POSTED 28 JANUARY, 2008

Normally, I'm Embarrased

by Mark Huey
mark@outreachisrael.net

reproduced from the McHuey Blog

Over the years, I have discovered that being a Messianic Believer has its challenges. Perhaps you can identify with some of the struggles of presenting your Messianic walk of faith to various Christian family members, believing friends, or former fellow congregants from your previous place of worship. You have possibly heard questions like this from some of the more spiritually or intellectually curious:

If this Messianic “stuff” is true/accurate/correct/right, then why haven’t more Christian theologians, leaders, pastors, ministers, teachers, and learned people who have understood theology, come to conclusions similar to what you are declaring? Certainly, if your understanding is viable, then why haven’t others in positions of influence come to this as well?

These, and other similar remarks, can be difficult questions to answer if you are not thoroughly convinced that your Messianic walk is an accurate reflection of what the Spirit of God is beginning to lead people into around the globe at this time. Explaining that the Reformers of the 1500-1600s were only enlightened to a certain extent, has its limitations and obvious doubters, who have in many different ways prospered in the relative freedom of Protestantism. Telling someone that further restoration needs to be accomplished, as Biblically prophesied throughout the ages, may fall on deaf ears and blind eyes if the Holy Spirit does not prepare one’s heart and mind to hear what has started to happen before our very eyes.

For twelve years, I have been involved with and have co-labored with different leaders and proponents of the Messianic movement. My family has concluded that the many internal debates, turf battles, conflicts, strivings, and differences that we have all seen in the Messianic world are largely the result of personality differences encumbered with selfish ambition—all of which open up “spiritual doors”—giving ground for some demonic activity. We have all seen the division and infighting that plagues our movement. In some respects, we have thought that much of the strife that we have directly witnessed was merely evidence that the Adversary was obviously aware of the coming restoration, and is doing all he can to discredit the Messianic movement. Satan was only taking advantage of the legal spiritual grounds he had to instigate or perpetuate havoc, discord, and enmity through various souls who were habitually displaying ungodly behavior. In certain instances, our family has personally witnessed many of these sinful actions, and at times it has been discouraging and disheartening.

Nevertheless, because we are to this day convinced that the restoration of all things will eventually take place, our desire to serve the Lord in a Messianic fashion has prevailed. Regardless of the propensity of weak human flesh to overrule the leading of the Holy Spirit, or worse, allow the wiles of the Devil to use people in responsible positions to confuse undiscerning seekers, we understand that it is simply a matter of the Father’s timing for His Word to be fulfilled. His declared Word will not return void! We have to learn to not fall into the mistakes of others, and instead be diligent and consistent with the work that He has assigned us.

In more recent years, as our family has matured in its own Messianic walk with a steadfast determination to encourage and instruct others along this path, we have become increasingly embarrassed by not just the antics of many in Messianic leadership, but also by much of what has been taught and professed to too many people. The following list of actions is only a brief summary of why we believe it will be many years, if not many decades, before the Messianic movement is more legitimately considered by people in the Judeo-Christian world of religious ideas:

·  We have witnessed multiple teachers constantly denigrate and encourage gross disrespect of the Christian Church and the Jewish Synagogue, and many of the theological traditions that emanate from Christianity and Judaism.

·  We have witnessed too many teachers peddle “spiritual nuggets,” often unwilling to identify their sources or provide documentation in support of their conclusions. These teachings often sound like something from the SciFi Channel.

·  We have witnessed various teachers weaving aspects of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah into their teachings, under the guise of “further enlightenment,” despite warnings seen in Scripture against occultic practices (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10-14).

·  We have witnessed multiple Messianic organizations declare that following the Torah is exclusively for the Jewish people, and is only “optional” for non-Jewish Believers.

·  We have witnessed a teacher and self-proclaimed prophet question the inspiration of one of the Epistles of the Apostolic Scriptures, claiming that it was a forgery.

·  We have witnessed a teacher and self-proclaimed apostle and prophet claim that Yeshua the Messiah was actually a leper.

·  We have witnessed multiple Messianic persons claim that they want to raise money to purchase Judea and Samaria from the Israeli government.

·  We have witnessed a great deal of denigration and criticism of any Messianic person desiring to approach the Scriptures from an academic viewpoint, engaged with contemporary Biblical scholarship, as being part of “the system” and a serious deterrent to the growth of the Messianic community.

This list could go on and on, but I hope you are getting the picture. Our credibility as a genuine move of God is easily questioned by individuals who sincerely and honestly want to know more about the Torah, the appointed times, Yeshua’s life and teachings in a legitimate Hebraic context, and other aspects of the Messianic lifestyle, but are then confronted and then confused with these aberrant teachings and positions from people and organizations of influence. We believe that we all have a substantial amount of work to do to overcome the negatives that are plaguing the Messianic community of faith. We have things to do as a Chapter 2 of the Messianic movement opens up, especially when the previous generation of Messianic “leaders” in Chapter 1 decided such work was unimportant with all of its antics and sensationalism. Consider some of the positive things that we could be doing:

·  We could show a great deal of respect and appreciation for our shared Jewish and Christian spiritual heritage, recognizing that we have the responsibility to continue the work of those who have come before us.

·  We could demonstrate that sensationalistic tactics are not necessary to convince people of the validity of the Messianic movement, if we would stick with God’s Word and demonstrate the example of people living transformed lives of faith.

·  We could be men and women uplifting the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and how God’s love is to transform hearts and minds to be oriented toward Him, giving us the wisdom and discernment we need as His people.

·  We could demonstrate that a life of Torah obedience brings great change to a life of a born again Believer, as God desires all of His people to live holy unto Him to be a testimony of His goodness to the world.

·  We could demonstrate that we have a firm grasp on the message and substance of all of the Biblical books, not only for their ancient meaning, but also their modern-day application.

·  We could demonstrate that we truly understand Yeshua’s mission and purpose as the Messiah who came to deliver and set people free from spiritual, and even physical, bondage.

·  We could show proper support for the State of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community, not trying to usurp the Israeli government or principal aims of Zionism.

·  We could have leaders raised up with proper skills and a respectable education, who can join in to the larger theological “conversation,” demonstrating the legitimacy of a Messianic approach to faith that can demonstrate it shares common ground with the larger issues of Biblical scholarship and ethics.

One of the most moving compliments that I have received during the past thirteen years of embracing a Messianic walk of faith occurred during a ministry trip a number of years ago, when John and I found ourselves talking to a very professional and dapper looking couple. After about ten minutes of introducing ourselves and some thought-provoking dialogue, answering a variety of questions, the inquiring wife turned to us—and said without reservation—“You’re normal!” At the time, not necessarily understanding where she was coming from, my reaction was a resounding, “What did you say?” Without hesitation she blurted back, “You are NORMAL!”

With her reiteration—I got it—and responded with a head-jerking laugh from my innermost being. As someone who had been led by the Holy Spirit to check out what she had heard in a waking moment about celebrating Passover, she was on a search for verification for what that meant in a somewhat uncomfortable environment. When she and her husband met us, for some reason, we were able to say things in such a way, that from their perspectives, we were not caricatures in appearance, outrageously peculiar in outlook, or bellicose about our positions. From her outlook, we were just normal. We were simply there to serve as the Lord requires of each of His children.

To this very day, when we get confronted by some of the embarrassing things that have become far to commonplace in the Messianic movement, we remind ourselves that we are normal. We are who we are, and for those who desire a degree of normalcy in their walk with the Messiah, we are filling that void. For it is not us that they see, but Messiah in us—the hope of glory!

Perhaps you might now understand why at certain times, based on our perspective, I am embarrassed, normally, for what I see in today’s Messianic movement! Tomorrow’s Messianic movement, however, will not be embarrassing—but will be something that each of us can express confidence in. Tomorrow’s Messianic movement can become the Messianic movement of today if we work harder, and allow God’s Spirit to truly mold us into men and women who can be used by Him. But this will require a dedication to not give up, like we have never seen before in the Messianic world. It will not come easily, but the rewards will certainly be worth it as we will be building His Kingdom!

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.