Post by Prodigal Girl on Mar 21, 2007 5:22:12 GMT -8
Hi All!
Glad I found this forum.
I just started attending a Messianic synagogue a few months ago. I had been researching the Messianic movement for several months prior. I finally made the jump, with much trepidation, at the same time that I left the church I had attended for two years before that. I left the church primarily because I had been feeling more and more uncomfortable there. However I was very reluctant to leave because I had been so happy there for the two years prior. The straw that broke the camel's back was when the pastor started out his Bible study one evening with the statement "Jews are the most difficult people that I have ever dealt with" and then said that "Celebrating Passover today is an abomination, like worshiping Mary". A Messianic Jewish guy was sitting in the back row, and spoke up, so they went back and forth for quite a while. I sat there stunned the whole time. I felt that the pastor made these statements partly because of some issues and questions I had brought up, not to him but to others that I fellowshipped with in the church; he found out about it and was trying to straighten me out. I also had written him an e-mail challenging his (traditional church) interpretation of Peter's vision in Acts, which the pastor had preached on a couple of weeks before that. I feel that Peter did a great job of explaining the interpretation of his own vision, why do we need to "improve" on it by going beyond that and negating the many scriptural admonitions about food? The only thing I ever challenged publicly during a Bible study, was when someone made the statement that we no longer have to do the Sabbath today. I challenged that, by very gently saying that I had a problem with that. After service, I did challenge the youth pastor, who was saying (among other things) that Messianics teach that ethnic Jewish believers are not allowed to marry ethnic non-Jewish believers. He had just read Stan Telchin's latest book (Messianic Judaism is not Christianity) and it was the only thing he had ever read about Messianic Judaism. So he was quoting that book like it was the gospel. I basically just told him that it was not a doctrinal teaching of Messianics in general. He continued to insist that it is.
Anyway, I decided almost immediately after that, that I just could not be under his and the youth pastor's leadership anymore. He requested (demanded is more like it) that I meet with him one on one, but I just did not feel that it would be productive or effective. I felt that he would quote a bunch of verses out of context in rapid-fire manner (like a machine gun) to support his beliefs. I would rather continue to learn, study on my own- I don't need someone trying to convince me at this point. He quoted a bible verse at me and said I was wrong to not meet with him, actually called me "silly". I simply told him that I had to do what I felt was the right thing to do.
As you can probably tell, I am still very upset by this whole thing. I was very much a part of this church. I now go to a Southern Baptist church with my kids, but I go by myself to the Messianic synagogue on Friday nights. At least at this particular Southern Baptist church, there is a great Bible study where questions, disagreement, discussion are allowed and encouraged. The church is also very open to Jewish people and a number of them attend. I was surprised to find out that the Messianic Jewish guy that had been the one to challenge my pastor, also attends this church, has been for 5 years, and is holding a Seder there for Passover! I realize that the theology of Christian churches differs sharply from Messianic (developing) theology on a number of points. So I am continuing to learn, and study. My head feels like it is going to explode sometimes. But I guess this is where G-d (did I do that right?) wants me right now. I just think that things make much more sense the Messianic way, than the way the church explains things. I am going very slowly. At this point, I am learning (by doing) the Sabbath, as much as I can in my situation. I just do not see justification for doing it on Sunday, and do not feel under any obligation whatsoever to do it on Sunday. This is America, and I don't have to do what some dead pope (or live one, for that matter) says. I also gave up unclean meats (pork and shellfish) months ago. I am still thinking about the Kosher butchering thing but have not resolved it to my satisfaction yet. I am also just beginning to learn about the holidays. I am thankful that I have been able to go this far, and do this much, given my situation with my family. I am still very unsure of myself, this is a really difficult thing to do; not the commandments, but challenging the teachings I have been brought up with. It is scary, but I am trusting G-d to lead me the right way, not any particular pastor. If I am going down the wrong path here, hey, at least I am learning a lot about the Bible!
Prodigal Girl
Glad I found this forum.
I just started attending a Messianic synagogue a few months ago. I had been researching the Messianic movement for several months prior. I finally made the jump, with much trepidation, at the same time that I left the church I had attended for two years before that. I left the church primarily because I had been feeling more and more uncomfortable there. However I was very reluctant to leave because I had been so happy there for the two years prior. The straw that broke the camel's back was when the pastor started out his Bible study one evening with the statement "Jews are the most difficult people that I have ever dealt with" and then said that "Celebrating Passover today is an abomination, like worshiping Mary". A Messianic Jewish guy was sitting in the back row, and spoke up, so they went back and forth for quite a while. I sat there stunned the whole time. I felt that the pastor made these statements partly because of some issues and questions I had brought up, not to him but to others that I fellowshipped with in the church; he found out about it and was trying to straighten me out. I also had written him an e-mail challenging his (traditional church) interpretation of Peter's vision in Acts, which the pastor had preached on a couple of weeks before that. I feel that Peter did a great job of explaining the interpretation of his own vision, why do we need to "improve" on it by going beyond that and negating the many scriptural admonitions about food? The only thing I ever challenged publicly during a Bible study, was when someone made the statement that we no longer have to do the Sabbath today. I challenged that, by very gently saying that I had a problem with that. After service, I did challenge the youth pastor, who was saying (among other things) that Messianics teach that ethnic Jewish believers are not allowed to marry ethnic non-Jewish believers. He had just read Stan Telchin's latest book (Messianic Judaism is not Christianity) and it was the only thing he had ever read about Messianic Judaism. So he was quoting that book like it was the gospel. I basically just told him that it was not a doctrinal teaching of Messianics in general. He continued to insist that it is.
Anyway, I decided almost immediately after that, that I just could not be under his and the youth pastor's leadership anymore. He requested (demanded is more like it) that I meet with him one on one, but I just did not feel that it would be productive or effective. I felt that he would quote a bunch of verses out of context in rapid-fire manner (like a machine gun) to support his beliefs. I would rather continue to learn, study on my own- I don't need someone trying to convince me at this point. He quoted a bible verse at me and said I was wrong to not meet with him, actually called me "silly". I simply told him that I had to do what I felt was the right thing to do.
As you can probably tell, I am still very upset by this whole thing. I was very much a part of this church. I now go to a Southern Baptist church with my kids, but I go by myself to the Messianic synagogue on Friday nights. At least at this particular Southern Baptist church, there is a great Bible study where questions, disagreement, discussion are allowed and encouraged. The church is also very open to Jewish people and a number of them attend. I was surprised to find out that the Messianic Jewish guy that had been the one to challenge my pastor, also attends this church, has been for 5 years, and is holding a Seder there for Passover! I realize that the theology of Christian churches differs sharply from Messianic (developing) theology on a number of points. So I am continuing to learn, and study. My head feels like it is going to explode sometimes. But I guess this is where G-d (did I do that right?) wants me right now. I just think that things make much more sense the Messianic way, than the way the church explains things. I am going very slowly. At this point, I am learning (by doing) the Sabbath, as much as I can in my situation. I just do not see justification for doing it on Sunday, and do not feel under any obligation whatsoever to do it on Sunday. This is America, and I don't have to do what some dead pope (or live one, for that matter) says. I also gave up unclean meats (pork and shellfish) months ago. I am still thinking about the Kosher butchering thing but have not resolved it to my satisfaction yet. I am also just beginning to learn about the holidays. I am thankful that I have been able to go this far, and do this much, given my situation with my family. I am still very unsure of myself, this is a really difficult thing to do; not the commandments, but challenging the teachings I have been brought up with. It is scary, but I am trusting G-d to lead me the right way, not any particular pastor. If I am going down the wrong path here, hey, at least I am learning a lot about the Bible!
Prodigal Girl
christians, pastors, seminarians, etc. here.
But over the years even though I am cast out by both Jew and Gentile alike, (not all, but many) I have been drawn daily into a deeper and deeper relationship with Elohim. He is the light and joy of my life. He is my life! 
, all of it! I believe that we are getting very close to His Glorious Appearance and that He wants as many of mankind as possible to KNOW WHO HE REALLY IS AND HOW HE WANTS US TO WORSHIP HIM. before it is too late for many that may love Him don't know Him. 
Shalom Everyone!
