Hi William, Yedida, Old Man with the Deliciously bad Attitude,
This is my first post here in months. Probably my last for a while too. I have tried to think of a nice way to put this. I failed. Having just read the first page of posts of this thread, I got a little sick. A newbie was voicing interest in Messianic Judaism. Poor schmuck. He got interrogated, evaluated, pigeon-holed and blind-sided faster than you can say basura infeccioso. Perhaps that might be a better name for this sub-forum.
The best I read from the local 'talking heads' (you know who I mean) when asked by a newbie about MJism - was a bunch of toxic waste. Y'know, discussion of whether the early church 'fathers' were anti-Semite, what 'rituals' were relevant, etc.
In the days after the Master ascended, Gentiles and Jews were taxed to poverty by the Romans for their observance of Torah. This is documented. That didn't work. Later, Torah observance was outlawed under penalty of death. Those that would not submit were turned into pitch-smeared torches at garden parties where the participants celebrated the precepts of Bacchus and Mithras at the winter solstice. This too is documented.
Oh, let's not forget the mention of Orthodoxy. They discussed Orthodoxy! Orthodox? You mean 'Right Thinking'? People that call themselves 'Right Thinking' kinda says it all, don't you think? Please pass the Pepto-Bismol. There was only one man in the entirety of time that was 'Right Thinking'. The full expanse of man's traditions and rituals are crap. How's that for 'Right Thinking'?
There is no such thing as religious ritual. It is illusion all. The pursuit of Yah is deception. He pursues you. Receive Him and His Word. The exercise of ritual observance is like hiring a personal trainer to do your workout for you. You must engage with your eyes and ears open and a heart that is willing to submit to no one but Him.
All in all, there is only the instruction of Yah on exactly how to get ourselves out of the horrible mess we are in; line upon line, precept upon precept, remember? Rituals? Really? His Messiah, who walked His path perfectly (Torah), taught nothing any different; only how to do it correctly and in love. What rituals did He teach? I find this place so ________. Fill in the blank. There will not be a poll.
I see a lot of old friends here. That feels good. I have read some pleasant discussion between you too. But I can't stand the deception that abounds here. Many of those that were anti-Torah before are now poised to simply pollute honest inquiries with deception and misdirection. Sorry I can't stay. My wife is ill and needs me. But I'm gonna go take a shower before I return to her. I always feel a little unclean when I see what passes for instruction in MJism in this place. Beware the many ticks.
Shalom.
Hey, I'm just a gentile woman but I don't go much past chapter 2 either. I will peek past it sometimes. Sometimes commentary can be helpful. 
