church affairs and doctrine. Around that same time, the followers of the Messiah were increasingly gentile (non-Jewish) in their background. The number of Jews who followed The Way (of Yeshua, as it was called), was diminishing. Adding to that fact that Jews who were followers were also being burdened with a heavy tax and pressured to look more and more gentile in their identity and style of worhsip, and we can see how the Jewish influence in the Body at that time was in danger of becoming extinct. In effect, such Jewish traditions (which most were biblical traditions and in fact, mandates of the Word of God, such as the celebrations of the Feasts in Leviticus 23) were becoming less observed and instead, a slew of pagan celebrations were taking their place by the time the Roman Catholic church was well established.
Constantine, an obvious anti-semite, replaced the Sabbath of the seventh day (Saturday) with the day which was named for honoring the sun god, Sunday officially. He also replaced the Passover with his more preferrable "holy day" of Easter, named after his fertility goddess Ishtar, or Ashteroth. The name of this goddess has changed throughout the centuries and across cultures, but historians generally agree that it is one and the same goddess, the one, in fact, the Lord told the Israelites to demolish her strongholds in the Land of Israel and to destroy her poles (the Ashterah poles, of which we get our verions today of the striper pole, believe it or not). These are things, mind you, that Constantine had no authority from the Word of God to do.
Constantine's reasons for doing away with the Passover of our Lord in place of the fertility goddess' holiday, complete with the dipping of eggs in blood and conducting "sunrise services" is documented in the Nicean Council's report which is available on the internet. He did it to distance himself and his subjects from the practices of "those detestable Jews" (his words, not mine).
Other early church fathers followed suit in their prejudices against the Jews and they officialized them in the form of church doctrine. Among them were Justin Martyr, John Chrysostom, Turtullian, and Martin Luther. Most of these men preached of deicide (the killing of God) and charged the Jews with the murder of the Lord. They taught that the Jews should suffer, amongst other things, wandering the earth, for the crucifixion of Jesus. Martin Luther was the most explicit of them all, for when he tried to convert the Jews and was unsuccessful, he ordered that people "set Jewish synagogues on fire for the honor of God". It was indeed, Adolph Hiltler who got many of his ideas for persectuting Jews from the writings of Martin Luther.
As the church progressed into pagan and political oppression, these sentiments were perpetuated in the writings. We have to remember that only nobility and clergy were educated at the time and the masses were at the mercy of anit-semitic men who were bound and determined to rid the church of any Jewish influence. "Legalism" and Judaism became synonomous in the minds of the church fathers, and both were thrown out equally. Thus the gentile church suffered for not being instructed in the ways of God through the Old Testament which was the foundation for Judaism and in actuality, is the foundation for Christianity. Consequently, a pagan culture filled the void, including the worship of other gods, pagan church practices and the like. Oppression and deception ensued, followed by many superstitious beliefs. And little teaching came out of scripture to condemn these detestable practices. The church was then plunged into her darkest hour to date....that even secular historians agree on the term to describe it....The Dark Ages.
Since those days, the church has experienced a rebirth by way of the Reformation (including the 99 Theses Martin Luther pinned to the door of the Catholic Church stating that salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by works as was taught in his day). But little, until now, had been done to cleanse the root system of the church from the effects of Replacement theology. The church remained for centuries homogenized as gentile, with some pagan practices thrown in here and there, even though there has always been a small believing remnant of Jews down through the centuries.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MODERN MESSIANIC MOVEMENT
During the late 1800's and early 1900's, something began to change. Gentile Christians began feeling a deep sense of love and responsibility toward the Jews that coincided with Jewish persecution in Russia and Europe with the first and second World Wars. This led to missionary activity in the metropolitan areas where Jewish people settled. Little by little, more Jewish people were coming to believe that Jesus was indeed their Jewish Messiah, and although they were severely persecuted in their own families and communities and cut off, they persisted in their faith. Many of these Jews who were now followers of Yeshua, wanted to retain their Jewish identity while following the Messiah. This culminated in a mass Jewish revival in the 1960's and 70's which ran congruently with the sexual revolution, the hippies, and the Jesus Movement. Jews flocked to Bible studies on campuses at major universities such as UC Berkeley and Columbia University. Messianic synagogues began popping up all over America. These Jews knew they were Jewish and they wanted to stay that way. As Jew and gentile began worshipping together and following the leading of the Holy Spirit to restore some of their cultural moorings such as the Israeli Davidic dance and Torah services, a cross-pollination of sorts began. Gentiles ALSO began flocking to the Messianic Congregations to learn more about their Jewish Messiah. Another movement was in the works, one of restoration of the gentiles to the Hebrew roots of their faith. This stream of the movement can be called the Olive Branch, or Olive Tree Movement. Churches began organizing prayer groups to pray for Israel and allowing Messianic congregations to meet in their church buildings.
Although the movement started small and increased in size as it snowballed through the late decades of the 20th century, it is an ever- increasing vaiable part of the Body of Messiah today. Because of this movement, which was founded upon prayer and evangelism to the Jew, millions of Jewish people worldwide have come to faith in the Messiah and many gentiles in the Body are coming to an ever-increasing maturity as they re-discover the Word of God as seen through Hebrew lenses.
Much of this information is documented in a biographical book by Yohanna Chernoff entitled "Born a Jew, Die a Jew". It is about her late husband, Martin Chernoff, a pioneer in the messianic movement. It is a fascinating true adventure which at one time oh, about 9 years ago, transformed this blogger's life. I highly recommend it. It sits on my living room bookshelf next to my Bible and it does not get out of my sight for long.
RESTORING THE ROOT (REALLY)
As the messianic movement has done much to bring awareness to the Jewishness of the gospel and our Savior and to draw attention to the importance of the Old Testament as the foundation for our faith, much is still needed in the way of restoring the whole Body of Messiah to the whole Word of God. It is this writer's opinion that this is indeed part of the last day's plan to purify the church of pagan and wordly influences, and to bring restoration to the people of Israel. ("...for all Israel shall be saved..." Romans 11:26). When the church is restored to her root, the commonwealth of Israel, which comes from God and is good, then she can be reviatalized and rise to be the glorious Bride "without spot or wrinkle" (Ephesians 5:27).
This is imperative for the Bride to make herself ready for the Bridegroom's coming, who is Messiah, our Lord. It is also imperative in order to cleanse the church of deception in these last days and to protect her from the coming world system which is demonic in nature and whose leader, the anti-messiah, will persecute unrelentingly.
So it is of paramount importance that these errors in our theological belief systems (those such as replacement theology) be rooted out of our churches and Bible studies. I have listened to many great teachers in the Body of Messiah, many of whom I love and respect and could only aspire to their lives of godliness and dedication to our Lord, who, knowingly, or unknowingly, perpetuate streams of these kinds of errors in their teachings. They make statements such as "we are under grace, not under the Law". As I have explained in previous articles, this comes from a misunderstanding. The operative word LAW, in the Hebrew is torah, it means teaching. And so I would ask, "are you saying we are not under God's teaching?" Even though this misunderstanding exists, it is unfortunately being perpetuated. This is why we all in the Body of Messiah need one another. We individually and collectively have blind spots which only another person or segment in the Body can see and relieve us of. No one has the whole of truth. No one is perfected (yet) in grace. This is why we must not only humbly accept when another part of the Body restores us to the truth, but also be willing to look at those things in our blind spots, such as pride and idolatry, (more on that later) that have kept us out of the entirety of God's blessings and abundance.
Join me next time when we will delve even deeper into the very important subject of the Hebrew Root and specifically, purging out the influences which keep us from the full radiance that is Christ-likeness. It is a journey for me as well, one in which I would love if you take with me. The cost might be high, but the rewards are extraordinary!!
Shalom (peace)
**
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Back to the Root Part 3a
In this series I have been covering just a few topics of interest for those who are seeking the Hebrew root of their faith in Christ. The subject is so widespread and so deep that I am unable to cover everything.
One thing I would like to say is that I am not the authority on this issue. The scriptures are. I encourage the reader to show himself or herself approved and to search these out for him or herself, the same way that the Bereans searched the scriptures daily to see if those things which Paul the apostle taught them were true. I am learning in my journey that viewing history from a biblical worldview, rather than a secular one, is very helpful in seeing some of these issues come to light.
I have highlighted the importance of understanding that to know our Messiah, our Savior is a Hebrew from the tribe of Judah is of utmost importance to understanding the context of scripture. We know Him better when we truly understand who He is...how He thinks...what is important to Him. I cannot stress enough the fact that to understand Israel and God's plan through their Jewish Messiah is key to understanding what is expected of those of us who have been "grafted in" to the root of faith, that is, the root of Israel. (Romans 11).
In many ways, the modern American Christian church has been severed from the vine, or is in danger of being so. This comes, as we see in the text from a "boasting against the branches". (anti-semitism and the subsequent replacement theology which pervades the church today: the idea that God has transferred His plan, His promises to the gentile church and away from Israel is error.) While it is true that once we are born again we become part of that mystical reality of being the Body of Messiah and at the same time spiritual descendants of Abraham, we do not replace or become more important or significant than the physical seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. In fact, when we do boast against those branches, the natural olive branches put there by God, we endanger ourselves (both collectively and individually) of being cut off ourselves.
What is the evidence of this "being cut off"?
Well, for starters, it becomes evident that we no longer receive of the nourishing sap of the root. This is not just a "nice accessory" to our faith, a blessing if you have it, a loss if you do not. It is IMPERATIVE for us to have the nourishing sap that comes from the root of Israel, which is the Word of God. If we are cut off and do not have it, what are the indications?
Seen an unhealthy church lately? One where sin abounds (but grace does not much more abound), full of dead men practicing dead or legalistic religion? Seen many preachers fall into grave moral failure lately? I have. It happens very frequently. Seen churchgoers (or been one?) who walk out of the church injured, hurt, or deceived, or all of the above, because people (usually in church leadership) murder them with their words, causing them spiritual and emotional damage that can only take a miracle to heal? I sure have.
What are all of these symptoms of? They are symptoms of a powerless, anemic form of faith, a "form of godliness" which denies the power thereof. (2 Timothy 3:5). And it stems from replacing God's model with a pagan one.
Have you ever felt like the God of the Bible, even though you may know Him and trust Him as your Savior, seems to change personalities when you cross over from Malachai to Matthew? That He seems somehow disjointed or contradictory? The One who is full of grace and mercy is painted as a wrathful, vengeful God in the Old Testament? My friend, as with myself, if you have felt this way, you have succumbed to replacement theology and the entrapments of seeing God from a pagan, Hellenized viewpoint which is not in the least supported in scripture.
I want to let you in on a little secret from my personal testimony. (Even though some may criticize me and say I am a legalist and trying to put people 'back unde the Law'). I have never been more FREE in my entire life: free of of the bondage of condemnation, free from fear, free from the fear of criticism from man, free from the bondage of moral and emotional sin. (wrong thoughts about myself which plague the mind). And I can tell you all this happened once I started knowing God for who He really is and walking by faith in that knowledge. Once I started seeing Him as One God (not God of the Old Testament and God of the New, after all, that distinction was not put there by Christ, the separation of the nature and character of God and subsequently the separation of OT. and N.T. was put there by man's tradition, not by God), I was no longer confused. I was free from a religious spirit which plagues the Western gentile church to this day. My life became so much more meaningful and purposeful (and I have never taken a Rick Warren class). My life became more supernaturally evident; my witness became stronger. My life became more orderly. My actions and attitudes toward my family members and loved ones became more pure. My fruit became sweeter. And my intimacy with God became deeper.
So if you are hungering and thirsting for the Living Water that is Messiah, read on; but with a word of caution....some of the facts and viewpoints I share in this blog may come to a head-on collision with what you have been taught by man and the institutions of man. Are you willing to concede? Are you willing to lay down your beloved man-made notions and traditions which contradict the Word of God? These things are "high imaginations" which scripture says need to be cast down. I endeavor to do that daily. But it has come at a cost. Oh, it has cost me things which will not matter in light of eternity: things like money, status, prestige, the good opinion of man, the luxury of being understood and respected by my peers, lauded in the church world, invited to speak at or teach at conferences or classes (which was a small part of my past). But I have gained so much more and I know I would rather have that crown of righteousness waiting for me in Heaven than all that this Babylonian world system has to offer.
Becoming A Talmid, a Disciple
In the New Testament time period, to believe in Yeshua meant to first know Him for who He is. To recognize Him. Then it required a response. Such a response was given by Jesus' disciples. In fact, they followed Him so closely that they followed Him to his death. Most of the disciples died horribly torturous deaths in order to keep following their Messiah. Is any less expected of us today? Now, we may or may not be called upon to die in a like manner, however, I think the arguement can be made for the fact that to become a talmid, a disciple, is to give up your life and closely follow the Rabbi.
So what of the church system that our modern day Christianity is based upon? Many people are following a leader and many leaders are leading the sheep astray so that "both fall into a ditch" (of sin, lawlessness, which is Torahlessness). This system is not based upon the Hebrew model, but the Greek. Once the Greek, or gentile influence became more predominant after the first century, the moorings of Greek pilosophy infiltrated the church, even down to the separation of clergy and laity. This divide has been responsible for much of the complacency and apathy we witness in the church today. I know of many pastors who wish their congregants would be more active in ministry with them. My question, then, is how is the model upon which the church is built contributing to the perpetuation of this separation and lack of involvement? Aren't even our seminaries geared toward keeping people in the pews and the man of God behind the Bible doing the seeking? If so, if we perpetuate this model in the American Christian church, emphasizing its form and denying the power that could be tapped into, are we fulfilling the true potential of being Talmidim? I don't think so.
I am so glad our Rabbi, our Lord is not this way with us. No, He requires us to be His talmidim.
He wants us where He is: out with the poor and the broken, ministering to the lost and the sick. Doing Torah. (For an explanation of a non-legalized version of Torah, which Jesus advocated, see the previous parts of this series.).
It is true Jesus ministered in the Temple of His day. However, most of His effective work was done out in the villages, amongst the people, going house to house. In fact, He told His talmidim to go to the villages and stay with those who would take them in. That is where they were to do their work: getting to know the people, working alongside them for the Kingdom of God. Don't we see a semblance of this today? Whilst church houses are full of people not doing much or walking in much power, we see home groups and house fellowships where many are coming to know the Lord and maturing quickly because of a neighbor, friend or relative. Most documented miracles oversees happen in the house church movement. Many in the Western church are unaware that this is even going on. And what's more concenring is they don't even know what they are missing out on.
Am I saying scratch the whole institutionalized church? No. I am not saying that at all. I am not qualified to say that. I am not an apostle in the five-fold sense of the word. And if that were to happen, perhaps it would take a move of God. (Mind you, I am not saying it WON'T happen in the future). What I AM saying, is, let's return to that model outlined for us in the gospels-that model so well loved and so well tested by the Hebrews. First on a personal level and then see what happens. Let's become true talmidim and follow our Rabbi Yeshua and allow Him to lead and guide our lives and ministries. I think we will find a deeper maturity in the Body and perhaps become that Bride "without spot or wrinkle". Let us not give up meeting with one another in homes through cell groups, home-based Bible studies, and prayer groups. Let us not forsake the "assembling of ourselves together" in lieu of merely gathering in a building. Let us become a true community and family of faith, mingling our lives together, counting on one another and involving ourselves in eachother's celebrations of joy, eachother's hurts, fears, failures and triumphs, encouraging one another on toward love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24). Once we start doing so, the gospel will spread like wildfire, like the organic "weed" it was meant to be and then little will be able to stop it.
Join me next time as we discuss "Beware of the leaven of the pharisees and the leaven of the Babylonians". Is the church guilty of harboring leaven (sin) which comes from the pagan world? What are the roots of some of our most beloved traditions? The answer may surprise you.....
**
One thing I would like to say is that I am not the authority on this issue. The scriptures are. I encourage the reader to show himself or herself approved and to search these out for him or herself, the same way that the Bereans searched the scriptures daily to see if those things which Paul the apostle taught them were true. I am learning in my journey that viewing history from a biblical worldview, rather than a secular one, is very helpful in seeing some of these issues come to light.
I have highlighted the importance of understanding that to know our Messiah, our Savior is a Hebrew from the tribe of Judah is of utmost importance to understanding the context of scripture. We know Him better when we truly understand who He is...how He thinks...what is important to Him. I cannot stress enough the fact that to understand Israel and God's plan through their Jewish Messiah is key to understanding what is expected of those of us who have been "grafted in" to the root of faith, that is, the root of Israel. (Romans 11).
In many ways, the modern American Christian church has been severed from the vine, or is in danger of being so. This comes, as we see in the text from a "boasting against the branches". (anti-semitism and the subsequent replacement theology which pervades the church today: the idea that God has transferred His plan, His promises to the gentile church and away from Israel is error.) While it is true that once we are born again we become part of that mystical reality of being the Body of Messiah and at the same time spiritual descendants of Abraham, we do not replace or become more important or significant than the physical seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. In fact, when we do boast against those branches, the natural olive branches put there by God, we endanger ourselves (both collectively and individually) of being cut off ourselves.
What is the evidence of this "being cut off"?
Well, for starters, it becomes evident that we no longer receive of the nourishing sap of the root. This is not just a "nice accessory" to our faith, a blessing if you have it, a loss if you do not. It is IMPERATIVE for us to have the nourishing sap that comes from the root of Israel, which is the Word of God. If we are cut off and do not have it, what are the indications?
Seen an unhealthy church lately? One where sin abounds (but grace does not much more abound), full of dead men practicing dead or legalistic religion? Seen many preachers fall into grave moral failure lately? I have. It happens very frequently. Seen churchgoers (or been one?) who walk out of the church injured, hurt, or deceived, or all of the above, because people (usually in church leadership) murder them with their words, causing them spiritual and emotional damage that can only take a miracle to heal? I sure have.
What are all of these symptoms of? They are symptoms of a powerless, anemic form of faith, a "form of godliness" which denies the power thereof. (2 Timothy 3:5). And it stems from replacing God's model with a pagan one.
Have you ever felt like the God of the Bible, even though you may know Him and trust Him as your Savior, seems to change personalities when you cross over from Malachai to Matthew? That He seems somehow disjointed or contradictory? The One who is full of grace and mercy is painted as a wrathful, vengeful God in the Old Testament? My friend, as with myself, if you have felt this way, you have succumbed to replacement theology and the entrapments of seeing God from a pagan, Hellenized viewpoint which is not in the least supported in scripture.
I want to let you in on a little secret from my personal testimony. (Even though some may criticize me and say I am a legalist and trying to put people 'back unde the Law'). I have never been more FREE in my entire life: free of of the bondage of condemnation, free from fear, free from the fear of criticism from man, free from the bondage of moral and emotional sin. (wrong thoughts about myself which plague the mind). And I can tell you all this happened once I started knowing God for who He really is and walking by faith in that knowledge. Once I started seeing Him as One God (not God of the Old Testament and God of the New, after all, that distinction was not put there by Christ, the separation of the nature and character of God and subsequently the separation of OT. and N.T. was put there by man's tradition, not by God), I was no longer confused. I was free from a religious spirit which plagues the Western gentile church to this day. My life became so much more meaningful and purposeful (and I have never taken a Rick Warren class). My life became more supernaturally evident; my witness became stronger. My life became more orderly. My actions and attitudes toward my family members and loved ones became more pure. My fruit became sweeter. And my intimacy with God became deeper.
So if you are hungering and thirsting for the Living Water that is Messiah, read on; but with a word of caution....some of the facts and viewpoints I share in this blog may come to a head-on collision with what you have been taught by man and the institutions of man. Are you willing to concede? Are you willing to lay down your beloved man-made notions and traditions which contradict the Word of God? These things are "high imaginations" which scripture says need to be cast down. I endeavor to do that daily. But it has come at a cost. Oh, it has cost me things which will not matter in light of eternity: things like money, status, prestige, the good opinion of man, the luxury of being understood and respected by my peers, lauded in the church world, invited to speak at or teach at conferences or classes (which was a small part of my past). But I have gained so much more and I know I would rather have that crown of righteousness waiting for me in Heaven than all that this Babylonian world system has to offer.
Becoming A Talmid, a Disciple
Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). The word disciple in the Hebrew is talmid (talmidim is the plural form). The concept of talmid in the Hebrew mind is wrapped up in the relationship of a rabbi and his followers, those who follow the rabbi as a lifestyle. Talmidim seek to not only learn everything the rabbi knows about God and living life as a tzaddik, a righteous person, but they also seek to become what the rabbi is. It is more than being a student, which the Greek word from which we get the word disciple conjures. The idea is that the followers of the rabbi stick so close to their beloved teacher that even the dust from the rabbi's feet gets on them. This is a desired place to be learning, studying, following. The talmid learns as he does, as in fact his rabbi does, rather than merely learning by what the rabbi says.
The Modern American church, to a large extent, is built upon the Greek model of learning by hearing, rather than learning by doing. It is the model the universities are built upon. The teacher stands at the front of the class, emphasizing the space between themselves and the students as one of separation and therefore one of status. The students learn by listening and asking questions. This was not the way Jesus conducted ministry with His disciples. Jesus said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them." (Mark 10:42). He told His disciples not to conduct themselves this way. He taught His disciples to follow His example of seeing, perceiving, and doing. Jesus taught them that He does what He sees the Father doing. He taught them the way He Himself would have learned as a child growing up in the Israelite culture. What did Jesus see the Father doing? Doing His Word! Doing Torah. (teaching).
Becoming a talmid, a follower of Christ entails more than just listening to an occasional sermon. Think about it. If Yeshua required His talmidim to leave their ordinary lives and follow Him, which included turning from their own ways of doing things and instead turning back to Torah, wouldn't He require the same of us today? Indeed He does. For in this idea of "believing" in the Hebrew connotation of the word is the concept of doing, not merely mental or emotional ascent or a creed one ascribes to. In the Hebrew concept, emphasis is placed on deed. In the Greek, it is placed on creed. And creed is powerless if you don't have the actions to back it up.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you and your household, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31).
In the New Testament time period, to believe in Yeshua meant to first know Him for who He is. To recognize Him. Then it required a response. Such a response was given by Jesus' disciples. In fact, they followed Him so closely that they followed Him to his death. Most of the disciples died horribly torturous deaths in order to keep following their Messiah. Is any less expected of us today? Now, we may or may not be called upon to die in a like manner, however, I think the arguement can be made for the fact that to become a talmid, a disciple, is to give up your life and closely follow the Rabbi.
So what of the church system that our modern day Christianity is based upon? Many people are following a leader and many leaders are leading the sheep astray so that "both fall into a ditch" (of sin, lawlessness, which is Torahlessness). This system is not based upon the Hebrew model, but the Greek. Once the Greek, or gentile influence became more predominant after the first century, the moorings of Greek pilosophy infiltrated the church, even down to the separation of clergy and laity. This divide has been responsible for much of the complacency and apathy we witness in the church today. I know of many pastors who wish their congregants would be more active in ministry with them. My question, then, is how is the model upon which the church is built contributing to the perpetuation of this separation and lack of involvement? Aren't even our seminaries geared toward keeping people in the pews and the man of God behind the Bible doing the seeking? If so, if we perpetuate this model in the American Christian church, emphasizing its form and denying the power that could be tapped into, are we fulfilling the true potential of being Talmidim? I don't think so.
I am so glad our Rabbi, our Lord is not this way with us. No, He requires us to be His talmidim.
He wants us where He is: out with the poor and the broken, ministering to the lost and the sick. Doing Torah. (For an explanation of a non-legalized version of Torah, which Jesus advocated, see the previous parts of this series.).
It is true Jesus ministered in the Temple of His day. However, most of His effective work was done out in the villages, amongst the people, going house to house. In fact, He told His talmidim to go to the villages and stay with those who would take them in. That is where they were to do their work: getting to know the people, working alongside them for the Kingdom of God. Don't we see a semblance of this today? Whilst church houses are full of people not doing much or walking in much power, we see home groups and house fellowships where many are coming to know the Lord and maturing quickly because of a neighbor, friend or relative. Most documented miracles oversees happen in the house church movement. Many in the Western church are unaware that this is even going on. And what's more concenring is they don't even know what they are missing out on.
Am I saying scratch the whole institutionalized church? No. I am not saying that at all. I am not qualified to say that. I am not an apostle in the five-fold sense of the word. And if that were to happen, perhaps it would take a move of God. (Mind you, I am not saying it WON'T happen in the future). What I AM saying, is, let's return to that model outlined for us in the gospels-that model so well loved and so well tested by the Hebrews. First on a personal level and then see what happens. Let's become true talmidim and follow our Rabbi Yeshua and allow Him to lead and guide our lives and ministries. I think we will find a deeper maturity in the Body and perhaps become that Bride "without spot or wrinkle". Let us not give up meeting with one another in homes through cell groups, home-based Bible studies, and prayer groups. Let us not forsake the "assembling of ourselves together" in lieu of merely gathering in a building. Let us become a true community and family of faith, mingling our lives together, counting on one another and involving ourselves in eachother's celebrations of joy, eachother's hurts, fears, failures and triumphs, encouraging one another on toward love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24). Once we start doing so, the gospel will spread like wildfire, like the organic "weed" it was meant to be and then little will be able to stop it.
Join me next time as we discuss "Beware of the leaven of the pharisees and the leaven of the Babylonians". Is the church guilty of harboring leaven (sin) which comes from the pagan world? What are the roots of some of our most beloved traditions? The answer may surprise you.....
**
Thursday, September 3, 2009
In the Fire
It has been a really ROUGH week. I am taking a break from my series on the Hebrew root of the Christian faith just so I can get my bearings and perhaps process all the stresses that have hit me this week.
My doctor told me I have placenta previa. Which, the condition is not serious in itself (the placenta moves on it's own away from the cervix in most cases before the due date) but I am sure that stress does not help this process. If I should start bleeding, it's bedrest for me and who can do bedrest with a two year old active toddler running around?
My family is having to make major financial decisions that will affect us for years to come. I do not want to dwell on this. I have always trusted in the Lord to provide for me and He always has. It just adds fuel to the fire.
A family member I care for very much has a substance abuse problem. This is being enabled by a "professional" who is not acting so professionally. This affects my whole family.
My two year old has taken to challenging almost everything I say. Which is normal for a two year old, I understand. But when hormones are the order of the day, it just makes you want to lock him outside (which I would never do) or eat 1/2 of a can of frosting (which I did), despite the fact I am trying to get over a systemic infection that has lasted well over a month and sugar only exacerbates..
The icing on the cake is my weight has now broken the 200lb. mark (I am 5'2 if you can imagine). I have never been this heavy before in my entire life, even as an overweight young adult, which I worked so hard to change my lifestyle and get it off. (about 60-70 lbs weight loss).
There is economic disaster looming on the horizon for our nation of which would make the Great Depression look like an economic recovery. This will cause food shortages, and the oh-so- desired civil unrest which follows. Last night I heard a report that the central valley of California (where I live) which produces the majority of the agricultural commerce for the state of Calif and upwards o 13% of agriculture for the nation, is having a drought. However, this drought cannot be blamed on global warming (as if!), but rather on an environmental control that says get your own water, we are trying to save the fishes. (I am not joking). Is this the focus of my rant? Of course not, but it does nothing to relieve the stress I already had.
There is strife between some very good friends of mine in the Body of Messiah. This is mostly due to a personality difference and a misunderstanding, however, because of the component of ministry, the spiritual warfare factor is intense. Moreover, the person who needs to resolve it is not one for confrontation. All future plans for ministry as well as recreational fellowship hinge on getting over this impasse.
Thank God I am getting a decent night's sleep these days, or you may see them hauling me off in a goofy wagon wearing a stylish white jacket with innovative arm pockets. (Sleep deprivation is not my idea of a ride at the fair).
Tonight in my Beth Moore Bible study on the book of Daniel, we will be going over the passage of the three Hebrews in the fire. I so need to hear, read, and breathe that Fourth Man in the fire. Because it gives me hope that He is in the fire with me. He is my hope and the only reason I have to hope. I can be kicked out of my house tomorrow and have to pray food on the table, but I know that God loves me, He will always take care of me. And this is not all about me. It is about His plans which are sometimes far and above what we could imagine or see. They are about His glory. And so I pull myself up in the Spirit of the Lord the way David did, I take great comfort in the fact I am not forsaken, not abandoned, and that this too shall pass. For goodness sake, for all I know, God could be preparing me for bigger and hotter fires! And I pray I will not have the slightest smell of smoke on me after all is said and done.
My doctor told me I have placenta previa. Which, the condition is not serious in itself (the placenta moves on it's own away from the cervix in most cases before the due date) but I am sure that stress does not help this process. If I should start bleeding, it's bedrest for me and who can do bedrest with a two year old active toddler running around?
My family is having to make major financial decisions that will affect us for years to come. I do not want to dwell on this. I have always trusted in the Lord to provide for me and He always has. It just adds fuel to the fire.
A family member I care for very much has a substance abuse problem. This is being enabled by a "professional" who is not acting so professionally. This affects my whole family.
My two year old has taken to challenging almost everything I say. Which is normal for a two year old, I understand. But when hormones are the order of the day, it just makes you want to lock him outside (which I would never do) or eat 1/2 of a can of frosting (which I did), despite the fact I am trying to get over a systemic infection that has lasted well over a month and sugar only exacerbates..
The icing on the cake is my weight has now broken the 200lb. mark (I am 5'2 if you can imagine). I have never been this heavy before in my entire life, even as an overweight young adult, which I worked so hard to change my lifestyle and get it off. (about 60-70 lbs weight loss).
There is economic disaster looming on the horizon for our nation of which would make the Great Depression look like an economic recovery. This will cause food shortages, and the oh-so- desired civil unrest which follows. Last night I heard a report that the central valley of California (where I live) which produces the majority of the agricultural commerce for the state of Calif and upwards o 13% of agriculture for the nation, is having a drought. However, this drought cannot be blamed on global warming (as if!), but rather on an environmental control that says get your own water, we are trying to save the fishes. (I am not joking). Is this the focus of my rant? Of course not, but it does nothing to relieve the stress I already had.
There is strife between some very good friends of mine in the Body of Messiah. This is mostly due to a personality difference and a misunderstanding, however, because of the component of ministry, the spiritual warfare factor is intense. Moreover, the person who needs to resolve it is not one for confrontation. All future plans for ministry as well as recreational fellowship hinge on getting over this impasse.
Thank God I am getting a decent night's sleep these days, or you may see them hauling me off in a goofy wagon wearing a stylish white jacket with innovative arm pockets. (Sleep deprivation is not my idea of a ride at the fair).
Tonight in my Beth Moore Bible study on the book of Daniel, we will be going over the passage of the three Hebrews in the fire. I so need to hear, read, and breathe that Fourth Man in the fire. Because it gives me hope that He is in the fire with me. He is my hope and the only reason I have to hope. I can be kicked out of my house tomorrow and have to pray food on the table, but I know that God loves me, He will always take care of me. And this is not all about me. It is about His plans which are sometimes far and above what we could imagine or see. They are about His glory. And so I pull myself up in the Spirit of the Lord the way David did, I take great comfort in the fact I am not forsaken, not abandoned, and that this too shall pass. For goodness sake, for all I know, God could be preparing me for bigger and hotter fires! And I pray I will not have the slightest smell of smoke on me after all is said and done.
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