Post by Mark on Feb 25, 2008 5:36:51 GMT -8
One of the things that I'm working on in our community is trying to help those coming from the gentile Church see the beauty and value of the Messianic Liturgy, as taken out of the Jewish Synagogue. I've been writing a paper each week on different prayers and thought some of you might be interested in what I've shared thus far. I'll start posting them in this area, as I go along, hoping that these generate some response of praise to Adonai our God, or stimulate questions on the Judaic perspective of our faith.
Teshuvah
"Return us, our Father, to Your
; draw us near our King to serve You. Restore us to Your presence in complete repentance. Blessed are You. O Lord, who desires repentance."
How is it that we have come so far that we can separate our idea of repentance from the definition of? What is it that we repent from? The answer, in any denomination, is sin. Yet, if we suggest that sin is transgression of (as Paul does in Romans 3:20 and as John does in 1st John 3:4), then we are legalists. Yet, clearly, the purpose of the Law in Judaism, is not to justify oneself before Adonai (as we have been taught to believe by Christian leaders) but to draw us to repentance.
Is it possible to repent of sin without clearly understanding what was the offense? To repent means, to turn again. It means to completely change direction from one course to another. Without definition is to be without direction: and we are left walking in circles. Truly, if the blind lead the blind they shall both fall into the ditch.
The Christian Church responds to this, with some agitation, that they are not without direction, that they have a definition of sin. Yet, it does not take much research or long looking into the cultural history of any denomination that things twenty years ago which are now acceptable were once utterly taboo; yet things now considered repugnant were openly practiced by even members of clergy. The Church definition of sin is great for building a sense of community; but does little for bringing one closer in intimate fellowship with Adonai, our God.
We desperately want to grow in a closer to Adonai in our daily relationship. Yet, we tend to want to do so on our own terms. We see the definitions of sin and righteousness in ways that make us feel good about ourselves (and if we like us so much it’s only reasonable that God should like us too). Yet, the Teshuva reminds us that God’s ways are much higher than our ways, that His thoughts are much higher than our thoughts. And those who wish to come to worship before Him must do so honestly, in Spirit and in Truth (not neglecting who He is (His Spirit) nor His Character (His Truth)).
We cannot Teshuvah (repent) without. We can change directions but simple change does not bring us closer to Him. Refraining from an activity that someone else says is wrong may likely bring you closer that person; but it is no guarantee to bring you closer to God. This is why He has given us His . He desires that we should walk intimately with Him. He desires our repentance. He desires our restoration.
Teshuvah
"Return us, our Father, to Your
; draw us near our King to serve You. Restore us to Your presence in complete repentance. Blessed are You. O Lord, who desires repentance."How is it that we have come so far that we can separate our idea of repentance from the definition of
? What is it that we repent from? The answer, in any denomination, is sin. Yet, if we suggest that sin is transgression of (as Paul does in Romans 3:20 and as John does in 1st John 3:4), then we are legalists. Yet, clearly, the purpose of the Law in Judaism, is not to justify oneself before Adonai (as we have been taught to believe by Christian leaders) but to draw us to repentance.Is it possible to repent of sin without clearly understanding what was the offense? To repent means, to turn again. It means to completely change direction from one course to another. Without definition is to be without direction: and we are left walking in circles. Truly, if the blind lead the blind they shall both fall into the ditch.
The Christian Church responds to this, with some agitation, that they are not without direction, that they have a definition of sin. Yet, it does not take much research or long looking into the cultural history of any denomination that things twenty years ago which are now acceptable were once utterly taboo; yet things now considered repugnant were openly practiced by even members of clergy. The Church definition of sin is great for building a sense of community; but does little for bringing one closer in intimate fellowship with Adonai, our God.
We desperately want to grow in a closer to Adonai in our daily relationship. Yet, we tend to want to do so on our own terms. We see the definitions of sin and righteousness in ways that make us feel good about ourselves (and if we like us so much it’s only reasonable that God should like us too). Yet, the Teshuva reminds us that God’s ways are much higher than our ways, that His thoughts are much higher than our thoughts. And those who wish to come to worship before Him must do so honestly, in Spirit and in Truth (not neglecting who He is (His Spirit) nor His Character (His Truth)).
We cannot Teshuvah (repent) without
. We can change directions but simple change does not bring us closer to Him. Refraining from an activity that someone else says is wrong may likely bring you closer that person; but it is no guarantee to bring you closer to God. This is why He has given us His . He desires that we should walk intimately with Him. He desires our repentance. He desires our restoration.
