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.....
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