Central Washington Messianic Conference

[alon]

I just got back from day 1 of the Central Washington Messianic Conference. I met people there from all over (one family from Mexico even), all come together to hear the Word and to worship Adonai. There was only one teaching (I didn't make it to Shabbat Sacharit service earlier). The speaker was Tim Hegg, and it was an interesting teaching. Some things I need to research, but he made a few good points that I agree with outright:
* belief in and worship of Adonai is about community, and an online community is not the same as a live community. For those of us who are isolated, having an online community where we can discuss Messianic beliefs and issues can be very important, as can having access to solid Messianic teachings. But we need that physical interaction with believers. So if you cannot find a good Messianic congregation with which to worship, find a good, Bible teaching church where you can go to meet with believers. Don't give up on or compromise the truth you are given, but go for the fellowship and for the actual accountability of being with believers.
* don't be a "Torah Terrorist." Too often we want to beat people over the head with our Bibles until they accept Torah observance. especially if you attend a church (as above), respect their faith. Witness to them, certainly. Stand always ready to tell them what you believe and why; but only if they are interested. We want so badly for them to remove the scales and come to the truth, we can sometimes be far too aggressive in our approach. Slowly build trust and your witness, and pray for the opening to talk with whoever HaShem places before us.
* Mr. Hegg taught from Colosians. Paul was writing this in response to what is often termed the "Colossian Heresy." He was coming hard against Gnosticism. I tried to take notes, but he was going too fast so I don't have much. But this belief system is making great inroads into Christianity today as well, and especially (for our purposes) into Messianism. We need to study it and learn to a.) recognize it, and b.) come against it as did Rav Shaul.

There were a couple of other points, but while typing the above I lost my train of thought. I'll try and remember them and post them.

There is another important point I will have to research. He does not believe we should use the term "Tikkun Olam" because it comes from Kabbalah. Preliminary research shows he is correct, it is used differently, and just as he said in Kabbalah. However there could be more to it than that, so stay tuned.

One more day of the conference, and it will be a full day of teaching. So I need to try and get some sleep so I can be at least awake for part of it. 

Dan (tired, but too excited to sleep) C

[alon]

Just back from the conference, and wow! I didn't realize just how much I'd missed being with like minded believers and hearing the word taught! There were people there from all over, and we all had some minor differences, but nothing worth withholding fellowship over. We all agreed on the important stuff.

One point made by speaker Brent Emery from Gig Harbor, WA was that the most vital issue facing MJ today, and one critical to its survival is the eternal deity of Yeshua. It is being attacked from within the movement and from without, and we need to learn to deal with it and come against it hard. I myself have come up against this where I am, being for a long time the only real Messianic in the area but there were no less than 5 Ebionites here! And they are not honest about who and what they are. They lie, calling themselves Messianic. Even after they are found and called out, they try to say they are the "true Messianics," but they are not. The truth is the original sect of the Ebionites split from the Notsarim late in the 1st cen, and the primary issue was the full and eternal deity of Yeshua. They were part of the Gnostic movement of that time, and still are today. 

The speakers again today covered a lot of ground very quickly. And me, I had about 2 1/2 hrs sleep, so my notes are sketchy to say the least. But I'll try and make some sense out of them after I get some sleep. But I'm refreshed spiritually, so maybe I'll get there.

I did discover there is another small assembly within driving distance to me that I want to check out. They are a bit different, but in some good ways and some I can learn to live with. But as I said yesterday, it is important to meet with believers, especially Torah observant believers if possible. So we'll see. 

Edit: go here for my research on tikkun olam, and my conclusion-
theloveofgod.proboards.com/thread/5060/tikkun-olam

[alon]

One theme that seemed to run through all the talks was the infusion of gnosticism into MJ today. Brent Emory of Beit Teffilah in Gig Harbor, WA stated "The most serious threat to Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Roots today is removal of the full deity of Yeshua." I wholeheartedly agree. This attack comes from several places, all of which find their basis in  gnosticism: Sacred Names, ditheism, and many others. It is probable gnosticism originated within 1st cen Hellenistic Judaism, however its origins are obscure.   

Gnosticism (Greek γνωστικός ɣnostiˈkos, Romanized gnōstikós, "having knowledge")- a number of religious ideas and systems originating in the late 1st century CE in some Jewish sects. They emphasized personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) over traditions and authority of any governing body. They saw material existence as flawed and evil. Gnostics saw a dualism: a supreme, hidden God and a Demiurge, or lesser malevolent God (thus pitting Yeshua against YHVH) The Demiurge created the material universe. Gnostics sought knowledge of the supreme divinity in mystical insight. Gnostic belief tends to deal not in sin and repentance, but illusion and enlightenment. However Gnosticism is not one standard system, and their emphasis on direct experience allows for a huge variety in their beliefs and teachings. And while it can function as an independant religious system (or systems), it has an innate ability to insert itself into other religions, often very subtly.

The Christian idea that their goal is to leave this world, where God created them to serve and instead attain a mansion in Heaven comes from gnosticism. It's also seen in Judaism, as in Merkavah mysticism (Chariot mysticism), which focused on visions like in Ezekiel 1, or in the heichalot (palaces) literature; accounts of ascents to heavenly palaces and especially the Throne of God, which is mostly depicted as a hypermobile chariot of fire.

Unfortunately it found its way into the sect of the Notsarim, causing a split late in the 1st cen CE, primarily over the deity of Yeshua. Ebionites split off and became a separate sect, which soon after split again over the exact nature of Yeshua and how and when He was actually created. Ebionism is alive and with us today in many forms. But they like to say they are Messianic, and will not typically tell you they believe Yeshua a created being until they have drawn you into their heresy. 

We need to be well enough grounded in our faith and beliefs to withstand these attacks from within our ranks. And we should come against these people hard, exposing them for who and what they are to others, especially our leadership (if we have any). "Ancient knowledge" is sought by satanic systems. HaShem's people have the knowledge we need in His Word. That is our base, especially Torah. And it all points to Yeshua as HaMoshiach and as eternal God. That's the rock on which we should make our stand. Know His Word well enough you can spot when they twist and misconstrue scripture to their nefarious ends, and shut them down.