"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
-Matthew 5:1-12
What does Yeshua want from us? Have you ever wondered? I wonder about it a lot. Maybe you already know or you think you know. Maybe you're completely secure in your understanding of who you are and where you fit in the Kingdom of Heaven (not to mention the community of believers).
But consider what you spend your time considering.
I've recently been blogging and conversing on matters of halachah and specifically on whether or not a non-Jew is allowed to lay tefillin in prayer. I've been following Derek Leman's latest Not Jewish Yet Drawn to Torah blog post. Unfortunately, these and many other similar conversations have left me empty lately.
Aren't these matters important? Shouldn't we debate how Jews and Gentiles are to engage in worship practices of the Messiah? Why can't I draw spiritual renewal from these debates? What's missing?
I've been having an email conversation with a friend this morning and I told him:
A lot of these debates, while necessary, tend to leave out the essential ingredient we need for our faith: Yeshua (Jesus). I think a message like "know Jesus better" is one which the whole "Messianic movement" (not just OL and TH, but all of MJ, too) needs to hear. It's not like matters of halachah or procedure aren't important, but we aren't supposed to put our faith in matters of halachah and procedure. Our faith is in the Messiah or we live in vain.I quoted from Yeshua's beatitudes above. What is he saying is "blessed" or "praiseworthy"? Look at the list:
We can find people like these in our conversations, but they aren't always apparent. That's a problem, because I have a feeling that these are the ways we are supposed to primarily express ourselves in the world around us, including the Messianic blogosphere.
- Poor in spirit (boy, I can relate to that one)
- Those who mourn
- The meek
- Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
- The merciful (and I think we need a few more of these in the community of faith)
- The pure in heart
- The peacemakers
- Those who are persecuted because of righteousness
Of all the commandments we learn from Yeshua and all that he taught from the Torah, we also know he gave us a new commandment to love one another (John 13:34), and that love tells the world around us that we are his disciples.
Does anybody besides me blog about this stuff?
My last blog post quoted the following words of the Master and I think we need to all hear them, not just for the encouragement, but for the reminder of what's really important:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30This morning, while composing the email I mentioned earlier and pondering the current state of development of the "Messianic movement" which we all seem to represent, I said this:
The current arguments in our little community are a classic case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. I like trees. It's nice to sit under one or to examine the intricate details God programmed into a branch or leaf. But continually operating on that level of microscopic focus won't show you the path through the woods which leads back to home.I'm not putting down healthy debate, scholarly study, or getting into the "meat". I certainly can't argue against the person who wrote this:
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. -Hebrews 5:11-14On the other hand, if you are so focused only on the meal in front of you, it's possible to forget who is the source of our life.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. -John 6:35
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” -John 6:51The road is long and often, we travel in the dark, ignoring the light of the world. Look for the lamp who lights your path or you may become lost in the dark forever.
"A Jew never gives up. We're here to bring Mashiach, we will settle for nothing less." -Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh
8 comments:
"But continually operating on that level of microscopic focus won't show you the path through the woods which leads back to home."
Very true. I would say that the ongoing identity and observance issues in Messianic Judaism are a huge distraction and a waste of time - time better spent on more worthwhile things. But we can't - many of "messianics" are paralyzed, not knowing what to do - afraid to move right or left, afraid to offend, indecisive, confused by conflicting teachings coming from those who would lead disciples after themselves. In the Orthodox synagogue that I attend these issues hardly occupy any of our time - this is not because they don't need to deal with Gentiles (naturally very few of them attend), but because they have a clear idea of who is who, and who does what and when. They follow established halacha and traditions (and there's plenty of "grace" via various "loop holes").
To quote Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof:
"Because of our traditions, everyone here knows who he is and what G-d expects him to do."
Many folks in the Messianic Movement do not know who they are and what G-d expects them to do. Because of that they spend their days chasing something that would give them meaning, identity and a purpose. Until MM figures this out, MM will be spinning its wheels focusing on the minors until Messiah returns.
But we can't - many of "messianics" are paralyzed, not knowing what to do - afraid to move right or left, afraid to offend, indecisive, confused by conflicting teachings coming from those who would lead disciples after themselves.
All too true, which is one of the reasons I composed this post this morning. It's also one of the reasons I am choosing to leave "the movement", at least in terms of my corporate worship practice. The only way to satisfy the requirements of larger Messianic Judaism and not step on anyone's tail is to not practice "judaically". How I worship and pray at home alone or with my wife don't involve "the community", so it remains between me, my family, and God.
In the Orthodox synagogue that I attend these issues hardly occupy any of our time - this is not because they don't need to deal with Gentiles (naturally very few of them attend), but because they have a clear idea of who is who, and who does what and when.
Exactly. But the Messianic movement has a monkey wrench thrown into the machine. We're called "Gentiles". The Orthodox model can't really applied because we have two unalike groups of people who are nevertheless "fellow heirs". If I were to attend an Orthodox shul as a guest, I would know and accept that I wasn't a part of the community and would take the one down position. The Messianic world doesn't offer such clear and universally accepted choices.
Many folks in the Messianic Movement do not know who they are and what G-d expects them to do. Because of that they spend their days chasing something that would give them meaning, identity and a purpose.
Describes me to a "T". It also describes the major challenge of being able to have Jewish and Gentile "Messianic" groups be able to interact and accept one another.
We keep bumping into the trees looking for the path that leads through the forest. His name is "Yeshua".
Does anybody besides me blog about this stuff?
@James, I don't "blog" in this same manner, but Yeshua's high standard is a common topic in our weekly portion commentary.
Having said that, I like your stuff more. I would rather read your well-crafted words any day.
Nicely done.
B"H
If I were to attend an Orthodox shul as a guest, I would know and accept that I wasn't a part of the community and would take the one down position. The Messianic world doesn't offer such clear and universally accepted choices.
@James, I know that Gene does not believe it, but we have very good relationships with various Torah Jews (what some call "modern Orthodox") and they make us feel quite welcome, even knowing we express ourselves "judaically" (another new word). Including aliyah to Torah.
My brother is an international airline pilot. He visits Orthodox shuls from Singapore to Budapest. He takes us talit, siddur, tefillin, and kipa everywhere he goes. His experience is always the same: Jewish people showing hospitality. When he davens with them, they see a man who is a brother and a friend of Israel. And yes, he tells them his father was a Scot.
I don't know enough Hebrew to not stick out like a sore thumb in an environment outside my own. Also, my personality and "style" when in any new social situation, is to keep a low profile and my mouth shut (for the most part) until I get the lay of the land, so to speak.
Rick, if your brother is comfortable praying in different Orthodox synagogues (sound like Chabad) and is accepted as he is, more power to him.
"My brother is an international airline pilot. He visits Orthodox shuls from Singapore to Budapest. He takes us talit, siddur, tefillin, and kipa everywhere he goes. His experience is always the same: Jewish people showing hospitality. When he davens with them, they see a man who is a brother and a friend of Israel. And yes, he tells them his father was a Scot."
And your mother, a Jew? An Orthodox Jew can have a Scot father, or whatever other nationality. If she was not Jewish and he's given aliyas, what does he do - "pass himself off" as a Jew decked out in full Jewish regalia?
"they make us feel quite welcome, even knowing we express ourselves "judaically" (another new word). Including aliyah to Torah."
Sure.... I believe you ... only if your "Modern Orthodox" friends are totally out there and don't give a hoot about halacha nor for any even most basics of standards of Judaism, or your guys waltzing in there simply pretending to be Jews. Please Rick, stop this already.
if your brother is comfortable praying in different Orthodox synagogues (sound like Chabad) and is accepted as he is, more power to him.
Yes, he does visit some Chabad, but many of the shuls he visits (and returns to) are just Orthodox. For the past few months he has lived part time in Sydney, and it may have been Chabad there.
He also frequents Messianic congregations, but they are more difficult to find.
Please Rick, stop this already.
Stop what? Maybe the world is not as you think it is. Because my brother and I have both grew up outide the US, and because we both have been airline pilots for over 30 years, we have learned to try to see people as they are, not as we expect them to be. It is very rewarding. Making assumptions leads only to disappointment.
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