Working as a Cohn

[rivkah]

Shalom all,

My fiancé and I, once married, will be working among Hasidic Jews for the Good News. So in a very real sense, we will be "working" as Cohns on the Shabbat as we ministry to them - spiritual warfare is not exactly taking a Shabbat. As believers and Messiah, we are called to be priests. Just as the priest in the temple even had to work on Shabbat, the ministry that my fiancé and I have been called into will require much the same.

I am also learning a great deal about the deeper aspects of , about love above the letter, rather than legalism and perhaps obeying in the letter but not loving or showing grace or living grace. So at this stage in my walk, I'm finally learning to both walk in obedience to and the grace of G-d. The balance is not easy.

Back to the discretion of working as priests on the Shabbat. Since we are working to reach these people for the good news of Messiah, I don't see a problem, but how should we handle this as everyone needs a Shabbat? Our primary ministry and opportunity to witness is in the observance of Shabbat but the very fact we are in the midst of spiritual darkness and the amount of work it takes witness to these incredibly religious Jews takes a lot out of you spiritually and physically.

What is your take on this matter? The idea of believers working as priests for G-d?

Edit: I will give you a practical example. I know someone who is observant. However, they needed spiritual counseling and deliverance which require them to travel on Shabbat and even pay for transportation. Through this counseling they were delivered from demonic oppression's, etc. However, according to the "letter of ", they broke the Shabbat yet they were delivered. Is this an example of placinglove and grace above the letter? Is not shabbat about spiritual deliverance? What is your take?

[alon]

Dec 24, 2015 4:14:17 GMT -8 rivkah said:

Shalom all,

My fiancé and I, once married, will be working among Hasidic Jews for the Good News. So in a very real sense, we will be "working" as Cohns on the Shabbat as we ministry to them - spiritual warfare is not exactly taking a Shabbat. As believers and Messiah, we are called to be priests. Just as the priest in the temple even had to work on Shabbat, the ministry that my fiancé and I have been called into will require much the same.

I am also learning a great deal about the deeper aspects of , about love above the letter, rather than legalism and perhaps obeying in the letter but not loving or showing grace or living grace. So at this stage in my walk, I'm finally learning to both walk in obedience to and the grace of G-d. The balance is not easy.

Back to the discretion of working as priests on the Shabbat. Since we are working to reach these people for the good news of Messiah, I don't see a problem, but how should we handle this as everyone needs a Shabbat? Our primary ministry and opportunity to witness is in the observance of Shabbat but the very fact we are in the midst of spiritual darkness and the amount of work it takes witness to these incredibly religious Jews takes a lot out of you spiritually and physically.

What is your take on this matter? The idea of believers working as priests for G-d?

Edit: I will give you a practical example. I know someone who is observant. However, they needed spiritual counseling and deliverance which require them to travel on Shabbat and even pay for transportation. Through this counseling they were delivered from demonic oppression's, etc. However, according to the "letter of ", they broke the Shabbat yet they were delivered. Is this an example of placinglove and grace above the letter? Is not shabbat about spiritual deliverance? What is your take?

“My fiancé and I, once married, will be working among Hasidic Jews for the Good News. So in a very real sense, we will be "working" as Cohns on the Shabbat as we ministry to them - spiritual warfare is not exactly taking a Shabbat. As believers and Messiah, we are called to be priests. Just as the priest in the temple even had to work on Shabbat, the ministry that my fiancé and I have been called into will require much the same.”

Apparently you are with a group which is giving you training, right? If so, go with what they tell you if my advice is different. And this first piece of advice may not be what you are being told to do. I would be careful presenting yourself as a cohen, or priest to these very religious Jews. My guess is they will mostly just dismiss you. But some may challenge you. And thinking of my father-in-law as an example, they can be extremely knowledgeable. He was a Dentist, and himself not even overly religious compared to those you’ll be amongst. But he was knowledgeable of not just but the entire TNK. He even had some informed discussions on the New Testament with my father, himself a Baptist minister. I wish I’d payed more attention then, but I only heard in passing. However I know of many Jews who are well versed in the B’rith Chadashah. You can bet there will be anti-missionaries in NYC, and they will love nothing more than putting a Messianic cohen in their place.

What then should you say you are? A worker, a witness, or just someone who cares. A friend works well too.

“I am also learning a great deal about the deeper aspects of , about love above the letter, rather than legalism and perhaps obeying in the letter but not loving or showing grace or living grace. So at this stage in my walk, I'm finally learning to both walk in obedience to and the grace of G-d. The balance is not easy."

There is a famous saying amongst martial artists; “Before I knew kung fu, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. As I trained in kung fu, a punch was structured and a kick was targeted, both for maximum effect. Now I know kung fu, a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick.” When we are learning, things are broken down and trained in isolation until we understand them at a reflexive level. When this happens, they are recombined to work together as natural functions. I would say part of the problem is you are still learning the basics, and think of these as separate entities. However I see the letter of the law and the love and grace of Hashem as being naturally one and the same. Love is not above the letter, it is the letter. It is what must drive the letter so that we apply the law wisely.

“Back to the discretion of working as priests on the Shabbat. Since we are working to reach these people for the good news of Messiah, I don't see a problem, but how should we handle this as everyone needs a Shabbat? Our primary ministry and opportunity to witness is in the observance of Shabbat but the very fact we are in the midst of spiritual darkness and the amount of work it takes witness to these incredibly religious Jews takes a lot out of you spiritually and physically.”

As a preachers kid myself, I can tell you that you are absolutely correct. You will need some kind of a Shabbat for yourselves. Observe Shabbat the best you can while working with these people. If your ministry causes you to have to work on Shabbat, then take a delayed Shabbat. There is precedent, as the Jews were given a delayed Passover, and Chanukkah was a delayed Sukkot. Take another day off, Monday being the best. But until you have some converts, I don’t see this would be a problem. Chasidim will not appreciate your ruining their Shabbat by witnessing to them. In fact, they don’t like us witnessing at all. My guess is most will be won after you have developed a relationship with them, either professional or as a friend.

“What is your take on this matter? The idea of believers working as priests for G-d?”

You are training as a missionary, which makes you a shaliach tzibur- one who is sent as a spokesman. When Yeshua gave “The Great Commission,” He was speaking to His most ardent and knowledgeable disciples. He was sending them out as shaliachim, or spokesmen for His following; His sect. Shaliach is Hebrew for sending, or message. Tizbur , from the Hebrew for community. The Shaliach Tzibur is the messenger of the community, whether for a synagogue, a sect, or as one sent to make new disciples (a missionary). In contemporary usage this person is the Chazzan. However in the 1st cen it was much more.

Typically this role is given to men, however you will certainly function as a sheliach. As an official title, a cohen, sheliach, Chazzan or a Rabbi would be a man. However the Rebbetzin has no less a calling on her life. So especially amongst Chasidic Jews I wouldn’t advise giving yourself a title such as cohen or even sheliach. But what matters is not the title, but your function amongst the people you are trying to reach. Honestly, I’d be careful as a man of taking on titles. Titles must be defended. Friends, well, they are just telling you what they believe and why.

“Edit: I will give you a practical example. I know someone who is observant. However, they needed spiritual counseling and deliverance which require them to travel on Shabbat and even pay for transportation. Through this counseling they were delivered from demonic oppression's, etc. However, according to the "letter of ", they broke the Shabbat yet they were delivered. Is this an example of placinglove and grace above the letter? Is not shabbat about spiritual deliverance? What is your take?”

This is a good example of love and grace driving the letter of the law. We schooled in the Greek methods tend to see things in black and white. A list is a list, and a law is a law, and both must be obeyed to the letter. Jews see things more as working together. There is a hierarchy amongst even the mitzvoth. Sustaining and protecting life is one of the highest, for example. If you were actually starving and all you had was pork, you could eat it. So it is with working on Shabbat:

Matthew 12:5 (ESV) Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

Obviously the priests have a higher mitzvah to perform, and helping others to shake off oppression or to grow spiritually is part of their calling. Doing these things on Shabbat is akin to Yeshua healing on Shabbat. So if your ministry calls on you to do these things and they are making your Shabbat into a day of labor (and shepherding a congregation is definitely hard work), then do so without guilt and take another day to rest and be with God and family. It would be best if you had someone else take calls on your day off, because people’s problems are not scheduled and sometimes what they think is important enough to disturb your day can be pretty petty. Unfortunately, for the really important things you may be called on to give up even your set aside day. That’s just the nature of the calling you have.

I hope this advice is helpful. May God bless your endeavors.

Dan C