Y Not I

I was having a discussion the other day that got into how the media needs a narrative to base their stories upon. Anything that follows the narrative is accepted. Events that do not follow the narrative will most likely be rejected, no matter how true they may be. Maybe some might reject this view of the media and how they go about determining what is news worthy and what is not, but nevertheless my friend and I agreed to this theory.

The idea of a narrative and how it can be dangerous made me think about how we can do the same thing in reading our Scriptures. We can often times approach Scripture reading with a presupposed narrative already in our heads and anything we read in Scripture that matches the narrative we immediately latch onto and Scriptures that go against the narrative, we quickly reject and move on. For instance lets take a topic like the Law, or even break it down farther into what is permissible to eat and what is not. Those that believe in following kosher laws and feel that others should as well can read certain Scriptures and go “Aha! that proves my point,” while ignoring other Scriptures that maybe make the proof less certain. These narratives can follow not only subject near and dear to Messianics, but that Christianity has wrestled with as well. Subjects like grace verses works or the principals of salvation, such as, is it something one can ever lose? Martin Luther was not too fond of the book of James for it spoke so much about works. He called the book an “epistle of straw” and did not want it included in the canon of New Testament Scripture.

So, should there be a narrative set in our minds before we sit down to read Scripture? I think it is most likely not a bad idea to have a narrative set before reading other religious books, since those are written by man and are subject to personal opinions and thoughts of man. If the narrative we approach a man written book is a Biblical consistent narrative, that narrative might help us to gleam good points from a book and reject erroneous information included at the same time. However, when approaching Scripture, if we accept these words as straight from the Master, straight from the Creator, straight from G-d, then I think we need to throw out narratives and let the Ruach be setting the narrative for us as we read. I think if we approach Scripture in this manner it might topple preconceived notions and narratives, which may be difficult at first to accept, but ultimately it will lead to our own personal growth in our walk with the L-RD and help us to become more like him.

I was watching the recent Star Trek movie the other day with my family. In the movie there is a scene where Leonard Nimoy’s Spock Prime character does a “mind meld” with Chris Pine’s Kirk character to make their minds like one. It seems if we approach Scripture with a preconceived narrative, then we are in a sense rejecting a “mind meld” with our Creator because we already know all we need to know and are just reading Scriptures to reconfirm what we already know. However, if we throw away the narrative and truly “mind meld” via the Ruach can we not be open to realities beyond what we already have learned. I can think of nothing more exciting than becoming more one with the mind of G-d.

I know for myself, it is not an easy thing to do, to throw off the narrative. If the media that is all around us operates this way, it is likely it gets built into our thinking and approaches. Talking through this subject the other day and applying the thought to Scripture for me have cause me to rethink how I approach Scripture. I hope this was enlightening for you as well.

B”H.

Music has always been an important part of my life. To me it is such a powerful thing that can speak to us on so many levels, from the beat, the rhythm and especially with the lyrics. Recently there were two very different songs that spoke to me about different things. I thought I would share them here this Friday.

First I was listening to Marty Goetz and the song Psalm 1, which is from the Hope of Glory album.

Download:

It is a wonderful song. Over at Kineti L’Tziyon, Judah spoke of this song and how the lyrics (which come straight from the Psalm) talk about taking delight in the Law, and he contrasted that to how many today, do just the opposite when it comes to the Law. In a similar vein, what hit me was how the repetition of the idea of taking delight in something was repeated throughout the song. In the song delight is taken in the Law, but I got to thinking what people take delight in today.

I am not speaking of out and out sin and wickedness, but more subtly the things that we do every day in and maybe take delight in. Maybe some of these things can be re-thought. It seems like the Internet is a place so overflowing with negative concepts, negative thoughts. A place of one-upping the other guy in a comment. A place of mocking others. It is like it breeds descent, derision, scorn and bitterness. There are many sites dedicated to mocking and putting down things, whether it be our results of someones labor; differing thoughts, whether political, spiritual or other thoughts and concepts. Even emotions can be paraded and mocked for the whole world to see. I guess we can feel better about ourselves if we can put down, mock or laugh at someone else’s folly and foibles.

Anyway the song got me thinking as to where I sometimes take delight and where I should be taking delight. Should I be more taking delight in the Scriptures as the Psalmist (and Marty Goetz) wrote? Do I take more delight in the negative things of the Internet than I should? Something to think about. Something this song got me thinking about.

The second song is much different in style and intended content. It is not a song that was marketed towards believers, however I felt the lyrics had a pretty valuable spiritual message. The lyrics do use a Bible story as a theme. The song is One Good man from the Rossington Collins Band.

The lyrics tell about the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ignoring the accuracy of the lyrics in regard to Scripture, the lyrics ultimately paint a picture of the need for one good man, in the city of Sodom or in someones life, either as parent or husband. Driving along listening to the song, I was taken as to the capacity that G-d has given within us. We have the capacity to change lives, to save lives by our actions. That is a pretty awesome thing. I think that is a capacity that we have most especially when we allow G-d to work through us, when we come yielding our lives and through that humble act, G-d can fill us and He can use that created capacity to do some wonderful things, whether making a family a place of love, nurture and growth, or being a righteous life in a dark and troubled world.

It is such a blessing to be spoken to while driving along, in a sense, hearing from the Almighty. Thank you L-rd for the blessing of music in my life.

(By the way, I chose this YouTube video because I loved the blending of old technology and new. Turntables and LPs are a part of my past and to see it hooked up to a computer and putting music onto YouTube and Internet was a pretty cool combination that I enjoyed seeing. It was good to see a record spin on a turntable again.)

May everyone have a blessed weekend. I get to be a part of a Bat Mitzvah for a special family so I am looking forward to it. Shabbat Shalom.

B”H

In Messianic Judaism there is a lot of discussion about law. So often it seems that there is a large body of though and popular opinion in the Christian world that either against the idea of a law for believers or hostile to it. While I do not think most would consider themselves antinomian in their theology, nevertheless, they put forth the concept when excusing certain behavior and patterns. Because of grace I can do this, or fortunately I am free in Messiah to do that is an excuse used to trample on rules and laws that even the people using the excuse agree is valid and true.

I was thinking about this because for Yom Kippur I decided to read through different sections of Romans. Romans speaks a great deal about sin and sin is a major focus of the High Holidays, so it seemed like a good fit. On the day of Yom Kippur between the morning service and the break the fast, I sat down and decided to go through Romans 8. Reading it I saw what to me, was a very clear picture of the law for the believer.

Now there are lots of differing opinions about what is the law for believers today. I am not going to go there. I personally believe that is something between each of us and our Creator. After all, it is a personal relationship we are involved with. As such, I will not preach as to whether this means you should keep Torah, whether Torah is for Gentiles and Jews or just for Jewish believers or if Torah is only to be kept by those who are over five foot eleven inches tall and have brown eyes and a distinguishing birthmark on their left elbow. I will leave that to other blogs to discuss. For me though, Romans 8 does indicate that we should be following the Law. Lets take a look.

First thing that is brought up in the chapter is that there is no condemnation in Messiah. I have always seen that as a clear meaning that the Law will not condemn you if you are in Messiah. A power to pronounce guilt is not there. Can the Law still correct? I think so, but not condemn. So, in other words, I have always though that even if you follow Torah, failures in doing so will not be used as a means to bring forth eternal judgment. Following that comes a conflict of flesh and Spirit.

Verse two states:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

Many see that as describing two different laws, the Torah of the Spirit and the Torah of sin and death, but I see it as two different way to approach the Torah. I especially see that as the following verses speak about keeping the law in the flesh as compared to doing so in the Spirit. It is restated in verse six as a comparison of a carnal mind versus a spiritual mind. So, I see verse two in this light; “For following Torah in the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua frees me from following the law in my carnal mind.” Not two laws, but two ways to approach the one law. One way is good, works and leads to life; the other way is not good and will fail and lead to death.

Verse three says that Torah is weak. How is it weak? It is weak through the flesh. This is similar to Hebrews 8:8 saying that G-d found fault with the people as the reason for the need for a New Covenant (and then going on to quote Jeremiah 31:31-34). The Torah itself is fine and good, but sinful man is the issue and the New Covenant through Yeshua gives the capability to do Torah successfully as it removes the problem, the flesh.

So, when I read through Romans chapter eight, I do not come away with a sense of freedom to do whatever we wish. As a matter of fact verse twelve says we have a debt to pay, and it is a debt not to the flesh, not to ourselves, but to the Spirit, to G-d to actually turn from the things of the flesh. It say we need to mortify the deeds of the flesh in order to live. Get rid of just doing whatever one feels like doing and do what the Spirit, what the Word of G-d says to do. That would be following a law.

The chapter ends with some wonderful and hopeful verses.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love G-d, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

What shall we then say to these things? If G-d be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Who shall separate us from the love of Messiah? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35)

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of G-d, which is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

Such awesome promises. G-d is actively working in our lives, even fixing up mistakes we make. Does G-d let us off scoff free? No, I think there are consequences to pay, however I think if a good parent uses consequences as a tool to teach a lesson and correct and do not use it to be mean and punish for the sake of punishment and as a result of anger, then how much more will our Heavenly Father use consequences in a manner that is for correction and not some sort of acting out of anger. But then in the end He works it all out for our good. A good parent does that for their child and thus I know that G-d does so as well. We can make it through all, we can finish this race because greater is He who is within me that is he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

It was a wonderful and meaningful Yom Kippur. I hope you had a wonderful season as well. Now that we have gone through a process started at Rosh Hashanah with the blowing of the shofar calling us to pay attention, we can now enter into G-d being with us, which is the heart of the next holiday, Sukkot. Have a wonderful, joyous celebration. Baruch HaShem!

B”H