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Post by alon on Dec 28, 2015 15:28:57 GMT -8
I received the following by email. I was not asked to forward this to you (as you can see), nor does he talk about closing the forum. However if the synagogue closes it would follow that the forum would also be shut down. For those of you who do not have a home synagogue, I am going to suggest you help out here. I can recommend them because having been there I see they are not frivolous or wasteful.
I can tell you the enemy has been active in this part of the country, as my own synagogue has suffered losses as well. When God does a work, the enemy gets busy working against it.
Here's the email:
Please consider helping if you have been blessed by the forum or by their live streaming programs.
And please keep the parent synagogue, Synagogue Chavurat HaMashiach, in your prayers each day. Thanks.
Dan
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Post by garrett on Jan 1, 2016 12:01:55 GMT -8
Dan, just to let you know, I've been thinking about this a lot and praying that the overall situation will improve - for something better. I've also prayed that you guys (and gals) won't allow discouragement to overwhelm you. I won't patronize you...but G-d is still sovereign, which is wonderful. And He has the last word.
May G-d Bless Rav Reuel, his family, you and all others involved.
garrett
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 1, 2016 21:06:32 GMT -8
I am praying as well, and hope to contribute. I have to figure out how to ask my husband; I feel like Esther with the King sometimes.  I hate to hear of so much division. I was initially surprised people in the Messianic community are so ready to divide and tear down congregations. We have so few and even fewer capable leaders. I realize it is evil and anti-missionary challenges to all credibility, but still shocked by the ingratitude and lack of loyalty from within. I can attest to the "you don't know what you got..." perspective for sure. I hope the turmoil serves a good purpose that strengthens true believers. |
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Post by alon on Jan 2, 2016 6:24:12 GMT -8
... I hate to hear of so much division. I was initially surprised people in the Messianic community are so ready to divide and tear down congregations. We have so few and even fewer capable leaders. I realize it is evil and anti-missionary challenges to all credibility, but still shocked by the ingratitude and lack of loyalty from within. ... garrett and Elizabeth, thanks.
Part of what we are seeing in my synagogue is that when people are open to questioning what they believe, they open themselves to false doctrines as well. There is a LOT of bad information out there. Some apparently self important people have looked to other sources and, thinking they now have the "truth" or that they know more than the Rabbi they fall away. Unfortunately the enemy isn't satisfied with just their leaving, or honest enough to do so openly. Before they leave they quietly spend time undermining the Rabbi and trying to convince others to go with them. Some do follow them out, others just lose confidence and faith and just fall away.
One of the most divisive issues is, not surprisingly, the divinity of Yeshua. This is where the enemy likes to attack most, because it strikes at the core of our salvation. It is also the decisive issue that bars him from the throne of God, which he has coveted from the first.
Others, like in our synagogue in Tacoma have just left for other congregations because they are like leaves in the wind, blown here and there by every new voice they find. We used to call them "church shoppers" when I was in Christian churches. And again, they always seem to undermine the authority where they are before they leave. Honestly though, I can't be too angry with them. They did help establish the synagogue there; without them it would just be another small study group like I have here- sort of a satellite of the main synagogue. But it was amazing to see how God filled the synagogue there up again at the last minute.
I can't speak for what all has happened in the parent synagogue here on the forum. I can only speak to the fact I have witnessed these heavy demonic attacks all through the region in north central Washington and on the coast; so I am not surprised they are feeling the effects in the eastern part of the state as well. Appreciate all the prayers. And I know not everyone will be able to help out financially. I plan to do what I can, but my resources are limited as well so believe me this is not a guilt trip to drum up support for Ahavat Elohim/ Synagogue Chavurat HaMashiach. However when I know a congregation is in trouble, and as here I know them to be solid Meshiachim who work very hard for God's truth, then I would be remiss not to inform you.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4 (ESV) The Collection for the Saints Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (ESV) Encouragement to Give Generously 8 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you[c]—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
So if any have been blessed by the generosity of Ahavat Elohim in providing this forum, I encourage you to help them out now in their time of need. Those Rav Sha'ul was helping here were other congregations of early Meshiachim, or Nots'rim as they were called then. Note the underlined part, they gave according to their means. So not asking anyone to take food off the table to help here. But if you can, their contact information for the parent synagogue here is:
Synagogue Chavurat HaMashiach
4249 E Pratt, Spokane Wa, 99202
Phone Number: 509-714-2939
E-mail: info@synagoguechm.com
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 2, 2016 11:13:16 GMT -8
We are told that Yeshua acknowledges before His Father in heaven those who aknowledge Him before men. I have serious doubts about what it was that brought any of these people to Messianic Judaism if Yeshua can still be a doubt. I get a feeling some are more concerned with acknowledgment from the Jewish people than Yeshua. I don't know, but somehow they get to this place but don't have Him. I don't understand that, but I am convinced that they never then really knew Him if it is possible for them to let Him go. How  . |
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Post by garrett on Jan 2, 2016 11:50:17 GMT -8
We are told that Yeshua acknowledges before His Father in heaven those who aknowledge Him before men. I have serious doubts about what it was that brought any of these people to Messianic Judaism if Yeshua can still be a doubt. I get a feeling some are more concerned with acknowledgment from the Jewish people than Yeshua. I don't know, but somehow they get to this place but don't have Him. I don't understand that, but I am convinced that they never then really knew Him if it is possible for them to let Him go. How . EXACTLY. There may have been some well meaning, yet unestablished people who were waiting to surface once they had a few "teachings" under their belt. Time gives everyone just enough confidence to start rocking the boat. Friendships are made, alliances are made, cliques are formed, lashan hara/gossip outside of the congregation happens - and then a big explosion. I have seen this happen in the workplace too many times to mention, let alone religious settings. People are no different regardless of location. I realize this is all conjecture about what's going on in Washington state (at least from me) but I think Elizabeth is right about people acknowledging Yeshua before men. I will say this though - investigating Judaism really caused me to question EVERYTHING I had previously believed. I literally had a bit of a spiritual crisis. The "church" no longer made any sense to me, the church's interpretation of scripture no longer made any sense to me and I was at a bit of a loss for what to fully believe. I still believed in the Messiah but had less context in which to place Him. And many years ago when I literally tripped over the information (by accident) that I was Jewish in my Mother's family I decided I had a "ticket" to walk into any non-Yeshua believing synagogue. I loved it and still do. But when I do go to the one I like in my city, which is Orthodox, it's very clear to me that I am completely different in what I believe and it makes me . The corporate worship/prayer is wonderful and yet I feel like a lone worshipper at the same time. During this crisis, I really had to question what I believed. I actually felt guilty about questioning who Yeshua was since no one else there believed in Him. He was considered a heretic. Belief in Him is considered idolatry. But I grew up as a little child believing in Him and I think this is what helped me. I've always questioned everything - to find answers - and I think this helped me too. Those who flop into the Messianic movement, straight out of the churches, get their church lives casseroled into a taste of Judaism and they keep it churchy. Or WORSE, they get rose-colored glasses about orthodox judaism and it's rabbinically halachic works to save them, keeping them feeling cozy and religious. So now, who needs Yeshua? I'll tell you this, following Yeshua is harder than anything else because he turned it up. He insisted on perpetual forgiveness, he insisted on loving your enemy, he insisted on things that I simply cannot fulfill with perfect consistency at all. But being consistent with His own teachings, He is quick to forgive me, for whatever reason. Following Him is hard and I think that's why he wonders if there will be any who believe when He returns. Yeshua asked the question, "Who do you say that I am?" That was the question that kept running through my mind during that crisis. I still sometimes wonder who He is really. But the best way I can investigate is to keep reading the words that HE said and also apply trust. I really think that managing ourselves through these types of religious life experiences is hard and success is rare. So instead, people wreak havoc, or fall away and then one day they answer to their Creator for what they have done. I hope G-d blesses you and anyone who reads this - garrett |
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 2, 2016 12:26:57 GMT -8
I also don't know what happened. However, I have seen enough of Chavurat Hamashiach and Rabbi Reuel to know that any legitimate complaints or concerns would have been handled genuinely and biblically in an effort to lift up and sanctify the community.
The undermining behavior and evil speech is completely contrary to how we are told to handle concerns and problems. Even if there was any legitimate underlying concerns, they would very likely have been lost in the chaos this evil created. I just realized the effect that could have on newer members or believers. I have a little clearer picture of the confusion I think. Praying for Chavurat Hamashiach and for all whose faith was shaken in this struggle.
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Post by alon on Jan 2, 2016 13:42:10 GMT -8
garrett, very insightful; and a lot of truth in what both you and Elizabeth are saying. It's especially true that without firsthand knowledge we are just speculating; which can be instructive to a point, but I don't want to lay any of these things at their doorstep. I am just sharing some of the things which have effected my own synagogue (Beit Aveinu) and others in the region that I know of. There are many problems which can befall any group of believers, and I don't mean to speculate on what may (or may not) be anyone else's problems.
Dan C
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- there are 70 faces to 
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