I am a Messianic Gentile, Jehoiakim. G-d made me a Gentile and for me, the idea of trying to change what G-d did is preposterous -- like deciding His choice was not good enough for me, and I have a better idea. I worship on Sabbath with a shul that is both Jewish and Gentile, and that bothers no one. Yes, we circumcise; yes, we eat kosher food; yes, Sabbath begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening; yes, Friday evening is set aside for family but Saturday, all day, is set aside for observing Sabbath together as a shul. We are one congregation, one people, one community, and no one cares who is and who is not Jewish.
I used to be a member, if one may call oneself that, of FFOZ. I no longer am. I quit receiving their literature when I started reading, in their literature, things I could not agree with, some of which is in your post.
Sometimes, when people disagree, people get upset. There is no reason for us to do this, Jehoiakim. I am not upset. I am not angry. I am merely writing an opinion here. Okay? Please let us continue this, since you asked, in shalom, with the love of Messiah.
So basically I am a gentile with messianic theology thanks to FFOZ, and we follow the whole divine invitation thing,that is as gentiles we believe we are invited to participate in the Torah, but it is not required.
The Divine Invitation. FFOZ's words, as though we can choose whether or not to follow what the Bible says. Like saying, "You may choose to follow G-d's instructions or not follow them. Do you see that, or do you see that as just my opinion?
Read Hebrews 11. Did those people of faith take what G-d said seriously, or did they believe they had a choice as followers of G-d?
we celebrate shabbat but only on friday nights,we haven't worked our way into Saturdays at all,
The only logical reason you have not decided to go all in regarding Sabbath is likely because they taught you a wishy-washy "gospel" of "Well, G-d said it, but do what you choose!"
we try to recognize the holidays, we eat kosher in the home in terms that we stay away from unclean meats, but we do not pay attention to the method of killing the animal because of our insistence on grassfed- no hormones or antibiotic and only organic convictions.
The joy, the observance, the obedience to the G-d and Judge of the world is in doing the holy days, Jehoiakim. It is good that you eat kosher foods, because anything that is not kosher
is not meat!. (Would you mind reading that last sentence again, Jehoiakim?)
I know that it is very difficult to find meats that are kosher in every way, but you can kosher your meats the best you can. Just as there is no Temple, so some observances can only be practiced, not truly done, the same with meats. Do your best before the -ord.
Our theology is messianic, but we attend a regular christian church and fellowship mostly with Christians who don't get it.
Is your theology truly Messianic? Sure, the Messianic congregations are just as messed up as the church, but we should be striving to be obedient. And by the way, my intention is "be obedient," not "be Jewish." There is a difference. Be who you are, but be obedient to the G-d Who judges.
I have a son coming any day now and I am seriously having trouble with circumcision and whether it is appropriate for our son. It is hard because we don't fully keep Torah, we feel distinctly gentile and we don't plan to change that, we feel our call is to help bridge the gap between messianic Jews and Christians.
I had a lot of trouble with this when my grandboys were born. But are we serving a G-d Who made mistakes? His judgments are perfect. His Torah is perfect. His Law is for our good.
We don't have any concern about trusting in circumcision, as Shaul says it is nothing,
Reread this with understanding. Paul (who chose to use the name Paul because he was a Jew born a Roman citizen) was telling The Jews that they had nothing over the believing Gentiles. That Scripture is not about circumcising baby boys on the eigth day!
but it is also symbolic of wanting to have a child who is set apart for God, Abraham was circumcised before the Torah, and so we are thinking it might be something for us to do also. I do know that there are many in the Jewish community who are sensitive to messianic gentiles virtually pretending or defrauding people to think that they are messianic jews you know that who two house theology thing. I am praying totally lost on what to do, I go back and forth. I am also concerned that according to Torah I should not be celebrating Passover with my son if he is not circumcised. Thoughts??? any are appreciated.
Messianics are not all Jewish, and they are not all Gentile. We are called to be what we are before the L-rd. And you are right: those males who are not circumcised are not to participate in Passover.
I pray that you are led completely to the Truth. Our Messiah said, in Matthew 5:19, that we must do all of Torah and not teach others that they don't have to do Torah. Read those Scriptures around that reference, okay?
With tender love and interest in you and your family . . . .