CharlesYTK
8th August 2004, 07:42 AM
I really think we miss the point sometimes. Everyone wants to argue about doctrine, what is the correct way to worship, how should we tie our Tzi Tzi, how we should observe the feast days. It is really more of a problem in those following the Apostolic writings because there is always disagreement about what word was used, which translation is correct ect. Yes it sure would be nice if there were a couple preserved leather bound originals in Aramaic, or Hebrew and all word for word in agreement with a complete Lexicon in the back. That way we would end a lot of this. The Tanahk is close to this; at least it has the accuracy given by the scribal process of error checking. But the apostolic writings? And yet it is almost as if the Lord doesn’t care. He seems to be pretty silent on these arguments and seems almost, in my mind, to roll his eyes smack his forehead and say, ”Sheesh.. they missed the point.” In Col 2 Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining our focus on Yeshua rather than the precision of our understanding, ritual, customs, religious practice. In the Sheep and Goats Judgment of the nations in Matthew, men are judged not according to their doctrine, what they believed, but rather on how they treated others in tangible ways. Maybe we don’t all do Torah exactly right, but we can all try and make progress toward obedience. But that is a side issue and not the priority.
Sure I believe there is a right way of doing things and that God gave us the instructions and we should follow them. However if a man has gone off the wrong way and deviated from Torah or perhaps never even heard of Torah we should tenderly and lovingly show him the truth. But we should not allow our differences become an occasion to further the breach between us. What matters is who is God, who is Messiah, and how do we live in response to that. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan it was not the priest (holy man and servant of the temple) or the Pharisee (who knew and kept the law meticulously) who did the right thing. It was the Samaritan, (one considered a sinner and a dog, who had deviated from Torah and the Temple and had even taken on some Pagan ways) yet he did this one thing right, he had love without restriction for another human being and expressed this love not though words alone but with action, spending his own money, providing his with his own transportation, to ensure the fallen mans needs. It all comes down to Loving God and loving our fellow man. As Hillel said in reference to the meaning of Torah, “ Love God and love your neighbor, everything else is commentary.”
In the town I lived the Synagogue would help with the annual Christmas dinner for the needy. (They did many other things all year as well) But Christmas feed? This seemed out of place I thought. Yet maybe it wasn’t. Perhaps they saw more in common with these needy people, many I would assume of Christian backgrounds and creed, who at least believed in the same God. It was an opportunity to do things right and to show love to others, even those who we might otherwise consider dead wrong or dead in their sins.
So how do we live a spirit filled Messiah centered life? You decide. But put Him first and everybody else next. And then if there is time left over, think about yourself a little too.
Shalom
Charles
Sure I believe there is a right way of doing things and that God gave us the instructions and we should follow them. However if a man has gone off the wrong way and deviated from Torah or perhaps never even heard of Torah we should tenderly and lovingly show him the truth. But we should not allow our differences become an occasion to further the breach between us. What matters is who is God, who is Messiah, and how do we live in response to that. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan it was not the priest (holy man and servant of the temple) or the Pharisee (who knew and kept the law meticulously) who did the right thing. It was the Samaritan, (one considered a sinner and a dog, who had deviated from Torah and the Temple and had even taken on some Pagan ways) yet he did this one thing right, he had love without restriction for another human being and expressed this love not though words alone but with action, spending his own money, providing his with his own transportation, to ensure the fallen mans needs. It all comes down to Loving God and loving our fellow man. As Hillel said in reference to the meaning of Torah, “ Love God and love your neighbor, everything else is commentary.”
In the town I lived the Synagogue would help with the annual Christmas dinner for the needy. (They did many other things all year as well) But Christmas feed? This seemed out of place I thought. Yet maybe it wasn’t. Perhaps they saw more in common with these needy people, many I would assume of Christian backgrounds and creed, who at least believed in the same God. It was an opportunity to do things right and to show love to others, even those who we might otherwise consider dead wrong or dead in their sins.
So how do we live a spirit filled Messiah centered life? You decide. But put Him first and everybody else next. And then if there is time left over, think about yourself a little too.
Shalom
Charles