What happens when a respected “Rabbi” takes offense at having his disobedience indirectly mentioned in the comment section of his blog?
Of course, as expected, he deletes the offending comment. Then he sends a personal email strongly conveying his displeasure.
Now what rudeness of mine sparked this response?
The gentile born “rabbi”, in justifying his choice to convert to Judaism (AFTER professing faith in Messiah) pointed to the legitimacy of conversion for those with a “healthy sense of identity and a persistent desire to belong to the people of Israel”.
I’m not sure when “healthy sense of identity” and persistent desire” were valid reasons to contravene clearly stated prohibitions written by the apostle Paul*. Can those reasons be used to excuse all of our disobedience? Is persistent desire a legitimate reason for giving in to any temptation?
What exactly caused the offense?
I made a blunt comparison.
I mentioned a person I know who was born male. However this person has a sense of identity with and a persistent desire to be female. As a result he has been living as a woman and intends to “convert” through a “sex-change” operation.
Does this person’s “sense of identity” (which he would consider healthy) and his “persistent desire” legitimize HIS conversion?
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* From the apostle Paul:
Gal 5:2
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
And
1 Cor 7:18
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised
6 comments:
I think the analogy is actually quite a good one and well thought out and very truthful. My only thought would be that maybe we need to speak the truth in love. Sometimes love is tough and you do need that slap in the back of the head, but that normally comes from a person you are in relationship with. Maybe this is just a woman's perspective (and I hope I am not offending you), but I think I would have been hurt by that comment too no matter how accurate and right it was. Maybe thats Ok. We all need those "wounds of a friend" sometime.
Prov 27:6
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
NIV
Proverbs is full of wisdom letting us know we need that kind of correction. It was just a thought. Hopefully your comment at least will get him thinking.
I think that is actually a very appropriate comparison.
Respected "rabbi?" You are giving Derek too much credit...LOL!
He is only a legend in his own mind....
Thank you all for your comments.
Godthinker,
My commnets were not so much inspired by the "rabbi's" own situation. What has been done has been done.
My particular concern was the way he justified his own action - in effect indicating to others that it is okay for them to "convert" if they feel enough of a "sense of identity" and a strong enough "persistent desire".
This is a man in a leadership position with a degree of influence.
An update on this situation.
The person in question has emailed again and has apologised for his reaction.
He did not like the assumed comparison of "joining the Jewish people" with someone having a sex change.
In reality I did not intended to say that one was like the other. I was comparing the stated motivation.
Should, any of our actions be driven by a "sense of identification" or a "persistent desire"?
Yes the example I used was extreme - but it was a very real example. The man desiring a sex change is a family member.
I could have easily used a less forceful example - such as having a "persistent desire" to steal a chocolate bar from a shop with which I had developed a "strong sense of identification"...
but I'm not sure that would have highlighted the seriousness of being desire driven.
I think it is an excellent analogy!
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