Have you ever noticed how people completely ignore biblical Truth and principle so that they don't have to face the fact of their personal misunderstanding of the Text? Textual awareness and understanding vs religious and denominational ignorance; this ought to make for a good discussion.
One of—in my opinion—the greatest lies ever perpetuated by our enemy is religion. You see, religion lies to her followers, fooling them into believing that they are following GOD, when in truth they are sold out to a lie. The deeper sadness here is the fact that GOD gave humanity His Truth and far too many don't even recognize Him.
Someone once said that the Text is the story of GOD wanting to reconnect with humanity, personally (the "personally" applied to both GOD and each individual). GOD personally became flesh so that He could personally become sin so that He could personally redeem each and every person, personally. When we deny the humanity of Jesus we deny the true power of salvation. Without the shedding of Jesus' blood there could be no redemption for sin. GOD's flesh had to bleed. Spirit can't bleed. The Spirit had to become flesh; thus the intensifying power of Jesus' human-ness. To all my fellow monotheists, don't be afraid of Sonship. The role of the Son proves beyond all measure the Unity and One-ness of our GOD. However, to truly understand Sonship you have to be willing to truly study the Text and history to discover why the phraseology of referring to Jesus as the Son of GOD was used in the New Testament.
So, if the Text is GOD's story of reconnection, then He must have included His Purpose within the various letters. I believe that He did. While there are many examples of GOD's Purpose throughout both the Old and New Testaments, one of the most powerful examples of GOD's thought-process is found in Paul's letter to the Galatian Community. The study of the Galatian Letter is of critical importance to Christians today. Not only to we learn of a departure from the Gospel in ancient days, we also see that there is a similar error being proclaimed today. Many Christians have accepted this divergence from the Gospel, not knowing the seriousness of their error and misunderstanding. We have to understand the importance of identifying the Galatian Error so that we can recognize similar false teachings that are becoming more and more widely accepted. The time has come to identify false teaching for exactly what it is—a departure from the Gospel, thus a departure from Salvation.
The Community at Galatia was somewhat divided into two regional groups. For this to make sense we have to agree upon the approximate date of Paul's writing the letter. The date of authorship helps to define the region of Galatia. The difficulty in determining what Paul meant by the term Galatia results from the fact that Galatia can be used in two different ways: 1) as a reference to the whole Roman administrative district (especially the southern part of this district); 2) to designate ethnic Galatia (only the northern part of the district). For example, Paul used the Roman provincial names in his letter, while Luke—in his Acts of the Apostles—used the ethnic designations (Acts 14). Because of this we can infer that Paul is speaking of the larger territory which included the southern portion of Galatia. Why is this important? This designation is important because the Jewish population was greater in the south than in the north, thus a problem with Judaizers would be more likely in that region. In his letter, Paul assumes his readers have a fair knowledge of the Torah and Judaism in general, an assumption that would be more likely in the south. Also, because of Luke's reference in Acts 14, we know that there was considerable opposition to Paul's preaching in the cities of South Galatia. This would date this letter slightly before the Jerusalem Council (circa 50 AD). Around this time Paul and Barnabas had embarked on their first missionary journey, traveling to the South Galatian cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. The team then returned to Syrian Antioch and spent a considerable amount of time in the locale (Acts 14:28). Peter had come to Antioch to see how this community was doing and fell into hypocrisy when some other Jews arrived from Jerusalem. Paul then rebuked Peter publicly (Galatians 2:11-21). While in Antioch, Paul must have received word that some of the community were falling prey to the teaching of the Judaizers. The arrival of Judaizers in Antioch would have intensified Paul's concerns. Because of this timeline, we can conclude that Paul's letter to the Galatian Community was written some time before the Jerusalem Council. The fact that there is no mention of the Council's decision in His letter to the Galatians also provides strength to this contention.*
So, by now you're wondering what all this has to do with this article. The connector between this brief history lesson and this article are the Judaizers. The Judaizers were a group of Jewish Christians in the 1st Century who preached to the Gentile Diaspora the need to conform to the Torah, even after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. There's not a lot of specific knowledge about this group, but most scholars agree that the group originated in Jerusalem, and that at least some were Pharisees (Acts 15:5). No one knows how organized they were as a movement or any of the names of the individuals within the movement. The most important thing that we do know about them is the fact that they attempted to make Jews out of Gentile Christians. The importance of this group is not so much what they taught but the reaction to their teachings. Paul attacks their teachings head-on in his letters. He wanted to demonstrate to these diasporic communities that Jesus had instituted a new covenant, thus fulfilling the Torah (Law) and making null and void the activities performed under the Mosaic Covenant. To break this down, the Judaizers taught that because the Jews were GOD's Chosen People, when a non-Jew was Spirit-baptized they must become a ceremonial Jew (via circumcision and tradition) in order to access Salvation. In essence, Salvation is based on works rather than on faith.
We have now come full circle back to the introduction of this article. The Judaizers preached a religion of works-based sanctification: the better you are, the more of GOD you have. Sound familiar? Walking with GOD was saddled with a list of actions that were acceptable and necessary and any variance from these confines constituted rebellion and back-sliding. The Judaizers essentially said, live by our rules because we are GOD's mouthpieces. This didn't sit well with Paul. We see him attacking this religious bigotry in his letters to Galatia, Corinth, Colassae and Rome. When a Judaizer would yell Torah, Paul would declare Grace. The Judaziers denied the fact that Jesus had fulfilled the Torah at Calvary, that His Passion ripped the veil to allow Grace to cleanse humanity. The Judaizers denied the power of faith and preferred works.
If you study Paul's Galatian Letter you'll find him painstakingly demonstrating Jesus' fulfillment of the Torah and the advent of Grace. He points out that anyone who tries to live by his own effort—independant of GOD—is doomed to failure. He then provides Text to prove his contention: Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the Law, [Galations 3:9-10, quoting Deuteronomy 27:26]. Paul then drops the bomb in verses 11-12: The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with GOD that way. The person who lives in right relationship with GOD does it by embracing what GOD arranges for him. Doing things for GOD is the opposite of entering into what GOD does for you. Habakkuk had it right: The person who believes GOD, is set right by GOD—and that's the real life. Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: The one who does these things (rule-keeping) continues to live by them. [Galatians 3:11-12, The Message. Paul first quotes Habbakkuk 2:4, then Leviticus 18:5].
In verses 13-14, Paul shows us that Jesus-Messiah [literally the Salvation of YHWH] redeemed us from the cursed life of rule-keeping by absorbing that life into Himself. Jesus became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse of the Law. But, the only way to receive GOD's life (l'chaim: true life over existence) is by believing, by faith.
The purpose of the Law was to keep a sinful people in the way of Salvation until Jesus-Messiah came. The Law was not a first-hand encounter with GOD, but was administered through a middle-man, Moses. But, relating to GOD via an intermediary runs contrary to GOD's promise to Abraham. This original promise is the direct blessing of GOD, and was then, and must now be received by faith. Paul points out that the Law fulfilled the role of a tutor who escorts children to school and protected them from danger or distraction, making sure that the children actually arrive at the place for which they set out [Galatians 3:23-24]. But he doesn't stop there, he continues, But now you have arrived at your destination: by faith in Jesus-Messiah you are in direct relationship with GOD. Your baptism in Jesus-Messiah was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Salvation's life, the fulfillment of GOD's original promise, [Galatians 3:25-27, The Message].
There are those who would negate faith and the power of true relationship by saddling every member of the Community with addendums to the New Covenant, but any addition to this Covenant negates it. The New Covenant established by Jesus-Messiah says that He would fill us with His Holy Spirit to keep us and lead us by the hand into all Truth. This Covenant says that there is no way that you or I will ever be able to be good enough, but because of Grace our sins were forgiven once and for all. This New Covenant says that when we sin (and we will because we are flawed flesh and not yet perfected) that all we have to do to return to right relationship with Jesus is repent (confession and turning away from our sin and turning to His Abundant Life); our repentance allows Grace to kiss Mercy, thus enabling our faith to usher us back into GOD's holy Presence.
Stop trying to be good, you'll never make it. Start living life within the confines of Jesus-Messiah's New Covenant; a Covenant of Grace and Mercy through faith in an Eternal GOD. The Law is fulfilled, don't step back under it. If you do you're damning yourself to an eternity of failure, because you'll never be able to make it. Jesus never intended us to die trying to prove ourselves worthy of His Grace and Mercy; He already knew we could never be worthy. But… He is worthy, He is perfect, He is complete, He is pure…
All we have to do is believe.
* Here are a few authors that you can read to find out more about this subject:
1. Cf. William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, Rev. Ed., 1976), pp. xi-xiii.
2. F. F. Bruce,Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982)
3. R. A. Cole, The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965)
4. Herman N. Ridderbos,The Epistle of Paul to the Churches of Galatia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1953)
Showing posts with label diaspora. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diaspora. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Importance of Revolution
Revolution can be defined as a forcible overthrow of a government or social order or system of operation in favor of a new system. I would, however, like to utilize the etymology of the word to demonstrate a truer meaning. Revolution has its origin in late Middle English and comes from the Old French word revolvere, which means to roll back.
It is my honest belief that GOD is calling His Community as a whole to a godly revolution; not an action that forcibly overthrows the current system with violent action, but rather a steady and purposeful rolling back of our processes and systems to GOD's original intent. GOD is calling us to return. There's an old adage that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not sure who added this, but another adage continues, and the Church ain't broke. I agree. GOD's Body isn't broken, but our system is. We can either choose to ignore the reality that is occurring all around us, or we can determine that we will roll back and become what GOD intended.
So, you're probably asking, how was the 1st Century Community different than today? Notwithstanding the political and socioeconomic differences between then and now, there are vast differences between what was and what is. The primary difference was the diaspora [referring to the contagion-like spread of the Good News after the Day of Pentecost]. Before Paul ever wrote the first book of the New Testament there were thousands of missional communities functioning all across the known world. I recently read a dissertation by a theologian in which he posits proof of missional communities as far out as the Britannic Islands before the advent of cath holos in the 4th Century. I have no idea if there were Britannic missional communities, it doesn't really matter, but I bring this up to point out that the Good News spread like an unstoppable virus, and it spread fast. Luke tells us that GOD added to the Ekklesia, daily [Acts 2:46-47]. The spread has slowed. In many ways, the contagion of the Good News has been staunched. Much of this is part of the process, but there is much of the staunching that lays at our feet as well.
How did diaspora occur in the 1st Century? To again reference Luke's account [Acts 2:46, 5:42], we see that the Ekklesia not only worshiped in the Temple every day, they also met in their homes. These home meetings were missional communities that were established specifically to not only grow together in unity, but also to grow in numbers through personal and collective discipling. If you do even a cursory study of the diaspora you'll find that these missional communities would spring up almost overnight, then—once established—duplicate themselves and start all over again. This is why the New Testament references specific Communities by city rather than by leader [i.e., the Community at Rome, the Community at Jerusalem, etc. vs. Pastor ________'s church]. They were dedicated and sold out to GOD, not the pedigree of their pastor. In fact, Paul openly addressed this issue in his letter to the Corinthian Community [1 Corinthians 3:1-15]. In this section of his letter, Paul openly admits to a practice that not a few of our modern pastors would shy away from: he says that he's a part of a team. He says that he laid a foundation, but someone else built. He says this after he questions who he is, who Apollos is. Paul was not setting himself up as the ultimate authority in the minds and lives of the Corinthian Community, he was establishing himself as one aspect of a GOD-inspired team. A team that has at its core a strong dependence upon GOD [verse 6]. Diaspora is a result of team efforts, not individualistic kingdom building.
Is it possible that the spread of the Good News-contagion has slowed because we're more focused on building our individual congregations rather than GOD's Kingdom?
How many of the individuals in our congregations are in attendance simply because they are addicted to the dynamics of their pastor's personality and/or preaching style? This can be measured by observing how many people don't attended services if they know the pastor is not going to be present. This is also a result of our event-oriented methodology, where we focus our outreach and worship efforts on one or two primary weekly events [i.e., our weekend and mid-week gatherings]. Call it what you will, but this is nothing like our 1st Century predecessors. In my opinion Paul would have a field day with the modern day Community. Far too many of us have reduced living for GOD to our congregational gatherings, completely ignoring the fact that GOD wants to interact with us daily, relationally.
Diaspora has been staunched because we're not spreading.
Examine the congregations here in North America that are experiencing the most rapid and sustaining growth. Each one of them will attribute the majority of their swell to their in-home communities. Some call them small groups, some use the moniker cell group… at a glance the name doesn't really matter as long as the purpose is to provide community between a smaller group at a more intimate level (although you could make the argument that the group becomes what you call it; call it "small" it will stay that way). These congregations have discovered the truth that if individuals are given the opportunity to experience community throughout the week rather than only in one or two mass events, that they will become more connected and ultimately stronger believers. Forget for a moment all of your philosophical differences with these congregations, you can't deny the fact that this is truly 1st Century. This is nothing new. People have been trying cell groups, small groups, whatever for years. Some have experienced solid diaspora, others haven't. If your congregation hasn't seen true diaspora after tying this, you might be missing one small, yet integral component: common unity.
In an event-driven congregation it is very difficult to experience real common unity [community] because the congregation only interacts at the events. It would be extremely difficult to stand in front of several hundred or more people and openly confess sin, thus making it nearly impossible to bear up our brothers and sisters who have stumbled or are struggling. Yet, we were instructed by James to confess our sins to each other so that we may be healed [James 5:15-17]. While this is virtually impossible in a congregational sense, this transparency and trust is a key ingredient to a thriving, healthy missional community.
People being Spirit-baptized is not, in and of itself, diaspora. Yes it is a fundamental part of the process, but if we're not discipling, nurturing and developing these new believers they won't last; and as a result, diaspora will not continue. Perhaps our multiple text messages, tweets and or reports should focus on the number of new believers who last out the month (just a thought). If we roll back to the concept of team, in which we all are involved in the growth of a new believer, will see the holes in our net steadily shrinking.
In the 1st Century—because of the reality of the common unity that existed in the Ekklesia—it is highly doubtful that there were any individuals who weren't heavily involved in the function and operation of the individual missional community. It's easy to disappear in the crowd, but a far more difficult task to shirk responsibility when there are less people in the room. Add to this reality your missional community receiving letters from GOD's Apostle reminding you that if you don't pull your weight that you should be cut off.
How many of your congregation simply attend the main events?
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating a desertion of our mass congregations. Nor am I asserting that the existence of large congregations are somehow against GOD. I simply want to point out that this was not the original plan, but a result of outside influences. Imagine how much more effective every member of your congregation would be if they were interacting with each other, shining Jesus and discipling individuals, daily.
We've got to shake ourselves out of this lethargy. GOD is calling us to a revolution, a rolling back to His purpose. We've got to cast off the trappings of cath holos and Protestant denominationalism and return again to His Commission: to go make disciples. Yes, I talk about this a lot, but I have no choice. This is my passion, this is my Calling. It would be easy to shrug off this call to revolution as the "next new thing." But, shrugging it off won't make it go away. Either we are contagious and are effecting our world or we're not. And if we're not, who are we to think that GOD's just going to ignore our ineffectiveness? Have we forgotten that He turned away from His chosen people because of their inability to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant? Are we so arrogant to assume He won't do it again? GOD told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. He told Abraham that He was blessing him so that he could bless the entire world. He Commissioned His disciples to go make disciples. Are you starting to see the theme? Diaspora is GOD's plan. Attrition is the result of our apathy, not the enemy. We need to stop blaming everything on the devil and man up to the fact that we're not fulfilling our task.
To quote Jack Black, it's time to get naked and start the revolution. We need to strip away all of the trappings of everything that we are that isn't GOD. We need to leave behind so much of our process that stems from the 4th Century and go back further to where it all began. We need to roll back to our Commissioned Purpose. When we fully engage in revolution the contagion of GOD's Good News will be spread around the world.
It is my honest belief that GOD is calling His Community as a whole to a godly revolution; not an action that forcibly overthrows the current system with violent action, but rather a steady and purposeful rolling back of our processes and systems to GOD's original intent. GOD is calling us to return. There's an old adage that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not sure who added this, but another adage continues, and the Church ain't broke. I agree. GOD's Body isn't broken, but our system is. We can either choose to ignore the reality that is occurring all around us, or we can determine that we will roll back and become what GOD intended.
So, you're probably asking, how was the 1st Century Community different than today? Notwithstanding the political and socioeconomic differences between then and now, there are vast differences between what was and what is. The primary difference was the diaspora [referring to the contagion-like spread of the Good News after the Day of Pentecost]. Before Paul ever wrote the first book of the New Testament there were thousands of missional communities functioning all across the known world. I recently read a dissertation by a theologian in which he posits proof of missional communities as far out as the Britannic Islands before the advent of cath holos in the 4th Century. I have no idea if there were Britannic missional communities, it doesn't really matter, but I bring this up to point out that the Good News spread like an unstoppable virus, and it spread fast. Luke tells us that GOD added to the Ekklesia, daily [Acts 2:46-47]. The spread has slowed. In many ways, the contagion of the Good News has been staunched. Much of this is part of the process, but there is much of the staunching that lays at our feet as well.
How did diaspora occur in the 1st Century? To again reference Luke's account [Acts 2:46, 5:42], we see that the Ekklesia not only worshiped in the Temple every day, they also met in their homes. These home meetings were missional communities that were established specifically to not only grow together in unity, but also to grow in numbers through personal and collective discipling. If you do even a cursory study of the diaspora you'll find that these missional communities would spring up almost overnight, then—once established—duplicate themselves and start all over again. This is why the New Testament references specific Communities by city rather than by leader [i.e., the Community at Rome, the Community at Jerusalem, etc. vs. Pastor ________'s church]. They were dedicated and sold out to GOD, not the pedigree of their pastor. In fact, Paul openly addressed this issue in his letter to the Corinthian Community [1 Corinthians 3:1-15]. In this section of his letter, Paul openly admits to a practice that not a few of our modern pastors would shy away from: he says that he's a part of a team. He says that he laid a foundation, but someone else built. He says this after he questions who he is, who Apollos is. Paul was not setting himself up as the ultimate authority in the minds and lives of the Corinthian Community, he was establishing himself as one aspect of a GOD-inspired team. A team that has at its core a strong dependence upon GOD [verse 6]. Diaspora is a result of team efforts, not individualistic kingdom building.
Is it possible that the spread of the Good News-contagion has slowed because we're more focused on building our individual congregations rather than GOD's Kingdom?
How many of the individuals in our congregations are in attendance simply because they are addicted to the dynamics of their pastor's personality and/or preaching style? This can be measured by observing how many people don't attended services if they know the pastor is not going to be present. This is also a result of our event-oriented methodology, where we focus our outreach and worship efforts on one or two primary weekly events [i.e., our weekend and mid-week gatherings]. Call it what you will, but this is nothing like our 1st Century predecessors. In my opinion Paul would have a field day with the modern day Community. Far too many of us have reduced living for GOD to our congregational gatherings, completely ignoring the fact that GOD wants to interact with us daily, relationally.
Diaspora has been staunched because we're not spreading.
Examine the congregations here in North America that are experiencing the most rapid and sustaining growth. Each one of them will attribute the majority of their swell to their in-home communities. Some call them small groups, some use the moniker cell group… at a glance the name doesn't really matter as long as the purpose is to provide community between a smaller group at a more intimate level (although you could make the argument that the group becomes what you call it; call it "small" it will stay that way). These congregations have discovered the truth that if individuals are given the opportunity to experience community throughout the week rather than only in one or two mass events, that they will become more connected and ultimately stronger believers. Forget for a moment all of your philosophical differences with these congregations, you can't deny the fact that this is truly 1st Century. This is nothing new. People have been trying cell groups, small groups, whatever for years. Some have experienced solid diaspora, others haven't. If your congregation hasn't seen true diaspora after tying this, you might be missing one small, yet integral component: common unity.
In an event-driven congregation it is very difficult to experience real common unity [community] because the congregation only interacts at the events. It would be extremely difficult to stand in front of several hundred or more people and openly confess sin, thus making it nearly impossible to bear up our brothers and sisters who have stumbled or are struggling. Yet, we were instructed by James to confess our sins to each other so that we may be healed [James 5:15-17]. While this is virtually impossible in a congregational sense, this transparency and trust is a key ingredient to a thriving, healthy missional community.
People being Spirit-baptized is not, in and of itself, diaspora. Yes it is a fundamental part of the process, but if we're not discipling, nurturing and developing these new believers they won't last; and as a result, diaspora will not continue. Perhaps our multiple text messages, tweets and or reports should focus on the number of new believers who last out the month (just a thought). If we roll back to the concept of team, in which we all are involved in the growth of a new believer, will see the holes in our net steadily shrinking.
In the 1st Century—because of the reality of the common unity that existed in the Ekklesia—it is highly doubtful that there were any individuals who weren't heavily involved in the function and operation of the individual missional community. It's easy to disappear in the crowd, but a far more difficult task to shirk responsibility when there are less people in the room. Add to this reality your missional community receiving letters from GOD's Apostle reminding you that if you don't pull your weight that you should be cut off.
How many of your congregation simply attend the main events?
Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not advocating a desertion of our mass congregations. Nor am I asserting that the existence of large congregations are somehow against GOD. I simply want to point out that this was not the original plan, but a result of outside influences. Imagine how much more effective every member of your congregation would be if they were interacting with each other, shining Jesus and discipling individuals, daily.
We've got to shake ourselves out of this lethargy. GOD is calling us to a revolution, a rolling back to His purpose. We've got to cast off the trappings of cath holos and Protestant denominationalism and return again to His Commission: to go make disciples. Yes, I talk about this a lot, but I have no choice. This is my passion, this is my Calling. It would be easy to shrug off this call to revolution as the "next new thing." But, shrugging it off won't make it go away. Either we are contagious and are effecting our world or we're not. And if we're not, who are we to think that GOD's just going to ignore our ineffectiveness? Have we forgotten that He turned away from His chosen people because of their inability to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant? Are we so arrogant to assume He won't do it again? GOD told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. He told Abraham that He was blessing him so that he could bless the entire world. He Commissioned His disciples to go make disciples. Are you starting to see the theme? Diaspora is GOD's plan. Attrition is the result of our apathy, not the enemy. We need to stop blaming everything on the devil and man up to the fact that we're not fulfilling our task.
To quote Jack Black, it's time to get naked and start the revolution. We need to strip away all of the trappings of everything that we are that isn't GOD. We need to leave behind so much of our process that stems from the 4th Century and go back further to where it all began. We need to roll back to our Commissioned Purpose. When we fully engage in revolution the contagion of GOD's Good News will be spread around the world.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Returning to Antiquity
I was recently asked why I place so much focus on the rabbinic ministry of Jesus, and why I reference Hebraic tradition so often. They continued, "Why listen to rabbis when we have the Messiah?" So, I figured I'd take the time to explain my passion for 1st Century ethos.
First, while it's a very good educational practice to question modern rabbis, it would be a huge mistake to follow any of them. The only Rabbi that we should follow is Jesus. For this to make any sense you have to first understand that Jesus lived His earthly life and conducted His earthly ministry according to the rabbinic tradition. He gathered disciples, He traveled around Judea and the Decapolis interpreting the Torah and the Nevi'im and He commissioned His disciples with His yoke (or doctrine) at the end of His earthly ministry. Throughout the four Gospels Jesus is referred to by His followers as Rabbi (or Master: KJV; or Teacher: ESV and others). It is important to note that He came in the ministry of interpreting the Torah, and thus fulfilled the Torah with His sacrifice. Denying His rabbinic ministry denies an integral aspect of His Mission.
The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century Community is because of Diaspora. Diaspora loosely refers to the spread of the Good News that occured after the Day of Pentecost. Diasporic Communities sprang up all across the known world—as far even as the Brittanic Islands—almost overnight. Luke reference this in the second chapter of his Acts, where he says that GOD added to the Community daily... Before Paul's Illumination, and even before he wrote his first letter to the 1st Century Community, there were thousands of Diasporic Communities in homes who had already dedicated themselves to following their Rabbi, Jesus Messiah (Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Savior, or Jesus—YHWH's Salvation). Not since the 1st Century has there been such a vast and rapid dispersion of the Good News; no, not even Azusa.
The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century is because of the advent of 4th Century cath holos (Roman Catholicism) that perverted and merged GOD's Community with human religion. Far too much of what we call Church Tradition has it's genesis in cath holos rather than in the Missio Dei (Mission of GOD). As a result I am calling for a return to biblical antiquity, a return to the 1st Century ethos that is dedicated and sold out to our Rabbi, Jesus—GOD's manifested Salvation.
I believe that GOD has called me to rip the facade off of denominationalism and religiosity so that the Light of His Illumination can shine again in the hearts of His Community, so that we return our focus to His Mission and His Kingdom. GOD didn't commission us to construct organizations and fellowships that are more akin to humanistic religion; He baptized us with His Spirit and Essence so that we would spread His Yoke, shining His Identity, building His Kingdom.
I wholeheartedly believe that the time has come to lay aside the trappings of denominational religion and return again to biblical antiquity; primarily 1st Century antiquity. When GOD's people today allow themselves to have all things in common, and to live in common unity, as the Ekklesia did in the 1st Century, we will begin to see a 1st Century outpouring of GOD's Spirit.
I've dedicated my life and the lives of my family to this return. We welcome you to join us on the journey.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
First, while it's a very good educational practice to question modern rabbis, it would be a huge mistake to follow any of them. The only Rabbi that we should follow is Jesus. For this to make any sense you have to first understand that Jesus lived His earthly life and conducted His earthly ministry according to the rabbinic tradition. He gathered disciples, He traveled around Judea and the Decapolis interpreting the Torah and the Nevi'im and He commissioned His disciples with His yoke (or doctrine) at the end of His earthly ministry. Throughout the four Gospels Jesus is referred to by His followers as Rabbi (or Master: KJV; or Teacher: ESV and others). It is important to note that He came in the ministry of interpreting the Torah, and thus fulfilled the Torah with His sacrifice. Denying His rabbinic ministry denies an integral aspect of His Mission.
The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century Community is because of Diaspora. Diaspora loosely refers to the spread of the Good News that occured after the Day of Pentecost. Diasporic Communities sprang up all across the known world—as far even as the Brittanic Islands—almost overnight. Luke reference this in the second chapter of his Acts, where he says that GOD added to the Community daily... Before Paul's Illumination, and even before he wrote his first letter to the 1st Century Community, there were thousands of Diasporic Communities in homes who had already dedicated themselves to following their Rabbi, Jesus Messiah (Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Savior, or Jesus—YHWH's Salvation). Not since the 1st Century has there been such a vast and rapid dispersion of the Good News; no, not even Azusa.
The next reason why I focus on the 1st Century is because of the advent of 4th Century cath holos (Roman Catholicism) that perverted and merged GOD's Community with human religion. Far too much of what we call Church Tradition has it's genesis in cath holos rather than in the Missio Dei (Mission of GOD). As a result I am calling for a return to biblical antiquity, a return to the 1st Century ethos that is dedicated and sold out to our Rabbi, Jesus—GOD's manifested Salvation.
I believe that GOD has called me to rip the facade off of denominationalism and religiosity so that the Light of His Illumination can shine again in the hearts of His Community, so that we return our focus to His Mission and His Kingdom. GOD didn't commission us to construct organizations and fellowships that are more akin to humanistic religion; He baptized us with His Spirit and Essence so that we would spread His Yoke, shining His Identity, building His Kingdom.
I wholeheartedly believe that the time has come to lay aside the trappings of denominational religion and return again to biblical antiquity; primarily 1st Century antiquity. When GOD's people today allow themselves to have all things in common, and to live in common unity, as the Ekklesia did in the 1st Century, we will begin to see a 1st Century outpouring of GOD's Spirit.
I've dedicated my life and the lives of my family to this return. We welcome you to join us on the journey.
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Location:Snapdragon St,Trabuco,United States
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