Religion

Theology can be a dangerous enterprise, albeit an important one. The process of determining boundaries and central themes of belief and practice usually ends with one group of people cutting themselves off from another. With all this inner-communal divisiveness, it is no wonder that the world is largely saying "no" to religion.

Interestingly enough, this is even a theme within religious groups! Whether it is drawing a distinction between Yeshua faith and religion, or Torah from religion, most current revivals (I've heard in Jewish and Christian groups-though it is more pervasive in certain christian groups) are growing because of the distance their leaders place between themselves and "religion." There's a big problem with this, however.

I am reminded of a song introduction from Tom Lehrer in which he sarcastically said, "I know there are people in this world who do not love their fellow human beings and I hate people like that!" There is a similar dynamic going on among the "anti-religion" religious of our day. There is a pervasive lie in society that "most wars are caused by relgion." Those who buy into this lie miss the fact that most wars have actually been caused by governments, and those governments use religion to justify their endeavors. People in power tend to want more. You take your average frum yid who bakes challah (who wouldn't hurt a fly) and put him in a position of power with an army at his fingertips, and see what happens...It would certainly be missing the mark to target his frummness as the problem (any takers on the pressure of having an army at his fingertips having something to do with it?). What has happened is that the need for control has been equated with the word, "religion." Whole new theologies which are completely foreign to the world of the Bible, as well as those communities that preserved it for us, are read into Scripture.

Glorifying religious systems is not a good plan, but denegrating "religion" and pretending Yeshua faith or Torah lifestyles are independant of religion isn't going to help much either.

What is the goal, then? Even those of us who admit we are religious would agree it is not to glorify religious structures instead of God.

I offer for our consideration that the goal of our faith and practice be to make God and Messiah known in this world. This requires systems that operate with God at the center. This means growing relationships with others that bear resemblance to the love Yeshua commanded us to have with our fellows. This means NOT conforming our own minds to match misconceptions of who we are and redifining ourselves accordingly, but rather being conformed into the identity we have in Yeshua. This is a spritual AND religious endeavor. I pray we may all take it.

Chodesh Tov-Cheshvan

For thoughts on this month, see, "Cheshvan," below.

Here is my quote of the month:

"and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what [is] the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and perfect."

Romans 12:2, YLT

...any thoughts?

Cheshvan

Today is Erev Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan and (as is common in this blog) I am compelled to share some about this month...I'm drawing a blank!

Why is that?!

Because unlike every other month of the Jewish calendar, there are no particular holidays or special mitzvot. Once both days of Rosh Chodesh are over, we are on our own until next Rosh Chodesh. Even Iyyar has the Omer!

What's the theme of Cheshvan, then?

We have a tradition that Cheshvan is reserved for the building of the third Temple and Mashiach's coming-events so special they'll need a month all to their own. There is something very profound going on here. Mashiach's month is one in which all traces of uniqueness and specialness are hidden and/or reserved for a later time. Mashiach is supposed to be there but there is nothing overt that enables us to see him there. While all the parallels of Yeshua are swirling around in Tishrei, in Cheshvan we Messianic Jews are reminded of a stark reality that Yeshua is largely hidden (or missing) in our tradition. Our normal mode of operation-revealing Yeshua's mysterious presence with tradition-is very important, but it's not possible on Cheshvan.

All of Am Yisrael face Cheshvan with the same experience of its surface-level emptiness. All of Am Yisrael have to "make it happen" on Cheshvan, having been filled up during Elul and Tishrei. We Messianic Jews have an even more profound task ahead-revealing the Mashiach in Cheshvan so that he be known speedily and soon. May Cheshvan be a time we bring Mashiach more into the light, revealing him not as we often do (mysteriously present within our holydays and mitzvot), but as one who in a very real way is missing from the month our tradition reserved for him (whether known or not).

A Very Special Gift

I have become a very thankful member of what is, in my view, one of the greatest Messianic Jewish contributions in five years: Riverton Mussar.

Riverton Mussar consider's itself to be "a wellspring for ethical change," but I will go so far as to say it is the first modern Messianic Jewish step towards getting to the core of the renewal intended for us in the Besorah: A renewal of our minds to be conformed into Yeshua's image (see Romans and 1 + 2Corinthians)-to know that our actions and thoughts are crucial to the Kingdom Coming (see Sermon on the Mount).

Mussar is a discipline of accountability that challenges its practitioners to come into an awareness of accountability to themselves, others, and God for all of their thoughts and actions. It includes ongoing journaling and charting progress in specific character traits (middot) . Riverton Mussar sets this up as an online community with the chevruta (one-on-one) element. There are specific middot to cycle through, and physical materials mailed to recipients who subscribe.

I encourage all Messianic Jews to consider joining this group. At the very least, check out their site regularly. This is already changing my life, and giving me clarity into what is most important to me: I want to be a better man today than I was yesteday-a better man tomorrow than I am today...growing towards the image of the one who inherited all things and wants to give his disciples all things.

High Holyday Reflection

It has historically been the case that the High Holyday season tends to numb me to any "intermediate" experiences. In other words, when I wasn't in shul, thinking about shul, preparing for shul, eating one of the meals, spending time with community, etc. I would be somewhat unmoved by whatever I was experiencing. Things that might have normally impacted me wouldn't. I used to think this was a good thing, that I was being "super-spiritual." I realized something quite striking around Rosh HaShanah...we don't say "L'Tishrei Tovah Tikateivu," we say, "L'Shanah Tovah Tikateivu." The High Holydays are meant to bring heightened awareness to the remainder of our year. They are not meant to hijack everyday living, but rather to pump everyday living with renewed vigor. Thankfully, this year, my whole life was the High Holyday experience, and not just those times of prayer and community. For this, I am extremely grateful for God's patience with my historic misunderstanding of this precious season, and new understanding to put things right for years to come.

T'Shuvah-Judgment-Atonement-JOY

As I have shared on t'shuvah this month, I spent some time on Rav Shaul's presentation of the ultimate goal, and starting point, of t'shuvah: dead to sin when alive in Yeshua. It would seem that this is central to all Yeshua-believing life (and it is). Here is whyI feel Elul is the most appropriate time to remind ourselves of this...

Rosh HaShanah is the "head of the year," the new years day of the Jewish civil calendar, the day of "blowing the horn" according to the Torah, and the day of judgment according to our tradition. This is encounter with God as king and judge. All of our deeds, hearts, and minds are examined in the presence of our King. Rosh HaShanah is a yearly enactment of what is both a daily event at one level and a Day yet to come. There is something that is often missed about Rosh HaShanah: God does not only examine our sins...He examines the entirety of our being. We can see Rosh HaShanah as our annual moment to acknowledge his kingship and be set on a trajectory to enter back into the order of this world with renewed confidence in the King we ultimately serve, with a new task for the year ahead. Rosh HaShanah is a day of being equipped with renewed minds and hearts to carry on in the world God has entrusted us. THIS is why t'shuvah is important; so we can operate in a lifestyle that will enable us to steward God's will "on earth as it is in heaven."

Yom Kippur is the "Day of Atonement." It is very much centered around our death as a people: fasting slows our bodily functions, not bathing/shaving/etc. separates us from our daily "lives," Kol Nidrei is very much like a death-bed vow, and Jewish men are buried in the kittel (which is worn on Yom Kippur). We face the fact that we have no Temple, and that really our death is the only thing that can save us from sin. Many Yeshua followers would suggest that Yeshua changes this. I would argue that Yeshua affirms this! Romans 6 makes it very clear that Yeshua does what he does to pave the way for us to do the same. Immersion in him is our own participation in his death. In him, we know our own death will be a transition into resurrection life. This is why it is crucial that Messianic Jews participate fully in Yom Kippur. It is an annual commemoration of our own immersion in Yeshua, and a foretaste of our own great transition from Olam Hazeh into Olam Haba. It humbles us to this great gift, and renews us to live our lives for God more fully in the coming year.

Sukkot/Simchat Torah is the only eight day festival in the Torah, and is called the "season of our joy." I love how prophetically disproportionate the holiday of Joy is to the others. Seven is a number associated with completion, and the order for this world. Eight is a number that represents that which is beyond the confines of the natural order of the world. Eight days of Joy is meant to remind us of eternity in Joy. Yes, both Judgment and Atonement are serious and important. Nevertheless, they all point to an eternity of reconciled living. Sukkot is a reminder that God created belonging for us when we didn't "belong" anywhere yet. It is also a reminder that God commands us to create our own belonging where he will dwell-even in this transient stage of our lives. Sukkot is a reminder that life is eternal without "this life" being eternal.

Elul is meant to be a preparation for the transformation that comes in Tishrei. This is why t'shuvah is so central to Elul. It is our movement(s) toward God that enables us to encounter Him ever more intimately and profoundly.T'Shuvah is the central act that brings us into deeper relationship with Yeshua. I pray that all of us have found this Elul to be transformative. I look forward to blogging again after Simchat Torah is completed.

In the meantime...L'Shanah Tovah...