In my reading about Jewish expressions of faith in Messiah I’ve had a look at several blogs. Through those blogs I think I have gained a wider perspective than is possible through reading published books.
Blogs give access to a more ground level reality. Books have to fulfil certain market-driven requirements which include not biting the hand that feeds them.
Bloggers are not subject to such restraints, and while that open ground also gives voice to all kinds of weird and not so wonderful ideas, occasionally it is possible to stumble across something worthwhile and enlightening.
The following article may be of interest to others. It is written by a gentile believer desiring and attempting a more Hebraic approach to his faith. I think his experience highlights the problems that unfortunately maintain the divisions between Jewish and Gentile believers.
http://searchingforthelightonthepath.blogspot.com/2010/07/forked.html
One thing that isn’t addressed in the article is the question of whether ANY of the examined worship styles and fellowship groups is “legitimate” in God’s eyes. Do any of them fulfil the genuine fellowship characteristics of a healthy and united body of believers? Or is it all about favoured form and ritual?
While the article addresses the current situation, scripture describes something totally different. Unity in Messiah still seems a long way off – but perhaps the disunity is nothing that an experience of severe, shared persecution won’t fix.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
3 comments:
Great post! I think there is a lot of disunity every where in the body of Christ, gentile as well as Messianic. Form is really what every one is going for in one way or another. How do we really worship in Spirit and Truth? Most believers have such different views about what the truth is interpretted as and many don't believe that the Spirit plays much of a role at all. I believe God is going to have to be the one to bring us together more than His people looking for some form.
I do agree that as persecution comes we will not worry so much about the details and form. All that matters then will be if we know Jesus and I guess that is really how it should be.
A very interesting and thought provoking discussion.
I don't believe the end times will be any worse than some have it now. It depends how much you have already suffered in this life.
My philosophy of life is: forgive and love unconditionally as God does us. Be kind, give a gentle answer and learn from your mistakes...and PRIDE is a waste of time. God bless you.
Regarding the times to come:
For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equalled again. (Matt 24)
A time that will even surpass the horrors of WWII and the holocaust.
In the holocaust 1/3 of the world’s Jewish population were murdered. Scripture reveals a time will come when 2/3 of the Jewish population will be “struck down and perish” (Zech 13).
And the church will not get off lightly either:
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Revelation also gives a vivid picture of the times ahead and it won't be easy for those who are standing firm.
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.
--
As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them...
(see Rev 13 & Dan 7)
But praise the Lord, that is not the end of the matter, but THIS is:
...the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. (also Dan 7)
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