"You always think your right don't you?"
uummmm...yes? If I didn't think I was right then I would think something else...right?
That being said, there is a common thread throughout the messianic movement that keeps coming into the forefront for me and it has been on my mind lately so I thought I would share.
The most high has seen fit to reveal to us a different facet of his magnificence. The sheer joy of following the messiah in what we see as a more complete way. We as messianics of course think that we are right in what we believe ( see above), and we come under quite a bit of fire from both sides of our religious heritage ( that's Jews and Christians, for those new to the concept). I have personally been told by one Rabbi (an Army chaplain no less) that I shouldn't be Messianic, but should chose one or the other, and that messianics really didn't understand either religion ( again Judaism or Christianity). I have also been accused by well meaning Christians of trying to bring the body of Christ back under the law.
Because we come under fire from two flanks ( a little Army talk there), we tend to be very strong in our opinions because we feel the need to defend them so often. The problem is that we can have a tendency to slip into the "your not REALLY saved if you don't think like me" trap. And let me tell you it is a trap. It is this kind of pride that can send your entire spiritual framework crumbeling to its foundation.
Think about it, if you don't allow for friendly debate (and the idea that the other person may have a valid point, or point of view), and ar simply dogmatic about every aspect of your faith, then if and when you are proven wrong it tends to send you into a religious spiral from which few make it out. There are of course some things that you should be dogmatic about. Yeshua is the son of the most high. His death payed the ransom price for our sin. The most high is an elderly Jewish man with a white beard (oh come on, laugh it's funny).
Do you know that if it hadn't been for the different sects of Judaism (sects by the way that were in constant and bitter arguments, but never accused the others of not being Jews) then the symbolism of Yeshua's death looses much of its meaning. Remember that Yeshua ate a Passover meal, and then went to the garden and was arrested. While he was being tried the cock crows three times ( cocks crow presumably with the sunrise) then his accusers take him before pilot, but there is a curious portion of scripture here. JN 18:28 "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover." Hold on, these men hadn't had their sader yet? Did Yeshua, knowing he was going to die the next day decide to eat it a day early? Did the priests decide to eat theirs a day late? Then in 19:14 it indicates that he was crucified on the preparation day for the passover. But... didn't he already have the preparation day when he came into the city of Jerusalem? Didn't he already eat the sader? Whats going on here?
The answer is something much debated on the Internet amongst the very and not so very scholarly, and that is as it should be. Debate is the cornerstone of Jewish learning. The answer that I think most elegantly fits the situation is the point of my post here. There were several different sects of Judaism in first century Israel, and many of them had differences of opinion on what days holidays should be celebrated (not unlike some who would follow the Jewish calender, vs. some who would watch for a barley harvest in Israel) not whether or not the 14th day of Nisan should be passover, but when is the 14th of Nisan. Different calenders meant people would have taken their sacrifices to the temple on different days. So with this in mind it is not hard to see that the master could very well celebrate passover with his disciples, and explain the significance of that sacrifice to them, and then the following day be that sacrifice, and both situations retain their meaning.
"He is right, and he is right, they cant both be right." "You know you are also right."
From this perspective, there is not only a possibility for both to be right, in G-ds perfect timing it was necessary for them both to be right so that everything could be fulfilled. We, not being G-d should not be so quick then to call a brother or sister in the Lord wrong, maybee your both right. We should especially not question their level of faith or salvation, no matter how weird their points of view are.
Be blessed.
