Ezrach’ - Native

A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart--by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God. – Romans 2:27-29 HCSB

In Tzedekah, there is no more advantage in being genetically Jewish than there is in being a blond, blue-eyed German.[1] It is humans, not God, who cling to the illusion of genetic advantages. He has always cared more about our souls than our biological heritage. God can make even stones into sons of Abraham if He chooses.[2]

God is willing to take a group of people who are not His and turn them into His own unique possession[3] and this applies not only to the Jewish people, but also to the Gentiles.[4]

Abraham was not a Hebrew until God got hold of him. The Jews were not a people until God got hold of them. The Pharisees forgot that important fact. God is the true Jew. He taught all these concepts to Abraham, Isaac and Moses. If the Jewish people have any advantage, it is because Yah granted it.

Since it is God who makes one a Jew, it is not the one who is outwardly circumcised but the one who has conformed his heart inwardly who becomes the true Jew[5] and just as in Abraham’s case, this is done by simple faith.[6] Our faith can be credited to us as righteousness.[7]

This deceptively simple act necessitates “Circumcision of the Heart” rather than of the flesh.[8] Becoming a true son of Abraham involves repentance of sin, baptism by the Holy Spirit, baptism by water and the production of fruit that is consistent with our repentance. It also involves receiving a new spirit and transforming our outer lives to reflect the new man within us through careful observance of God’s ordinances.[9]

Faith improperly placed is dangerous. Our faith, when placed in the Messiah Jesus Christ, grants us citizenship in God’s Kingdom. After all, the purpose of Christ’s coming was in part to unite Jews and Gentiles into one nation under God.[10]

Faith alone is useless. Faith unaccompanied by righteous works is dead and not true saving faith.[11] Those who seek the asylum found in America must agree to abide by its laws. Similarly, citizenship in God’s Kingdom implies responsibility. We must carry out the royal law prescribed in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[12] Then others will know that we are truly His disciples,[13] His children.[14] Then we will be Ezrach’ – heavenly citizens wandering on earth. We are born not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.


[1] Galatians 3:28-29
[2] Matthew 3:7-12
[3] Hosea 2:23
[4] Romans 9:22-33
[5] Romans 2:27-29
[6] James 2:23
[7] Galatians 3:6-9
[8] Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34
[9] Ezekiel 11:19-21; 36:25-27
[10] Ephesians 2:11-19
[11] James 1:26-27; 2:20, 24, 26
[12] James 2:8
[13] John 8:31-32
[14] John 1:12-13

The Slippery Slope

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: "Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. You'll find him in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Tell him, 'This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession? ' Then tell him, 'This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth's blood, the dogs will also lick your blood! '" Ahab said to Elijah, "So, you have caught me, my enemy." He replied, "I have caught you because you devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord's sight.” – 1 Kings 21:17-20 HCSB

Ahab started small. He envied a vineyard that Naboth owned. That’s it: simple envy. This envy grew to greed. When he asked Naboth to sell his birthright (something that was actually against the law[1]), Naboth rightly refused. King Ahab, rather than resigning himself to this decision, went home and pouted.

Queen Jezebel, his Phoenician wife, arranged for two false witnesses to perjure themselves, accusing Naboth of cursing both God and the King. Naboth was dragged out of the city and stoned to death, after which Ahab took possession of the coveted land.

Examine this carefully. Envy led to greed which led to coveting (a violation of the Tenth command). This led to bearing false witness (a violation of the Ninth command), to murder (a violation of the Sixth command), and to theft (a violation of the Eighth command). Small wonder that James said, “For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.”[2] He went on to warn “What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don't receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.”[3]

Many tend to flirt with sin. They see how close to the edge they can come without getting burnt. However, the tzaddikim must avoid even the smallest of sins, for who knows where they may lead? As The Ethics of the Fathers 4:2 puts it, “One sin will lead to another.”

A single pebble weighs almost nothing. Put enough pebbles in a bucket and it is a tremendous burden. Add yet more and it may become an avalanche of cataclysmic proportions. Similarly, a small sin repeated often enough can grow into a habit that will lead us into greater sins.

On the other hand, the same principle can apply for good. A single kind act may, with proper encouragement, also become a habit. The thing is to be intentional about the development of one’s yetzer hatov and the suppression of one’s yetzer hara.[4]

[1] Leviticus 25:23-24
[2] James 3:16 HCSB
[3] James 4:1-3 HCSB
[4] Romans 13:12-14

No Time for God

The Lord of Hosts says this: “These people say: ‘The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.’” The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: "Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" – Haggai 1:2-4 HCSB

In a little town called Cawker City in the state of Kansas lies a monstrous ball of twine that would make any kitten die in paroxysms of pleasure. It weighs 17,980 pounds. That’s almost 9 tons! It has a 40 foot circumference, and is composed of over 7,827,737 feet of twine. That’s 1,444 miles of string wrapped up in one huge ball. A fellow by the name of Frank Stoeber began this project in 1953. Before he died in 1961, he donated this behemoth to his city and they have had a yearly city-wide picnic and “twine-athon” each year since. Every year at this festival they add more string so the ball is still growing.

It’s interesting to see on what kinds of things people will spend time and money. They will spend thousands of dollars to hit a little white ball around an oversized yard, trying desperately to get it to fall into little cups. They will collect stamps, coins, shells or rubber bands; stand up in front of complete strangers and sing bad karaoke songs; paint their bellies brilliant colors and wear huge wedges of cheese on their heads. They will spend small fortunes on dogs, and huge fortunes on boats.

But for God there is precious little time and even less money. God’s house often stands neglected as people take advantage of their “only day to sleep in.” God’s house stands in disarray as we build huge mansions to house more and more stuff.

Elohim has taken millennia for us. Thousands of years ago, he created us and placed us in a beautiful garden. When we messed that up, He killed an animal and put some clothes on us to cover our shame. One by one, He introduced Himself to godly men and women throughout the ages. He took our spiritual ancestor, Abraham, and turned him into the world’s first Hebrew. El De’ot patiently taught Abraham about himself and about the advantages of righteous living. Over three generations, God turned Abraham into a great nation. Through Moses, He gave us the Law to teach us the meaning of justice and the complete futility of trying to make it without Him.

We kept messing up and He kept sending us prophets to teach us. Finally, some two thousand years ago, He sent His only begotten Son to die, paying the penalty of our sins. As if that weren’t enough, He took around 400 years of His time to guide us through the process of formulating the canon. Surely, we can grant Him a little time one day a week.

Schindler’s Hope

"Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him." Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?" Jesus answered, "I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. – John 3:2b-4 HCSB

“How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. A rather ridiculous question, don’t you think? What does your age matter? You can’t reenter your mother’s womb even if you are only five minutes old!

Nicodemus was a renowned teacher of the Law, familiar with the subtle interpretations of Proverbs and prophecies. He wasn’t so obtuse as to think Yeshua was suggesting crawling back into one’s mother’s womb. He was asking – is it too late for me? Can I start over, have another chance, do I get a “take back” even at my age?

It is never too late. Even without Christ’s empowering spirit, people change and improve late in life. Take Oskar Schindler for example. By all accounts, Schindler was a scoundrel. He was a womanizer who could not hold onto a job. He tried establishing several businesses that went bankrupt. He betrayed his native Czechoslovakia and worked for the German intelligence. When he got caught, he went to jail for treason. He joined the Nazi party and some think that he helped the Germans set up Poland’s invasion.

He was a war profiteer who gained ownership of a factory from a ruined Jewish industrialist named Nathan Wurzel and began running the factory with 1,000 Jewish slave laborers. But his relationship with Mr. Wurzel and a Jewish accountant named Itzhak Stern caused Mr. Schindler to begin putting a human face on those he had previously despised.

He began trying to protect his slaves, using his status in the Nazi party and his skills as a salesman to get them out of trouble over and over again. He got Gestapo officers drunk, bribed others, lied with great flair and forged documents. But rather than being motivated by money, he was now motivated by love. In the end, he managed to save around 1,100 souls from the depredations of the Nazis.

Mr. Schindler did this on his own, under his own power. There is no evidence that he ever became a Christian. He did not hold to ANY religion as a matter of fact.

Imagine what could happen in the life of a person who yielded to the ministrations of the God-man for whom it is never too late. Yeshua not only raised a man who was four days dead[1], but also raised himself from the dark clammy embrace of the tomb. Imagine what He could do for you.

[1] John 11:39

You Can

In the course of time Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented [an offering]-some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? If you do right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it." Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. – Genesis 4:3-8 HCSB

Hundreds of people live in poverty stricken neighborhoods. All are exposed to the same limitations. The vast majority live lives of “quiet desperation” yet practice honesty, integrity and love. A tiny minority may choose to revolt against their conditions and pursue the drug culture, become abusive of their spouses or turn into rebellious criminals. What makes the difference?

Very likely, when one of the rebels ends up in court, a lawyer will probably find a psychologist who will blame the criminal behavior on living conditions.

“His mother did not provide adequate love to nurture his ego. The desperation of poverty and lack of education drove him,” the psychologist will blather.

Yet humans are not trees. We are more than an accumulation of our circumstances. We have been granted a free will to choose between good and evil. For every person who succumbs to the temptations that are particular to squalor, there are hundreds who choose to live honest, wholesome lives.

Human beings can overcome terrible environments. Abraham, our spiritual ancestor, grew up in an idolatrous family. Moses, whom God determined to be the most humble man ever, was raised in the household of that paragon of arrogance – Pharaoh.

Are circumstances mitigating factors? Certainly, but they are not excuses. We cannot control where we were born. We cannot control how we were raised. We have no way of changing our genetic predispositions. We can, however, control what we choose to do with those circumstances.

A person who was raised in an abusive home can choose to create a shelter for abused spouses. Another who was raised in poverty can choose to work hard, save their money and make sure the next generation gets a better shot. Or, they can whine and spend their money on booze and cigarettes. But make no mistake, they choose.

Cain was presented with such a choice. He could choose to adjust to the realities of God’s demands or wallow in self-pity. Sin was crouching at his door, but Elohim told Cain that the possibility of mastering it lay at hand. Cain chose, and sin leapt.

Hangin’ Out

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Become right-minded and stop sinning, because some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. – 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 HCSB

If we want to become more like the Master, we need to find others who share a similar ambition and work out spiritually together.

Cultivate relationships with good and wise people. Try to determine what it is about them that makes them spiritually attractive. Analyze their behavior, both the good and the bad. Compare or contrast their habits to the Scriptures as Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.”[1] He was not advocating blind hero worship as is too common among Christians. He was teaching us to look for Christ’s attributes in others and imitate them in those regards.

We tend to become who we hang out with. This is a dangerous principle for undercover police officers. After a while, they can tend to lose sight of what a good man is supposed to do. This is a danger to potential tzaddikim who are working among many hard-core sinners. Suddenly and unintentionally, a cuss word will slip out.
This is the danger Solomon warned of when he said that a companion of fools will suffer harm.[2] He warned us of the nature of the wicked – that they are not content with being themselves wicked. They will try to influence others into the wrong paths.[3]

Solomon’s father, David, also taught that true happiness will be found in those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers.[4] Do you notice the trend? You start by simply listening, move on to the path or lifestyle, and soon you’re just “one of the gang.”

On the other hand, the same “rubbing off” principle works positively. The first half of Solomon’s proverb that I previously quoted says, “The one who walks with the wise will become wise.”[5] David went on to say that our delight should be in the Lord’s instruction.[6]

The tzaddikim recognize that they are in the world, but that does not mean they want to become like the world.[7] In order to help, they find other people who also have had their righteousness credited to them by the atoning work of Yeshua and are seeking to become more and more like him. They want to hold unwavering to their confession of hope and promote love and good works in their lives. So, they do not avoid the meetings of the tzaddikim, like many do. Instead, they meet and encourage each other to good works.[8]

Church is a spiritual gym. It is where you go to develop spiritual muscle. It is where you will hear others say, “Come on, you can do this.” It is where you will “spot” someone and keep them from harming themselves. True tzaddikim simply like to “hang out.”

[1] 1 Corinthians 11:1 HCSB
[2] Proverbs 13:20
[3] Proverbs 4:14-17; 24:1-2
[4] Psalm 1:1
[5] Proverbs 13:20
[6] Psalm 1:2
[7] Romans 12:1-2
[8] Hebrews 10:23-25

The Little Things

Catch the foxes for us -the little foxes that ruin the vineyards-for our vineyards are in bloom. – Song of Songs 2:15 HCSB

Every once in a while we all get the urge to make a lifestyle change. Perhaps we want to lose weight; perhaps we want to eat better or get more exercise. Unfortunately, most people will go for the gusto and make huge, sweeping changes that they cannot sustain.

They will try to go from burger chomping, milkshake guzzling, greasy pizza, finger-licking couch potatoes to vegetarian Olympic athletes in a single bound. After a couple weeks (or days) of this drastically different lifestyle, they understandably give up. Then they live in despair, thinking that their character is so intrinsically flawed that they are doomed to a life of bad habits.

The secret to both lifestyle and spiritual changes is to take things in small increments. Don’t change over to a completely vegetarian lifestyle – just make one meal a week meatless. Don’t start running ten miles a day – just walk around the block after supper a couple times a week. Don’t quit smoking all together – just reduce your smoking by one cigarette a day for the next week. Don’t drop everything and go to seminary – just start attending Sunday school.

It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines. Allowing “small” sins, so-called “white lies” or humanistic thinking patterns in our lives will begin adding up very soon. However, if we allow good healthy thoughts to grow and practice good, ethical, moral and spiritually grounded behavior, these good things will soon begin adding up, too.

So keep tabs on lashon hara (evil speech). Don’t feel like you have to make a stinging comeback every time someone makes a smart remark. Make sure you don’t get into the habit of negative thinking. Take a second and think about the consequences of what you are about to do before jumping into it. Turn the TV off a little more.

On the other hand, put a little more effort to build on your yetzer hatov (good inclinations). Say I love you more. Watch your little girl try to bat a ball for fifteen minutes. Get your wife a flower once in a while (especially when there’s no birthday or anniversary looming). Help out in the church nursery from time to time.

If your wife gets that puzzled smile one time, it will be worth it. If you hear your child’s voice calling “Daddy!” excitedly, you will realize why you are doing this. Piece by piece, line by line, precept upon precept you will be slowly conforming your life to the Master’s. One day you will wake up to the realization that you are a true disciple. You will be a tzaddik in the making. Remember, incomplete improvements are better than none at all.

The Pass

Therefore just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen. – Matthew 13:40-43 HCSB

It was late at night, early morning actually, when the police car’s lights began flashing. After a few minutes’ pursuit, the weaving car finally pulled over. As the officers approached, the driver’s door swung open and a handsome young man stumbled out of the car. His thousand dollar suit was in disarray and his hair was disheveled. His eyes were swollen and bleary from the alcohol. His speech was slurred.

Unfortunately he was the son of a well respected man in the community but the officers, being men of integrity, arrested the young man anyway – mainly to protect him and others on the road. As they handcuffed the drunken man and helped him into the back of the squad car, the last thing he was heard shouting was, “Do you know who my Father is?”

How pathetic! The young man tried to rely on his father’s righteousness to get him a free “Get Out of Jail” card. As we all know, it simply shouldn’t work that way. Each of us must walk our own path; must labor to build our own good reputation.

There is one instance in which this is not true, however. When we submit to the inevitable and declare Jesus of Nazareth to be our Lord and Savior[1], we acquire righteousness[2] that exceeds that of the Pharisees[3] – His righteousness. Not only are we credited with His holiness, but we also get adopted into God’s family[4] and have the right to address Him as “Abba” or “Father”.[5]

There will come a day when Yeshua ben Adonai will return with a trumpet call. The dead tzaddikim will rise first, and then those who remain alive on earth after the terrible persecution will join them in the air.[6] Soon judgment will arrive. The tzaddikim will stand before the Bema Seat, the wicked will appear before the Great White Throne of Judgment.

Our Accuser will do his best to bring up all our transgressions, but Jesus Christ our Mediator will simply turn to Lucifer and calmly ask, “Do you know who that one’s Father is?” And on that day, we will get a free pass. Not because of any righteous works that we have done,[7] but because we have been adopted – because of who our Father and Brother are.

[1] Matthew 15:25
[2] Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14
[3] Matthew 5:20
[4] Romans 9:8; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 1 John 3:1-2
[5] Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:6
[6] 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
[7] Titus 3:5

Junk for Jesus

"A son honors [his] father and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is [your] fear of Me?’ says the Lord of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name."
Yet you ask: "How have we despised Your name?"
"By presenting defiled food on My altar."
You ask: "How have we defiled You?"
“When you say: ‘The Lord's table is contemptible.’ When you present a blind [animal] for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick [animal], is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?" asks the Lord of Hosts. "And now ask for God's favor. Will He be gracious to us? [Since] this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?" asks the Lord of Hosts. – Malachi 1:6-9 HCSB

A tzaddik purchased a very expensive shirt to wear to a feast he was planning to attend in another city. On the way, he met a poor man who also wanted to attend the feast but had nothing appropriate to wear. The tzaddik pulled out his brand new expensive shirt and gave it immediately to the poor man. “Take it! Take it!” he joyfully urged.

The tzaddik’s friends were incredulous and after the poor man left they queried, “Why didn’t you just give him one of your nice, older shirts? Why did you have to give him your very best shirt – the one you just spent all your money on?”

The gracious elder laughed and responded, “My yetzer hara (evil inclination) urged me to do that very thing but I need to work on suppressing my greed and selfishness, so I took the opportunity to do so. Every gift given to the poor is also given to the Lord.[1] Shouldn’t Bashamayim receive the very best?”

It is our yetzer hara that impels us to give our second best to the Lord. We clear out our house, look at the junk and think, “I’ll donate this to the church.”

When I lived in Africa, I saw the junk that was sent as aid from the United States: old bras, broken glasses, single shoes…We had a term for this – “Junk for Jesus”

Elah Sh’maya V’Arah looks at our gifts and asks, “Where is My honor? If I am a master, where is your fear of me?” The houses of worship that the tzaddikim build should be the most beautiful they can afford. Their music should be the most professional they can produce. The gifts each of them give should be the best quality they can give. They don’t have to be the best that ANYONE can give, for God has not gifted us all equally with money. They simply need to be the best we can give.

“Our best for the Christ” should be the watchword of the tzaddikim. This is how they honor Elohim.

[1] Matthew 25:40

Disarming Evil

Isn't the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and to not ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. - Isaiah 58:6-8a

Recently a young man, bound in chains of sin and blinded by bitter lonely tears, opened fire and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. While the VT incident was tragic and should not be minimized, I am alarmed by those who are making snap judgments as to whom or what is responsible. There is a tendency to do this when calamities occur because such crimes are so horrifying that the mind seeks a quick and simple resolution. We must be careful to jump to the right conclusions. As terrible as the VT massacre was, it is only a small taste of evil’s full capabilities.

In Chad, hundreds of thousands of people have died, largely of machete wounds.

Thousands died a few years ago when two planes crashed, hijacked by men with box cutters.

Thousands die every year from bombs fabricated largely out of fertilizers.

There have been calls by some to ban the weapon used in the VT massacre. Yet, to think that we will be able to disable evil from committing these kinds of terrible crimes by removing a particular weapon is dangerously naïve. While we would be patting ourselves on the back for eliminating a threat, evil would simply be looking for another expedient weapon.

Unfortunately, this simplistic thinking is gaining ground among America’s Christians. We throw money at problems, assuaging our ill-conceived guilt over where we happened to be born, without truly effecting changes because we deal with symptoms rather than offer cures.

Evil is cunning. Evil is maliciously intelligent. Evil people love what they do. They are passionate about their sin. They are driven by greed, self-entitlement or rage to hurry toward their crimes. They cannot sleep until they have done their evil deed for the day. They cannot rest unless they have caused someone to stumble. They eat wickedness and drink violence.[1]

The only true cure for evil is active, potent, in-your-face goodness.[2] The world needs to be introduced to hope.[3] They need to know that they can have a right relationship with the Father by bowing their knee to their rightful King.[4]

They need to see the tzaddikim steadily working for justice[5] – each taking one other person by the hand and teaching them the Way. Justice won’t come easily. Some people will never yield to righteousness, just as they refuse the sovereignty of Melek Kabowd.[6] As in any struggle, we will lose a few good people, yet we must continue until the King returns and establishes final justice.[7]

[1] Proverbs 1:10-16; 4:14-17
[2] Romans 12:21
[3] Matthew 28:19-20
[4] Matthew 11:27; 28:18; John 5:22, 27; Acts 28:18
[5] Proverbs 28:5
[6] Psalm 24:7
[7] Revelation 2:27; 19:15

The Promise Keeper

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old: salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. – Luke 1:68-71 HCSB

Many people will make promises to us. In fact, there’s an organization of men who actually call themselves the “Promise Keepers” but who are just as liable to sin as the rest of us.
There is One who has a tremendous track record when it comes to promises. He made the following promises concerning the Messiah:

· the time of His coming;
· great persons would visit Him;
· would be zealous for the Lord's House;
· would be called the Christ (Messiah or Anointed);
· would confronted by adversaries in the Garden;
· would be betrayed by a familiar friend;
· acquaintances would flee;
· would suffer outside the Camp;
· would be stripped before the stares of men;
· they would gamble for His garments;
· would be lifted up on a cross;
· Satanic power would bruise the Redeemer's heel;
· they would pierce His hands and feet;
· would suffer agony on Calvary;
· would be forsaken because of sins of others;
· they would taunt Him by saying "He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him";
· would thirst;
· would be given vinegar;
· would say "Into thy hands I commit my spirit";
· would die of a broken (ruptured) heart;
· there would be darkness upon Calvary;
· not one of His bones would be broken;
· would not only be crucified but resurrected;
· would not see corruption;
· would endure humiliation and then see exaltation;
· and literally hundreds of other predictions…

Considering El Berith’s track record, shouldn’t we believe Him when He says His Son will be returning and that on that day there will be an accounting? Should we not live lives marked by that hope and fear?

Good Intentions

He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him. And someone told Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You." But He replied to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother." – Matthew 12:46-50 HCSB

“I intended to go to church but I stayed up late the night before and accidentally slept in.”

“I intended to do the right thing but I drank a little too much, she made me mad and I just couldn’t help it.”

“I meant to spend time with my kids, but you know how life is – you have to make hay while the sun shines.”

Peter claimed that he would follow Jesus all the way. He publicly professed that he would die for the Master.[1] In the end, however, he denied the Christ on three occasions.[2]

King Saul claimed to have realized his error about David and that he would no longer pursue David.[3] In the end, however, he not only continued his pursuit but he ended up threatening the life of his own son who was simply trying to protect Saul from himself.

Yeshua understood the hidden twisted heart of mankind. He knew that the short delay between intention and action could be our undoing. He understood that only those who actually obeyed Him truly loved Him and He applied this principle to his own biological family. They claimed to love Him and yet they denied who He was. They claimed that as His family they were seeking His good, and yet they considered Him to be crazy and were trying to get Him to quit doing God’s will. So He turned to those who were listening with willing hearts, open minds and obedient souls and said, “You are my true family.”

Good intention unaccompanied by action is just wishful thinking. We need to get moving. We need to start acting on all the things we know to be true and good. Deeds are what count – not good intentions, half-baked theories, memorized dogma, or ecstatic experiences – but deeds.

Proclamation is not actuality. Profession is not conversion. We must not just trust Jesus one time at conversion to get us to heaven. We must trust him every moment of every day to live the life of a disciple. Conversion is not a one time event. That initial act is merely the beginning. From that point on, we must convert each thought, emotion and deed into a sacrifice that is appropriate for Yahweh Ha Tzaddik.

[1] John 13:31-38; Mark 14:27-31; Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:31-38
[2] John 18:15-18, 25-27; Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62
[3] 1 Samuel 26:21-25

Christian Composting

Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. – Galatians 6:7-10 HCSB

This year, I am ramping up my gardening efforts. I expanded our family’s garden to include nearly a quarter of our yard and purchased thirty six different vegetables to plant. Being nearly completely vegetarian, my need to feed on the fruit of the ground is considerably more involved than the average, run-of-the-mill tomato gardener.

I spent a lot of effort throughout the winter composting our kitchen waste. Nearly every day, I have chopped up all our food scraps, the left over bits of carrots and celery that we don’t eat and the spoiled lettuce heads. All of it was faithfully rendered down to a pulp that was religiously mixed into the compost pile. All this effort was motivated by an understanding that the quality of the vegetables will be driven by the quality of the soil in which they are raised.

Soil is different from dirt. Dirt is the nasty stuff that gets on your carpets. Dirt is the stuff you try to keep off your Sunday clothes. Soil, on the other hand, is beautiful. It is a complex web composed of billions of living organisms.

Each of us has soil in our lives. That soil is composed of all our actions, thoughts, intents and the interactions we have with others. It forms a matrix of beliefs, habits and thought patterns. The quality of our life’s soil determines in large part the quality of our fruit.

Yahweh commanded the prophet Isaiah to, “Tell the righteous that it will go well [for them], for they will eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked-[it will go] badly [for them], for what they have done will be done to them.”[1]

Jesus clarified this principle of reciprocity when He taught, “It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."[2] We can’t help but produce works that mirror our heart condition.[3] We get so focused on our daily outward religious behavior that we neglect to guard our hearts.[4] We fail to remember that it is out of the abundance of our hearts that our actions find impetus.[5]

Every day we add to the soil of our lives whether for good or ill. What are you throwing onto your life’s compost pile?

[1] Isaiah 3:10-11 HCSB
[2] Matthew 15:11 HCSB
[3] Luke 6:45
[4] Proverbs 4:23
[5] Matthew 12:34-35

Guidance for Teachers

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. – Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 HCSB

In order to introduce Himself to Humanity, God first chose to use creation itself.[1] Then He implanted knowledge of Himself and of right and wrong deep within our consciences.[2] Then He used various humans to give us a direct revelation of His wishes.[3] Finally, as if all this were not enough, He came to Earth Himself and lived among us.[4]

Our faith revolves around a right understanding of the revelation of God. For that reason, it is supremely important that education play a central role among the tzaddikim and that their teachers understand their role within the Body. With three principle passages in mind[5], I would like to offer the following advice to teachers:

Teaching must begin with the teacher. Strive to be wise by weighing, exploring and arranging truth. Seek out delightful sayings. Figure out how to make learning fun, amusing and attractive. Teach constantly. Let teaching not just be a job or a ministry but the very essence of your life. Take every opportunity to teach.

Accurately write words of truth. Leave something for posterity. Besides, writing things down has a way of clarifying your thoughts, making it easier to communicate. Let your words goad people into action. Firmly nail down what is right and wrong. But don’t get caught up in lahag. Make sure they know you are not the source of all truth and wisdom – God is. All truth comes from God.

Teach as much by your character as you do by your speech. Let true instruction be in your mouth and speak nothing wrong. Walk with God in peace and fairness so that others will be attracted to your message. Encourage the people to seek your instruction by being humble and approachable. Remember that you represent the Lord of Hosts.

What should you teach? Fear God and keep His commandments. God is coming back and will bring every act, good or evil, hidden or public, to judgment. There will be consequences for sin but His desire is for life and peace. Revere Hashem and stand in awe of His name. Turn the people from sin. Guard knowledge. Don’t let false teaching leak into the people’s minds. Actively oppose what will do them harm.

Spread God’s Good News everywhere and catch as many in your nets as possible. But don’t feel you need to save every person. They have a free will. If they reject your message, don’t insist – simply move on to the next (potentially receptive) person.

And finally, never stop being a student. Good theology is consistent but not static. Hang on to the good foundational truths that your have learned (kabalah) but be constantly looking for new ways to apply and present the old truths (masoret).

[1] Psalm 19:1-4; 139:14; Romans 1:20
[2] Romans 1:19-22
[3] Luke 24:25-27; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
[4] Hebrews 1:1-2; Colossians 2:9
[5] Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, Malachi 2:5-7 and Matthew 13:44-52

The Immigrant

Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:21-25 HCSB

A young man’s motherland was a dark, chaotic place that could not adequately provide for her children. In the midst of his desperation, he heard of a land called America that was known as the “Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.” He further heard that everyone there was rich and beautiful. He saw “Baywatch” on a neighbor’s television and it only confirmed what he had heard so he immigrated.

Drunk with the prospect of freedom, giddy with his new-found possibilities, he purchased a car and flew down the highway at one hundred and twenty miles an hour. Very soon he saw the flashing lights of a police car behind him and he pulled over.

“Sir, please step out of the car” said a huge and very angry state trooper.

“I don’t understand.” The young man replied, “What is the problem?”

The trooper explained, “Sir, you were driving at nearly twice the speed limit.”

“But…but…but isn’t this the land of the free? What speed limit? How can you even think of limiting me? I am a citizen of the land of liberty!”

The young man’s error is clear. Freedom is not anarchy. We are free from oppressors and free to attempt great things. However, we are not free to do whatever we like. In order to preserve the freedoms of the community, individuals must still have some of their activities curtailed. For example, some criminals are actually placed in tiny jail cells for the rest of their lives though they remain American citizens.

The Old Testament law was not inherently evil. It was our Guardian. It protected us from our sinful proclivities. When Christ came, He did not abolish the Law. He fulfilled those aspects that were designed to provide a right standing with God. Those who accept His promise of citizenship in the Kingdom are free; free from the oppression of sin, free to explore their new-found power. They are not free to do whatever they like. Ethical, moral communal behavior is still required. As naturalized citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, we will do what’s right without it having to be forced upon us. We are driven to do the same things, not by a code of law, but by love and honor.

The Little Jewish Doctor

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person--though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. – Romans 5:6-9 HCSB

A desperately ill woman sat in a famous doctor’s office. She was blonde and blue-eyed, a true descendent of her Mayflower ancestors. Her beauty remained, though marred by the long struggle with disease. She had never met this doctor, but had heard that he was a miracle worker when it came to her kind of sickness. Finally, the door swung open and revealed a short, swarthy stump of a man. He was completely unattractive and to her Aryan horror, he looked Jewish!

In a compassionate tone, he said, “Young lady, your licentious lifestyle has caused you to contract a terrible disease. Though it is absolutely fatal, it is completely curable. I have a natural immunity to this disease. I injected myself with it and though it scarred me, my immune system conquered the disease and now my blood acts as a cure. You only need to receive an injection of my blood and you will be cured.”

The young woman was not sure if she was more horrified by the doctor’s blunt condemnation of her party lifestyle or his assumption that she would EVER allow herself to be injected with his blood. She responded, “I really don’t want the injection. Couldn’t you give me that new XYZ pill I heard of?”

The doctor smiled gently. He knew the thoughts in her heart. He softly answered “That pill will make you feel better for a little while, but it will not cure you. I am the only human to have ever beaten the disease and only my blood offers you a true cure.”

The lady left the little Jewish doctor’s office without the injection. She could not bring herself to stoop to such a nasty procedure that would involve blood and needles and such. She went down the street to another doctor who gladly charged her an exorbitant price for a few XYZ pills. Though she immediately began to feel relief and her color returned, within days she died of illness.

God did not inflict us with sin. We chose to sin. We chose a lifestyle that has death as a consequence. He loves us so much that He injected Himself with sin on the cross and beat it. Now His blood offers a cure. If we reject that cure and end up dying in our sins and spending an eternity in Hell, He did not do it to us. Our own stubborn pride placed us there.

A Chip Off the Old Block

Don't all of us have one Father? Didn't one God create us? Why then do we act treacherously against one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? – Malachi 2:10 HCSB

A righteous man had many children. He loved each for their unique approach to life. One child was quiet and reserved. The next was outgoing and brash. One floated through life blissfully unaware of nearly anything going on, while another was intellectually and emotionally involved in everything. Each was beautiful; each was wonderful.

The man and his wife taught the children to express their love. The kids would come and kiss their parents goodnight and say, “I love you.” They would periodically give cards, notes or pictures to their parents expressing their appreciation for different things. They would even put on shows, singing, dancing and juggling (or at least trying their hardest) to entertain the parents who had dedicated their lives to their good.

The children were also taught to love and serve others through times of service directed toward the elderly and weak-minded. They took part in church ministry and learned to practice hospitality toward the many guests their father invited into their home.

One day, however, one of the children gave the parents a wonderful gift. One child said to another, “Thank you very much for helping me. I love you.” This, more than anything else, gave the parents joy for it meant the child had internalized the message of gratitude and love and was now capable of expressing it to others.

Elohim is our Father in Heaven. He has dedicated Himself to our advancement and has loved us for millennia with a deep, passionate, abiding and sacrificial love.[1] He has told us over and over that He loves us. He has also taught us to express our gratitude and love to Him. Like any parent He wants us to learn to politely say “thank you” when we receive something.

But our Father wants us to also express our love toward one another.[2] He feels that it is just as important that we love each other as it is to love Him.[3] In fact, He says that not loving each other demonstrates that we have not fully grown to love Him either.[4] A person who does not love and serve his brother may not even be one of God’s children![5]

Elohim Tzaddik values ethical behavior more than ritual behavior because it demonstrates that we have internalized His character and have come to the point where we can express it to others. To truly please Him we must practice honest speech that is compassionately spoken. We must learn to serve truly, doing what is best for others and regarding their needs as equally important as ours. We must love without hypocrisy, abhorring what is evil and clinging to what is good in others. In other words, we must become just like our Father – a chip off the old block.

[1] Psalm 100:5; Jeremiah 31:3
[2] 1 John 3:23
[3] Matthew 22:35-40
[4] 1 John 3:7-8
[5] 1 John 3:10, 14

The Heart’s Ways

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. – Ecclesiastes 11:9 HCSB

A little boy dreamed of flying. He ran around the yard with a balsa wood model plane held high above his head as he imitated the sounds of the propellers. As he grew up, he worked for hours building model planes with pre-cast plastic pieces and modeling glue, carefully painting them with various logos. At first the colors were garish – flames flowing down the sides of the fuselage; toothy grins on the nose of the plane. After a while though, they began to reflect real planes more and more. He ventured into building small scale functioning engines and then on to remote control planes.

No one else in his family flew planes. Very few had graduated from high school much less college and flight school! This was not a mere genetic predisposition; an inherited trait from his ancestors. This was a direct gift from Yahweh Asah, God his Maker.

What a tragedy it would have been if this gifted young man would have stuffed Yahweh’s gift and simply followed the easiest path of conformity. If he had followed the example of many in his family and been satisfied with a minimal education and a minimum wage job that didn’t challenge him or ignite his passions, he would have spent the rest of his life as a smaller, stunted soul.

Yahweh Asah makes each of us with a goal in mind. He takes our genes, our inherited traits, our upbringing and experiences, our temperament, character and spiritual gifts and cooks up a dynamic human being. Each of us is unique. Each is beautiful regardless of the packaging. We are worth knowing if for no other reason than that getting to know another human gives you a little more insight into the Maker.

The Buddhist saying “Shiken haramitsu daikomyo” offers the expectancy that with every encounter with another human comes the possibility of further enlightenment. The Bible echoes that sentiment saying, “The spirit of man is a candle, searching all the innermost parts.”[1] A prophet who recognizes and hones his spiritual gift gives others greater insight into the word and will of the Lord. A teacher who meditates daily on how best to enhance her skills to the glory of the Lord expands our minds and stretches our horizons.

Each of us should determine how God has hardwired us. We need to analyze our temperament, spiritual gifts, experiences and inherited traits so that we can better determine what God wants us to do. When we do this, when we follow our heart’s ways, we will not only do great things for God, we will find joy on the way.

[1] Proverbs 20:27 NASB

Practice, Practice, Practice

Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. – Galatians 6:7-10 HCSB

Good people do not become so by accident. They do not become good while waiting around for the right thoughts to inhabit their brains. They do not become good by reading the right books by the right authors. If goodness came from education, then wouldn’t our country’s increased public education have resulted in improved morals? No – goodness comes by doing good deeds again and again until they become a part of our nature.

We’re not talking about the righteousness of salvation that can only be received as a gift from God. [1] We’re talking about every day goodness, ethics, morality and integrity. We’re talking about the kneading of the inward righteousness of God into every aspect of our lives.

As Paul put it, “So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working among you both the willing and the working for His good purpose.”[2]

God gives us the necessary impetus and empowerment[3] in order to be able to do what humans have long struggled to do – be a holy people. Even as we think about what it means to have been redeemed of our sins in practical terms, we can never glory in our search, for that desire was placed in our hearts by the Giver of Good Gifts. God is always prevenient – He always is first.

Yet, there remains a struggle. We are left with the need for practice just as Joshua had to be swinging his sword even as Moses stood with his hands upraised.[4] Faith and works; works through faith[5] – the constant tension between these two needs is the underpinning of the life of a tzaddik.

Jesus taught that we must forgive even when we do not feel like it. He taught that we must turn the other cheek though it goes against the grain. He commanded us to go out into all the world and preach the Good News even though it would surely mean our persecution.

This is why tzaddikim do not wait for their feelings. They obey God over and over, practicing their goodness until it becomes habitual, instinctive and even natural. We do it until we feel like it.

[1] Ephesians 2:8-9
[2] Philippians 2:12-13
[3] John 15:4-5
[4] Exodus 17:9
[5] James 2:17-18

I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment; your feedback is welcome!

Detail Consciousness

Whatever your hands find to do, do with [all] your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. – Ecclesiastes 9:10 HCSB

It’s amazing how rapidly details can catch up with you. Benjamin Franklin wrote a ditty in his Poor Richard's Almanack that went:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost,

For want of a shoe the horse was lost,

For want of a horse the rider was lost

For want of a rider the battle was lost

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Everything we do, or fail to do, can end up snowballing into completely unexpected consequences. For example, we removed timber wolves from a park and ended up killing all the trees! How did one action lead to such an unexpected conclusion? We removed the wolves that controlled the deer. The deer population exploded and they soon ate all there was to eat. They were so hungry they began to eat the bark off of the trees which not only killed the trees directly, but allowed the proliferation of a disease which killed even the trees the deer didn’t eat!

Studies have determined that if a neighborhood allows the yard of an abandoned house to grow over, or a tenement’s windows to remain broken, that crime will soon increase. Apparently people with a criminal mindset see the poor maintenance as a sign of apathy and that criminal activity will probably be ignored as well. They move in and soon the area has a crime problem.

Everything we do, or fail to do, has consequences. That is why those who claim to follow after God (tzaddikim) must make sure that their lawns are mowed. They must be sure that they maintain good testimonies with their neighbors. They must witness at every opportunity. If they are salesmen, they should strive to sell the most that they can. If they are garbage men, they should take care that the lids are properly replaced on the garbage cans when they are done. Everything, regardless of its simplicity or complexity, should be regarded as being of great significance.

The Master was as concerned with the large political goings-on as the struggles of individuals. He would often be surrounded by thousands of people and stop to address the concerns of one leper, one blind man, or one bleeding woman.

Being God in flesh, He was able to give us insight into the Father’s mind and apparently, this attention to detail is a divine quality. Did he not say, “Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.”[1]

Imitate the Master in this – do your best in every detail, regardless of its seeming insignificance. You simply don’t know what it may lead to.

[1] Matthew 10:29-30 HCSB

Others First in Prayer

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you…This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:7, 12-13 HCSB

Many of us would like to become known as tzaddikim: righteous, holy people who are known for their intimate relationship with God and their desire to see their fellow humans united with Elohim. Part of the tzaddikim lifestyle is characterized by the ability to pray powerfully. That is why James says, “The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.”[1]

The Master chose to give us the secret to answered prayer in today’s’ passage. He said that that we must “remain” in Him and that His “words remain” in us. That means that we should work hard at maintaining our relationship (d’vekut) with Him.

The way to do that is to remember and obey His teachings. After all, further in this same discussion on prayer, Jesus said “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”[2] He made a direct correlation between answered prayer, a loving relationship and obedience.

Jesus’ half brother, James, gave us more instruction on being a wise prayer warrior. He said, “Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and lie in defiance of the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.”[3]

We all tend to pray selfishly. It is a natural human trait. We pray, “God help me out of this.” Or, “God give me that.” But Jesus’ commandment is that we should love others and be willing to lay aside our lives for others. James’ teaching is that selfish ambition has no place in the d’vekut (passionate relationship between God and man) of the tzaddikim.

So, before offering prayers for your own well-being, offer a prayer for someone else first. Before asking for forgiveness and mercy, pray that someone else may receive the same. Before begging for financial security, ask that Yawheh Yireh provide for someone you know. Before praying for your own marriage, pray for someone else’s.

This will allow you to develop greater empathy. It will help burn out the selfish narcissism of your prayers and allow you to see greater power and influence with both God and men.

[1] James 5:16
[2] John 15:14-15 HCSB
[3] James 3:13-17 HCSB

The Seed

"I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. – John 12:24-26 HCSB

The gardener carefully tilled the bed, gently turning the soil over and over. He mixed in the fertilizer, making sure that the soil would be sufficiently healthy to sustain life. As he moved quietly from bed to bed, the sun shone down warmly on his shoulders and the lazy buzzing of the bees could be heard as they first started searching for food after the long cold winter. His boots squished in the mud formed by the last night’s spring rain. The damp earth smelled wonderful because it smelled of life.

Finally, he bent over, dipped his finger into the soil and made a little hole. Into that hole he placed one small, insignificant ugly piece of plant matter. Though totally unattractive, the seed nevertheless carried tremendous potential; not merely the production of a plant, but of even more seeds. Each of those seeds could in theory produce hundreds more, which would produce thousands more after them. A potentially never-ending bounty was locked into one hard, dry, seemingly innocuous lump.

Two thousand years ago, a young man died. He was not particularly attractive. He was described as being like a root out of dry ground. No one would look twice at him if he were walking down the street today. He was not wealthy. He was not politically powerful. In fact, most of the area’s leadership was dead set against him. He never wrote a single word that we know of.

Yet millions of people have chosen to look upon his act of sacrifice and to declare him to be their God. That decision has driven them to live lives marked by gratitude, humility and sacrifice for their fellow humans. That man’s death and burial created millions of books, thousands of cathedrals, hospitals, schools and orphanages.

Where his death bought the possibility of our redemption, his resurrection brought the possibility of hope. There is life after death. There is something more than this awful place. There is meaning in the midst of chaos.

Two thousand years ago, God bent over and dipped His finger into the soil of our planet and planted a Seed of eternal life. That Seed took root and produced the Church. But that seed is seeking a place in your heart. It wants to replicate itself in your life. It wants you, in turn, to become a seed. But like that young man whose name was Yeshua ben Adonai, achieving your full potential will involve dying to self. It will involve a sacrifice.

Isolationism

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when He heard this, He said, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." – Matthew 9:9-13 HCSB

A thirteenth century Rabbi named Menachem ha-Meiri believed that the tzaddikim should have no association with wicked people whatsoever. He said, “[A person should not say] ‘I shall take care not to live in the neighborhood of an evil person because that would involve constant association, but I shall spend time with him occasionally for purposes of business…’ Such a person is, therefore, warned not to associate with the wicked, that is, any kind of association.”[1]

Thank God, Yeshua did not think that way! He taught, both explicitly and by personal example, that we are not only responsible for our own personal behavior but also for society as a whole. As Malachi exclaimed, “Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why would you break faith with another of His children, seeing that you are both answerable to the same God?”[2] We are all guarantors one for another.

The Moshiac taught that we are to act as preserving salt,[3] and as enlightening influences in a darkened world.[4] Granted, it is easier to be pious when one is alone. Humans are messy and frustrating. They often lead us astray. But there is a Yiddish phrase that describes a person who is a religious isolationist. Such a person is described as “a tzaddik in peltz”, which means they are self-righteous. They have wrapped themselves up in a fur coat of piety to protect themselves from the cold cruel world.

The tzaddikim, however, believe that they should light a fire to warm not only themselves but all those who choose to be drawn by this life-giving light. Tzedekah – righteousness – is useless if it is not extended toward society as a whole. This is illustrated by the two greatest commandments which are to love Elohim and to love our neighbor. Yeshua taught that these two commands are equal and equivalent. One cannot love God without that love overflowing in helpful good works toward others. One cannot love one’s neighbor without some form of love for Elohim inhabiting our hearts.

We are called, not to be isolationists, but a holy people in an unholy world. We are to be in the culture but not influenced by it.[5] We are not monks. We are missionaries.


[1] The Ethics of the Fathers 1:7
[2] Malachi 2:10
[3] Matthew 5:13
[4] Matthew 5:14-16
[5] Romans 12:1-2

The Viking Principle

"You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 HCSB

Humility is a good thing. We should take care to not practice our righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. If we do, we will have no reward from our Father in heaven. We should not have trumpets blast every time we do some good deed so that all will turn and look at us. Who cares whether others witness our prayers or not? Are we praying to God or men? When we inform others when or how much we fast, we may be revealing our true intent. It is not to humble ourselves before God but to elevate ourselves before men.[1]

We should not go to the other extreme either. There is a place for public charity. There is value in conspicuous righteousness.

Our Master’s good works were publicly known. They were so famous that they were the matter of discussion from King Herod’s throne[2] all the way to the dungeon.[3] He let His works do much of the preaching,[4] and upbraided cities that did not respond properly with repentance and faith when they witnessed miracles.[5] His good works caused others to question, “Where did He get such wisdom and powerful works?”[6] In fact, He not only allowed others to witness His works, but boasted that they would see far greater in the future![7]

So it is not that we should do all good deeds in secret. It is that we should carefully examine our motives. Are we magnifying and enlarging our religiosity so that others will think better of us?[8] Or, are we allowing God to demonstrate His power in our weakness?

The Viking Beserkers used to sit around the fire the night before they went into battle and boast of the heroic deeds that they would do the following day. Then when the battle lines were drawn, those boasts were ringing in their ears as their hearts pounded in their throats in fear. Their boasts drove them to fight ferociously. They would chant and scream, developing a war frenzy, a warrior’s rage that they would suddenly unleash on their enemies. It is said that they would often leap into battle without armor, wielding only their battle axes.

Let others know you want to become a tzaddik, a righteous, holy person. Then try to live up to that reputation. Your public acknowledgment serves as a confession of loyalty to the Master – not a vain boast. And maybe – just maybe – it will help you stand for what’s right.

Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.[9]

[1] Matthew 6:1-6
[2] Mark 6:14
[3] Matthew 11:2
[4] John 5:36
[5] Matthew 11:20
[6] Matthew 13:54
[7] John 5:20
[8] Matthew 23:5
[9] Philippians 4:7

Choose Your Neighbors Well

My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded. If they say, "Come with us! Let's set an ambush and kill someone. Let's attack some innocent person just for fun! Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share our money"; - my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path, because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. - Proverbs 1:10-16 HCSB

In our materialistic and status driven society, one of the principle factors in determining where we live is often the beauty of the house or the caste of our neighbors. Yet, it is far more important that we determine the quality of the souls of those who will soon be an influence, not only on ourselves, but also on our children. After all, their children will play with ours. We will see these people as we take out our garbage, wash our cars, walk our dog or mow our lawns. Their philosophies will in some limited fashion be transmitted into our homes through this contact.

It is not only those who live “on the wrong side of the tracks” who are in danger. We are probably in more danger[1] of yielding to the views of neighbors who are consumed by status and luxuries, than we are to those who traffic in drugs, beat their wives or abuse their children.

Solomon has much to say on this matter. He said, “Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers. Avoid their haunts. Turn away and go somewhere else.”[2] Wicked people, regardless of their economic status, seem to be unable to sleep until they have done some evil deed for the day. They cannot rest unless they have caused someone to stumble. They gossip, sow seeds of discord amongst friends,[3] sleep with their neighbor’s spouse as a matter of competition or try to use their friends to gain even more status. Many will say that they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?[4]

The wicked regularly practice deception even amongst themselves. As they say, “There is no honor among thieves.” They will lead you down a harmful path. Behind your back they will look at you with narrowed eyes, plotting evil. Deep in their hearts they are planning mischief.[5]

On the other hand, the godly give good advice to their friends.[6] By associating with the wise, we gain the possibility of becoming wise ourselves.[7] As iron sharpens iron, so our minds will be sharpened by their influence[8]; their wholesome advice, which may seem at first to be painful, may in the end be our salvation.[9]

So never abandon wise friends and select new ones carefully. Good neighbors are better than distant relatives.[10]


[1] Proverbs 22:24-25
[2] Proverbs 4:14
[3] Proverbs 18:24; 24:1-2
[4] Proverbs 20:6
[5] Proverbs 16:29-30
[6] Proverbs 12:26
[7] Proverbs 13:20
[8] Proverbs 27:17
[9] Proverbs 27:6, 9
[10] Proverbs 27:10