Real Jews Don't Pay Retail
Saturday, November 15, 2008
On the Inspiration Network they're running a telethon. The prize of the day: For a $700 gift you get a prayer shawl.
A tallit.
One of the most sacred cultural emblems of the Jewish faith.
You get it for $700 bucks.
Pure Jewish reaction: "You can get them for $50 straight from Israel! What kind of deal is that?"
Pure Messianic Jewish reaction: "Why are you co-opting my faith and making money off of my traditions? Didn't that whole 'They bargained for His robes' verse mean ANYTHING to you at ALL?"
Seriously. How much credibility do Jewish believers have when gentile believers take on these cultural elements and manipulate them for their own benefit? It's as bad as turning the Temple into a den of robbers. Although, it really shouldn't surprise me; gentiles have been re-hashing and manipulating Jewish scriptures to suit their own needs for roughly 2,000 years, right?
Now, Pastor Huch is wearing a talit and praying over phoned-in prayer requests, because "there's power in doing things according to God's instruction."
No, really? Like ripping innocent believers off by telling them they'll receive supernatural anointing if they unload their wallets into your hands? Since when did God charge for the gifts of the Spirit?
The talit is a metaphor, a symbol for the wings of God; it is used by many observant Jews as a kind of individual prayer closet; it is the mode by which we wear the tzitzit, commanded fringes that identify who we are and remind us of the holiness of Torah, our covenant with God. And these gentiles, who don't observe Torah, who don't identify with Israel or the responsibilities of our nation, and who, therefore, don't even know what tzitzit are- are being SOLD prayer shawls by a bunch of pastors who want MONEY for THEIR OWN PURPOSES, INCLUDING A BUILDING FUND?
GOD'S GIFTS ARE FREE!
GOD'S GIFTS ARE FOR EVERYONE!
GOD REALLY DISLIKES SPIRITUAL LEADERS WHO ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY!
One Pastor in the bunch explained, "God says He will bless us but we have to follow His commandments and tithe!"
Are you kidding me? Here's what people are hearing: "God will bless me if I give this holy man money. If I give this holy man money, I'll get the prayer shawls the Jews wear, and I'll have money like they do!"
No. No. No no no no no!!
Why aren't they just sharing the importance of Torah? Because it's hard. It's hard not to eat pork, or to put a Christmas tree in your house-- it's hard NOT to be like everyone else. I know-- I've been there. But, you know what? It's also an incredible blessing to know that you can be totally and completely independent. Torah is the founding document of spiritual, political, religious, social, economical, and national independence. That is the real reason why they don't teach Torah-- because if they did, these leaders would lose their authority over the people. Why? Because the people would catch on to the truth of their independence in HaShem and, suddenly, the authority they grant their pastors and spiritual leaders would be granted solely to HaShem.
"Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers. Their task is to equip God's people for the work of service that builds the body of Messiah, until we arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by God's perfection." - Ephesians 4:11-13
Pastors aren't meant to lead you through your life forever! Pastors are meant to guide you into an independent existence that trusts in HaShem!
Now, T.D. Jakes is talking about separating the wheat from the chaff and rebuking Satan. This is the same guy whose daughter's wedding was covered by Entertainment Tonight.
"Human being, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy! Tell them, the shepherds, that Adonai Elohim says this: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed the sheep? ...I am against the shepherds. I demand that they hand my sheep back to me. I will not allow them to feed the sheep, and they won't feed themselves either. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will be food for them no longer." - Ezekiel 34:2,10
Okay, Pastors. You want to embrace Torah? You want your Jewish roots? Then quit thinking that the prophets were only talking about the leaders of ancient Israel. You're the shepherds, aren't you? And if you can wear a prayer shawl, you must think Torah-- ALL of God's words-- apply to you, right?
Start acting like it. Quit abusing the traditions of my faith for your own nefarious purposes. Quit abusing my people for the sake of your pocket. And quit abusing all of those true-hearted believers out there who really do want to understand why their Messiah is referred to as the Living Torah.
Remember, you believers: God's gifts are free. Yeshua paid the price. If you want to truly respect and understand what that means, you'll embrace the covenant--Torah-- and in doing so you'll come to understand that you weren't put on this earth to throw your hard-earned money at a bunch of glamorous church leaders who do nothing more for you OR God but throw familiar epithets in your face. Don't rely on leaders- BE a leader. That's what God has commanded of you.
Labels: Christian, Inspiration Network, Jewish Roots, Prayer Shawls, Talit
posted by Shoshana @ 12:50 PM
Christian Media: Observations
Monday, October 20, 2008
Larry Huch Ministries
Inspiration Television
Monday, October 20, 2008
7 pm EST
Selling "Prophecy Decoded," a six-CD series on prophecy from a "Jewish perspective."
Pastor Larry says it's the "best" prophecy series you'll ever listen to. He usually does not teach on prophecy because he used to think it was all doom and gloom, but after the anointing of G-d fell on him, Pastor Larry believes that end-time prophecy is exciting because "we will go out before the doom and gloom" -- "we will go out with a shout."
With your $40 purchase of Pastor Larry's CDs you'll receive a free gift- a bottle of anointing oil that Pastor Larry wants you to use on "your childrens' pillows, your husband's pillow, and your checkbook," so that your family and your finances will be "anointed for the end times."
You will also receive another free gift: An Israeli/American flags lapel pin, in order to show our support as Americans for Israel. Why? Because, in the Bible it says that G-d will bless those who bless Israel.
In the last segment, Pastor Larry reminds us that he knows from studying the Jewish roots of the Bible that you never come before G-d with empty hands. Now, we think of this when we think of going up to Jerusalem, but we know that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name, His presence is there. So, as Pastor Larry and his viewer(s) gather together through the television, he would like you to consider sowing a seed into his ministry.
7:30 -- Morris Cerullo is now telling us that in the years leading up to the financial crisis, "the L-rd led him" to issue "Financial Crisis Alerts" and he prays that "you have responded as I have directed you to" so that you can be ready financially for the end times.
His son, David, (who is the financial head of Inspiration TV) has written "Eve of Destruction" a book that questions whether or not this is the end of America.
You are also offered the "Save America Now" DVD: a prime time special broadcast before the last Presidential election and loaded with "anointed" performances by various Christian singers and pastors.
All these ministry resources can be yours for a suggested gift of $30 or more. These gifts will "inspire you, direct you, and keep you" during these turbulent times.
Cerullo ends with: "Please, don't procrastinate: Get into the cycle of what G-d has prepared for His people in these end times."
Labels: cerullo, Christian, culture, end times, huch, Jewish Roots, media
posted by Shoshana @ 7:21 PM
Jewishness: A Badge of Honor (For Everyone Involved!)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
"You did not choose me, I chose you..." -- Yochanan 15:16
One of the questions that plagues many people born into the Tribe is, "Why would anyone want to be Jewish?" A modern Jewish identity carries with it over 2,000 years of oppression, disillusionment, and hatred from the outside world. If you're European, a Jewish identity is enough to get you kidnapped and left for dead. If you're Israeli, a Jewish identity is enough to get you accused of hate crimes by the United Nations. If you're American, a Jewish identity is enough to leave you scarred by Woody Allen-esque neuroses and the threat of being termed a JAP. And, no matter where you live, being Jewish implies that you're constantly failing to hold up your end of the bargain with G-d. Why, oh why, would anyone choose to be a Jew?
Yet, if you've grown up or been immersed in a Messianic circle you tend to view the Jewish identity with a certain amount of admiration, bordering on holy awe-- especially if you're a gentile. If Israel is the promised land, then the Jews are the promised people: They are, therefore, to be respected, revered, and even imitated with reverence.
Now, more than ever, a growing number of gentile believers in Messiah are seeking to look like, act like, and even live like Jews. I've seen footage of various evangelical powerhouses with 7 branched menorahs cut to look like Chanukias, with congregants in talits blasting shofars and doing their best to dance like King David in the 6"x6" space in front of their chairs. Entire ministries have cropped up, devoted to teaching and preaching about the Jewish roots of Christianity; for the first time ever, major bookstores like Barnes & Noble are selling books by Christian authors with titles like Rabbi Jesus: An Intimate Biography.
We live in a world where kids studying Torah in Jerusalem are being murdered by muslim terrorists, and Christians in America are suddenly deciding that they want to be Jewish, too. Having grown out of the Messianic movement, I can understand and appreciate their admiration for my people. Also, having gone through the very literal transition of understanding that I am Jewish-- both genetically and spiritually-- I can relate to their zeal at discovering and embracing their true selves. However, as a somewhat seasoned Messianic Jew who has lived outside of a congregation and in the real world for roughly 8 years now, I can also look at these nascent Messianics and think, "Wow, they really don't know what they're in for."
These people who are discovering themselves in their faith have to not only love the Jewish G-d, the Jewish land, and the Jewish people; they have to love being Jewish. I recall very recently attending a study being led by an ordained Pastor regarding the Hebrew roots of Christianity. Essentially, this pastor was teaching a group of gentiles that, by putting their trust in Messiah Yeshua, they were Biblically considered Jewish. However, he didn't quite put it that bluntly. Privately, he had no problem identifying himself as a Messianic Jew. During the lecture, however, key terms of identity were placed in a grey area. The concentration remained on the Hebrew roots, or history of the Christian faith, rather than the direction in which this knowledge was propelling the movement. The pastor was not someone who minced words, or practiced on the pretext of pleasing his audience; therefore, I found his ambiguity rather odd-- until I took a good look around the room.
Here were a bunch of gentiles, who were in various stages of leaving the organized Christian church, studying about first century believers and how they practiced their faith and lived their lives as Jews... but no one was willing to call themselves "Jewish." They were anxious to study Torah, to read Hebrew, and to observe the High Holidays... but they weren't anxious to call themselves "Jewish." One guy there was so zealous in his studies that he carried with him the works of various Rabbis, but was careful to pad out his comments with, "It isn't important how you practice, as long as you believe in Jesus... I mean, you know, this is all really helpful and important, but it isn't important, you know, what you call yourself, as long as you believe." These people were, for the most part, in a self-imposed Purgatory of Identity. They weren't this, but they weren't that, either. It was as if they'd found themselves in a fantastic bargain basement sale, but couldn't decide whether or not they really wanted to buy.
It was strange, and the cynical, kicked-around-Jew in me felt offended: You want what I have, but you don't want me-- you want what I can give you, but you don't want to work for it. Judaism is a template for you, but somehow, in the end, you still think you can do it better. At the same time, I also reminded myself to approach these newbies with a great deal of grace. It isn't any easier to suddenly be Jewish than it is to suddenly be Chinese or Italian: you don't start whipping up dim sum or planning a move to Sicily on your first night out. Sure, you may be seen in G-d's eyes as a Jew the minute you proclaim faith in Messiah, but that doesn't mean you know how to live a Jewish life. After all, the nascent nation of Israel needed a do-over just to get the Top Ten without having G-d crack it over their collective skull.
In the end, I walked away from that meeting sensing that there was something missing in the believing community-- not on the part of these gentile believers, but on the part of Messianic Jews. After all, aren't we the ones who know what being Jewish is all about? Aren't we the ones who are supposed to be excited about our faith and our identity in Messiah?
Every day I say to myself, "Wow, I love being a Jew." I don't want the world's hatred of the Jewish people and Israel to impact this growing movement of believers hungry to learn about and live out their Jewish identity. I do, however, want to see Messianic Jews get excited about their Jewishness, and pass that excitement along to these newbies to the Tribe. As Yeshua said, "You did not choose Me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in My Name He may give you. This is what I command you; keep loving each other!" (Yochanan 15:16-17)
Be encouraged: Be encouraged to love being a Jew. There is no greater identity on this earth.
Why?
Because our G-d always wins.
Labels: Hebrew Roots, Jewish Identity, Jewish Roots, Judaism, Messianic Judaism
posted by Shoshana @ 7:56 PM
