The Weightier Matters

[Mark]

I am burdened by the things that have become the distinguishing characteristics of the Messianic movement: that we meet on Saturday and that we don't eat pork. Those seem to have become our defining characteristics. Yet Messiah said that men shall know that we are His disciples by our love.

Have we become smug in our liturgical orthodoxy? Has our mission become to debate the Church rather than lead men to Messiah?

I'm not talking about you people. Outside of this forum I don't know a single one of you. I am talking about my own life- my pre-occupation with my personal ambitions, not looking out for the interests of those around me so much as wanting to build up my own camp.

I've noticed that the common interpretation of "come out from among them and be separate" is more rabbinical than biblical. "You went in with uncircumcised men and ate with them!" (Acts 11:3). Have we become reclusive, putting our light under the bushel as opposed to setting it on a hill?

My family is making some dramatic changes, taking some bold risks. The first is that we are becoming involved with the local Boys and Girls Club. We're stepping out into this world on their turf so that they might be exposed to the good news of the Messiah through us. My wife is a counselor at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. My children and I help run the clothes and baby furniture donation center.

But, it's not just enough to be out there. I'm finding that there are sacrifices that I need to be making that are very difficult for me to make. There's a man who just committed his wife to methamphetamine rehab and has been away from work ( no pay ) for two weeks. Adonai clearly commissioned me to by him groceries... but, I have seven children! It is obvious that when my faith reaches my feet there are some gross inadequacies.

Mat 23:23 The Scriptures '98 (23) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the : the right-ruling and the compassion and the belief. These need to have been done, without neglecting the others.

The answer is painfully clear in my life. In my zeal to be religious, I have neglected following (trusting) God.

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

These weightier matters of are the core of our observance and love for our Father in Heaven. We are to focus on these core issues while not leaving other commandments left undone. But, we need to reminded often to keep us on this narrow road in which we travel. The Father will supply the resources needed to accomplish these weightier matters as we step out in faith to accomplish them. I agree that the Messianic Observant Movement needs to be characterized by the weightier matters of instead of the externals that people associate us with. Unfortunately, people associate things with what they can see. Many good Mitzvah's (commandments) are carried out with the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. And, because these deeds we do are ideally to be done in secret...in many cases people will continue to associate us with the external mitzvot...that which they can see....

"Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a shofar before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
- Mat. 6:2-4

Continue to serve our Father in the weightier matters of ...and thank you for reminding us all that we should do also...even if none notices. In time, the light will not be able to be hidden.

Shalom achi,

Reuel

[Chizuk Emunah]

Agreed.

If we perform mitzvot where all can see and receive blessing from HaShem, how much more so than if we perform those some mitzvot in secret, where only Avinu can see what we're doing?

[Rick]

Have we become smug in our liturgical orthodoxy? Has our mission become to debate the Church rather than lead men to Messiah?

The drive to seek and save the lost is a smoldering burn,

Jer 20:9 Whenever I said, “Let me not mention Him, nor speak in His Name again,” it was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I became weary of holding it back, and was helpless.

I find the "cares and concerns of this world" indeed will try to smother the flame of the Great commision. I try to remember that I should first be obiedient to G-d, and second the spiritual leader for my family. I have on occasion even missed witnessing opportunitys simply because I wasn't looking for it. The blinders of day to day life,(no matter how justified they might have been),
prevented me from seeing what was right in front of me, and thus missed an opportunity to bring someone,(and Glory), to G-d.

I came across this article that made this even more crystal. Sometimes mainstream Christianity almost gets it right, and seem so close to seeing the brilliant light of truth. Oh, that more might get even closer and see the forest in spite of the trees.

By Matt Friedeman, PhD
April 28, 2005
(AgapePress) - John Wesley once said that religion did not consist in orthodoxy, or right opinions. Indeed, "A man may be orthodox in every point; he may not only espouse right opinions, but zealously defend them against all opposers .... He may be almost as orthodox as the devil, (though, indeed, not altogether; for every man errs in something; whereas we cannot well conceive him to hold any erroneous opinion,) and may, all the while, be as great a stranger as he to the religion of the heart."
A bit of a shattering thought, that: "... a man may judge as accurately as the devil, and yet be as wicked as he."
Truth will not set a person free. Truth, applied, will. Which is what Jesus meant when he articulated that famous verse from the Gospel of John: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Holding to the truth in the gospels apparently meant following Jesus to the lost, the sick, the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, and the naked.
Too many would rather talk the truth, and correct all others' theology, without first applying the truth to their families, to the needy in their communities, to the Christ-less masses around the world. And don't get the impression this columnist thinks preaching of truth is unimportant, or that a strong, biblical statement of faith and the worldview that proceeds from it are not critical. Indeed, here is the statement of my own seminary and, here, of my denomination. Strong statements, both. And necessary.
But merely statement of truth is dangerous. Thomas Henry Huxley once said, "The great end of life is not knowledge, but action. What men need is as much knowledge as they can organize for action; give them more and it may become injurious. Some men are heavy and stupid from undigested learning."
Interesting that the Hebrew word for "know," yada, according to scholar Marvin Wilson, embraced much more than information. Facts and orthodoxy were not enough; it also implied a response in the practical domain of life, in behavior and the morality that informed that behavior. In short, says Wilson, to "know" as to "o." It went well beyond the cognitive domain. It meant to put truth in motion, to act.
The yada of Hebrew is first used, interestingly enough, of sexual relations: Adam encountered/experienced Eve (Gen. 4:1). At its most profound level this word expressed the desire of God that His people would know Him -- not just intellectually, but in a much more intimate and experiential sense. They would experience their God -- love Him, interact with Him, develop an intimacy with Him, and act on His behalf.
On the radio program I host, we recently discussed People's "Most Beautiful People" issue. It is comprised of good-looking people from Hollywood, basically. But the question to my listening audience was this: Who are the people in our culture today that are beautiful, in a biblical sense? My own choice included Bruce Olson, of Bruchko fame -- who traveled down to South America as a very young man with the gospel and became a missionary legend. Incredible book, beautiful man. I also offered the name Charles Colson, a man who is a brilliant thinker and writer but who is more at home in the prison sharing truth with men and women in need. Doers of the Word, both.
The older I get, the more I have started defining beauty and Christ-like ministry in terms of "truth applied," instead of simply "truth talk" and heresy-hunting. It seems to be consistent with the mind of Christ: "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Matt Friedeman ([e-mail]) is a professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary. Respond to this column at his blog at "In the Fight."

To quote Charles H. Spurgeon; "The light was there, but I was blind."

We share a common 'twinge' Mark, but such conviction is from above and meant for instruction.

As I pray for guidance in this area for myself, I will remember you also. It is always encouraging to know that there are others who share our concerns and pray for us.

Brothers in Yah'shua, Rick

Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.
He was in the beginning with Elohim.
All came to be through Him, and without Him not even one came to be that came to be.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[The 614th Mitzvot]

The most important two commandments are to love HaK-dosh, Baruch Hu, and to love your neighbor as yourself. All 613 mitzvot can be summed up into thos two, and even loving your fellowman can be summed up into the first. It is so important that we love G-d to no end. If we ever set a limit, it is a conditional love. We recognize that G-d will not put us in a place that will go against his mitzvot. However, we must seperate mitzvot from tradition. If putting on tefillin causes your brother to stumble than never do it again. However, keeping kosher will never cause anyone to stumble. Just focus on G-d and observe his mitzvot. However, don't become talky. People love to talk about religion, but not about faith. We must be holy, but building faith in Yohshuah HaMoshiach in everyone around us. I try not to talk to much on what the jewish law says about this and that, but talk about what Yohshuah HaMoshiach said about this and that and how it is interpreted. This way, when they are presented with a choice, the people are better informed about faith, but not about laws. Do what is right, know that helping someone buy groceries is never bad, but don't forget to do it in the most humble manner possible. Have faith in, and love of HaK-dosh, Baruch Hu, at the center of your thoughts always and you will never sin.

[Chizuk Emunah]

I agree with what you are saying 614th Mitzvah, except for this statement:

If putting on tefillin causes your brother to stumble than never do it again

I disagree with this for two reasons:
1. Wearing tefillin is a mitzvah, and no different than the mitzvah to affix a mezuzah to our doorposts.
2. Rav Sh'aul was not referring to something done by Y'hudi, but rather that done by a Goy. Keep in mind that Acts 15 was all about bringing the Goyim into harmony with their already -observant brothers and sisters, not the other way around.

I believe that we let our light shine before others by our outward keeping of . It is our strongest witness, and a testament to how we can be as lights in the darkness. I also think that perhaps one of the best ways of introducing this message to others is through involvement in our local communities.

[Rick]

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

1. Wearing tefillin is a mitzvah, and no different than the mitzvah to affix a mezuzah to our doorposts.

Is wearing physical tefillin a commandment? I am not against it, but in my studies I would say that it is a debatable subject. Perhaps we should start a new thread. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that The 614th Mitzvah is making a point that we should be willing to part with tradition if it causes a brother to stumble. I would lean towards binding tefillin as Rabbinic tradition. Again, I think that we could have an interesting discussion on this topic if anyone would like to start a new thread. I do practice a physical representation of this admonition (not according to Rabbinic Judaism), but I think it could be debated if it is really a physical commandment.

Shalom chaverim,

Reuel

[Chizuk Emunah]

Is wearing physical tefillin a commandment?

I believe it is. I'll put some of my studies together and then start a thread pertaining to that mitzvah (unless someone beats me to it ).

[R' Y'hoshua Moshe]

Sounds good.

[Mark]

Is tefillin a "weightier" matter? Of the 613, which commandments fit under the headings of mercy, justice and judgment?

[Chizuk Emunah]

Since I can't rattle off all 613, I'll direct you to this website. It gives us a list of all 613, and what categories they fall under.

www.jewfaq.org/613.htm

As for Kol v'khomer, there are certain instances where this may be invoked, but they are mostly limited to acts of chesed.
eg... You are on someone's ship, you see someone in the water yelling for help, do you steal a life preserver to help that person, or do you let them drown? In this case it is of greater importance that you save that person's life, than for you to be concerned over stealing a life preserver.

[The 614th Mitzvot]

All that I meant was that something that truly pleases G-d will never let anyone stumble in your life. This differs from person to person. If wearing tefillin were a sign of suicide in Polynesia and I was speaking to the Polynesians, I would never wear it again because that would make others think I was suicidal. However, I don't think that tefillin will ever need to be seen as an evil symbol. However, always goes before Talmud and what is obvious goes before what is hidden.

[Chizuk Emunah]

All that I meant was that something that truly pleases G-d will never let anyone stumble in your life.

I agree 100%.

If wearing tefillin were a sign of suicide in Polynesia and I was speaking to the Polynesians, I would never wear it again because that would make others think I was suicidal.

Okay. So say for example you go to Samoa wearing tzitzit and tefillin, and while living among them, you affix a mezuzah to the doorpost. However, according to their local tribal traditions, anyone who wears tzitzit and puts a mezuzah on their doorpost is a devil worshipper, but they've never seen tefillin and it's a non-issue with them. What do you do then? Do you disregard those mitzvot and break HaShem's commandments? Or do you instead explain to them your reason for doing them?

what is obvious goes before what is hidden.

Not quite sure what you're getting at here.

[Mark]

I guess I'v ebeen trying to lead you in a particular direction and I'm doing a lousy job of it. There are not 613 different laws. There is one Law. The end of the Law- that which all points toward is love.

Yeshua said, "This sums up all the Law and the prophets: to love your neighbor as yourself." That doesn't mean that if I do all the mitzvot then I don't have to worry about loving. It also doesn't mean that if I love my neighbor as well as I know how then I don't have to worry about loving my neighbor. It means that by doing one becomes the natural outflow of the other.

1st Corinthians 13 goes into this whole thing; but I haven't got time to write it out (there's a young man behind me waiting for his turn on the computer!)

The end of the Law- the vehicle through which it focuses- is love out of a pur heart.

If I don tefillin and condemn my brother because he does not, it is a misapplication of the Law. If I refuse to don because I don't have to, it is just as much a misapplication. Whether I don or not, if I worship according to my understanding of Scripture, in obedience, until the Spirit of Adonai shows me differently, I am performing my mitzvot unto His glory.

Tjhe weightier matters of the Law are not a list of the top twelve or seventeen of the 614. They are the proper perspective through which we view the totality of the Law. If I have not love... I am nothing.