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Thankfully, even when/if things seem to be a work in progress, it is the case that development does occur. Both in development of relatiobship between traditional Churches and Messianic Fellowships/Synagouges and seeing the ways both sides aid one another in growth as they both look to Christ - who is Lord over both, quite Real and the Promised Messiah sent to save/reconcille all in Him.Theology is intended to be a symphony, a harmonious and perfectly tuned set of instruments all in unison each part contributing to the whole. This is why I encourage the Messianic movement to work harder at its theology..
Sadly, it does seem that the inablity to disagree agreeably can lead to a lot of actions that lack in wisdom. For it's easier to take yourself more seriously than you're really worth - and it is always interesting how much fuss can get raised by others whenever a difference of thought occurs and it is either challenged or others don't agree and there is attempt to claim those disagreeing are not concerned about Jewish culture.....as was noted earlier on multiple points.Even those of use who put in a little more effort to inform and discuss than that can still take this all with a grain of salt.[/quote
Some of it is humorous to a degree due to the fact that most of the people doing a lot of fussing often speak/act as if they're representing the "correct form of Messianic Judaism" even though they were already noted to be on the extremes of it/denounced on multiple levels - and thus, the reaction (if checked) is to try reducing what others say to something no one said and then trying to go against that. It's a defensive response that really doesn't address what was said and instead opts for an emotional reaction rather than a logical discussion of what is said. As others have noted, anytime there's a lack of ability to restrain oneself from essentially doing what happens in highschool when/if others cannot get their way and throw a tantrum (as still elsewhere due to folks failing to understand the extent of Messianic Judaism in its entirety and differing forms of real Jewish thought/lifestyle), it's a pity. But God is faithful...
So good to hear from you, Yusuphhai!Shalom, MJ is an opinion. If you agree with some of it you need not convert ,or join a new organization, or leave the previous organization. In this forum general Christian can be understood.
Agreed. I tend to see MJism as very very protestant. Even where it divorces itself from protestantism it still has the modern evangelical protestant spirit guiding it. To me, because modern protestantism is so broad and can end up looking like just about anything the MJ movement just slots in nicely.
Not all things are badExcellent summary.I can certainly say that I see what you mean.
What exactly is it in his post that you're giving a "thumbs up"? Do you not think you were included in his hate-filled rant?
Possibly so - but it isn't hate-filled at all. I agree with him. This place isn't a Messianic Judaism forum, rather it's become "The Call Yourself Whatever You Want, Do Whatever You Want in the Name of MJ Forum." It is sickening. One single person came in here with one simple question. Instead of getting an answer he could discuss with people, he got Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors! Bah!
Possibly so - but it isn't hate-filled at all. I agree with him. This place isn't a Messianic Judaism forum, rather it's become "The Call Yourself Whatever You Want, Do Whatever You Want in the Name of MJ Forum." It is sickening. One single person came in here with one simple question. Instead of getting an answer he could discuss with people, he got Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors! Bah!
The problem is, though, that this is exactly what Messianic Judaism is today. It is a hodge-podge of various ideas without real definition. One cannot truly say that Messianics believe X without excluding a large portion of the group. ContraMundum is right (as is Qnts) when he claims that a movement without definition is bound to result in confusion. As much as MJism is a movement, it has taken on the characteristics of chaotic growth. Who can really say what is Messianic and what is not today? Can you? Can visionary? Can Mishkan David? Who is the right position to say that all the other elements of the diverse groups are not truly of Messianic faith? The whole ball of wax still confuses me, and Ive been interacting with you folks for a couple of years!
Indeed. Something that other Messianic Jew have noted for years - some of them still present while others have left. There have always been diverse views within Messianic Judaism - from the traditional stances to the controversial and those on the far ends/fringes trying to make themselves the image of the movement and do what the founders of Modern MJism never advocated.This forum has always been like this!
AgreedNailed it.![]()
Nice siteIf you will agree to argue with reason, then I will agree to wipe you up off the floor when I'm done with you. You can find my website as "The Hebrew Cafe" on Google. It should be the first link, with the subdirectory called /forum.
I have recently observed a group of people in this very 'specific' type of forum that seems to think;
- disinformation is information,
- that context is optional,
- that too much information is the proper response to specific inquiries,
- that blurring the lines defines a topic and
- that revising history is an acceptable tactic in the greater strategy of the universal dodge, i.e., Don't argue the most foundational point because 'we are all brothers' and 'why can't we all just all get along'.
Sorry, but that smacks of the 'Many paths, one God' BS.
It seems to me that the New SOP (very cool stuff BTW) has caused those that once discounted or outright opposed Torah observance and the Hebraic context of the scriptures to now simply denigrate Messianic Judaism in general. I don't need to say any names. Everyone that frequents this place knows who I am talking about simply by a description of their actions. So this missive in no way should be considered, "uninformed pontifications (read:express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way) about personalities". It is instead the informed analysis of personal behavior of certain anonymous individuals. If my criticism of mis-characterizations and exposure of violations of the SOP offend, that sounds more like a self-indictment than a pontification. No L'shon Hara. Just simple observations offered in fellowship.
There are those here that would have the uninitiated seeker believe that Messianic Judaism sprang from the loins of Christianity; that Orthodoxy or Catholicism or Protestantism is basically the same thing as Messianic Judaism. But history clearly shows that Christianity sprang from Messianic Judaism.
Christianity was a political tool devised to unify and control the people of the Empire, fashioned and manipulated by Roman politicians from the ashes of burned Torah scrolls and Jewish homes; from the rituals of paganism and idol worship and from the murdered carcasses of the first Torah observant Messianics and their brethren, the children of Israel. I am not denigrating Christianity here. Rather I indict the politicians of ancient Rome.
I have returned to find the same wolves in Messianic icons (clothing). Now they are suddenly Torah observant (as if). There are the same people without the Messianic icon still teaching Messianic Judaism. There are those pretend Messianics still trying to steer newbies away, still trying to overwhelm them with reams and reams of disinformation and links to anti-Torah Christian materials and sources or trying to dilute the teachings of Torah and the Messiah with a little 'somewhere on the path' slight of hand. Figuratively, they throw mud in in your face, spit in your eye and claim it's so you can see. Not naming any names mind you.
I find people saying that Messianic Judaism is deficit in it's theology or that claim it is a breakaway form of Christianity or a movement or an opinion or anything save what it is: An earnest attempt to follow in The Way of the 1st century adherents to the Messiah Y'shua and the covenant of Israel, Torah.
I'm not angry, Contra. I am just sick at heart.
Despite all the changes, nothing has changed. But sometimes a change in perspective is everything. Speaking of, it isn't the 'internet forum' like you said. It's 'Messianic Judaism' like I said. Are you familiar with the tactic of mis-characterization or misdirection?
You think I should just relax. OK, look at my mood, "Relaxed"! Let's move on to lighter fare, OK? OK!![]()
Have you ever noticed that good advice always sound like good advice, no matter to whom it is addressed. So let's try a little experiment and see how good advice sounds. You gave me some good advice, right? You wrote;OK, let's switch it up, just for fun, OK? If we substitute the topic (Messianic Judaism) to the appropriate concern of the individual involved and we substitute the person (with anyone except me), it will still sound like good advice, right? But we should choose people that everyone should know, right? OK, let try it!
Hey Rabbi! Sounds like you really just don't like differing opinions. Pity you have to make uninformed pontifications about personalities too. You used to be above that. Perhaps you are taking this 'Torah Observance thing' a little too seriously. We all make that mistake from time to time. Just relax. Try it. I vote to bring back the old, cool headed and informative Rabbi Y'shua.
I tried this again, substituting Adolf Hitler, Ghandi, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln or Sitting Bull for me and 'Messianic Judaism' with their most relevant concerns. It was a hoot! I laughed so hard I almost had to change my tighty-whities! You should try it! Might turn it into a board game for the reeeeally bored! Thanks for the dead-pan comedy relief. OK, trick question: So does misdirection through banality make it a 'duck the bill' platitude?![]()
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I am sure you didn't mean to personalize our discussion by accusing me of making 'uninformed pontifications about personalities' or by saying that I 'really just don't like differing opinions'.
Your tracking of history isn't on the gore end of persecution, nor on those who continued closer in line with Judaism with Yeshua leading through out history which I have noted in Messianic History Because the current movement got its greatest push from Baptists doesn't mean that it didn't soon developed back to the spirit of Yeshua, back to His Kingdom, and the early believers, much to amazement of the Baptist organizations who lost control of it as it took a life of its own.OK Talmidim, let me make some honest observations too:
I see that too- but I count much of what you say in that category. This is the primary difference between us: I accept much of accepted history, which you regard as revision- but I say you cannot actually prove your objections. The impasse starts there.
A bit of a stretch...
Well, that is l'shon hara, despite the disclaimer. Take it up with your Creator.
Can you not accept the idea that perhaps you may be wrong about something? I admire your strong opinion, but I think you could be a better listener to really understand where others are coming from, and then perhaps you would be less eager to make it personal.
This is an unecessary position to take. Primitive Messianic Judaism most likely developed into Christianity. At a certain juncture in history (say around the time of Chrysostom) the Jewish practices were spoken against and brought into disuse, but the threads have remained to this day. However, the modern day Messianic Movement is clearly historically and theologically from Protestantism and has adopted a number of very unJewish fundamentalist protestant notions- most obviously a rejection of tradition as both an interpretive authority and a norm for praxis. While the movement is attempting to revive early NT Christian (Heb = Messianic) practice and belief it has adopted the Protestant prolegomena which forms and informs it. Maybe that's the right path, too. Time will tell.
So, I don't think this is an either/or problem. It's both/and. Messianic Judaism developed into Christianity. Modern MJism at its radical end is an attempt to repristinate the Church (a very Protestant idea which every movement claims to aim for) while at the more moderate end it seeks to return to Jewish people a place within the Church. Your position is clearly the former, and mine the latter.
I'm almost certain that this is another point one cannot really prove without resorting to radical interpretations of history. I hope you are ok with me having that opinion.
You don't have to name the names to spread the libel. I wouldn't be as confident as you in judging the motives of others, or condemning people on a journey in their faith. Also, I really don't think anyone can judge anyone else's Torah observance, especially as the path of observance is not like assembing a plastic model Spitfire where one follows the instructions and it will be finished in a day. It's complex and its personal. There are many, many expressions and opinions, not to mention halacha and minhagim.
I would agree with that. But so would a person in the Catholic Church walking the Vatican way. It's subjective as to what that statement means.
I accept it. Perhaps we are not that different after all. I often feel desparing at some of things here as well...then I realize- it's just the internet. I know you hate that expression, but it will help your heart be released of any sickness. I hope to one day acheive my goal of no longer worrying about the Body of Messiah. It's not mine to worry about. It's His. That is what I mean by "it's only the internet".
Sure, but I wasn't employing such a tactic. I do not really think an internet forum is an authority to represent anything, let alone MJism. It's a collection of opinions about topics. That's all. Authoritative position statements are best found in the organizations that stand by them and propagate them- eg. an MJ denomination in this case.
Agreed.
Sure.
Perhaps I don't have your sense of humour...but I didn't really find that funny, mostly because my comments were not intended to force you to change either your opinion or your lifestyle- just to bring perspective so no one has a heart attack over reading something in the internet.
My opinion was based merely on my observations- as yours are. Shouldn't bother either of us, right? The fact is that I do think you made a judgment that was incorrect. Indulge me for my opinion, ok?
Considering the source, I will take that as an endorsement.![]()