Now, active
internationally in the Messianic Jewish movement, he is disturbed to find
there a growing trend towards legalism. He has written about this in a
powerful commentary at his own website:
I was more than a little dismayed when at the Messiah 2002 Conference held
in Harrisburg Pennsylvania last July, it was stated that when we prayed, we
should use the name Yeshua instead of the name Jesus. I personally find such
an instruction legalistic. I am being told how I should address my Messiah,
how I should pray to Him, what to call Him.
Perhaps my reaction stems from the fact that for many years, I was taught to
hate the name Jesus. It was a lesson that I enthusiastically absorbed until
it became an innate reaction I felt whenever I heard the name Jesus. Now
that I have at last come to recognise my Messiah, and to love Him and exalt
in His name, I rejoice that I can now actively love that name above all
names. I enjoy calling my Messiah, "Jesus". I marvel at the fact that He
could turn me around so completely that from hating that name, I can rejoice
in that very same name.
Yes, I also enjoy calling him Yeshua because it reminds me that Jesus is THE
Jewish Messiah and thus I rejoice that I can use both Jesus and Yeshua when
referring to my Messiah. However, I do not want to be told that I must use
either one or the other.
Recently Harold and I
had another meal together, and while we watched some favourite Southern
Gospel videos – we are both huge fans – he explained a little more:
I guess
the feeling is that having gone through that struggle – from a conventional
Jewish background, to make this life-changing event to come to the Lord,
with all the drama and trauma – I see some people starting to go
back to what they fled from. Jesus gives
us freedom,
and yet we seem to so easily
spurn it.
The Messianic movement has made so many bold moves forward.
However,
there seems to be a tendency to long for what we have left behind.
It reminds me of the Israelites who, having just been redeemed from their
bondage in
Egypt, within weeks, are yearning to return to Egypt. With freedom comes a
responsibility to live in faith. When we cast off the chains that bind us
to laws and doctrine, it becomes even more onerous to live a life of faith.
That is why we often yearn to be told exactly what to do and what not to
do. It takes the responsibility from off our shoulders. It takes the
decision making away from us.
When rabbis begin
to lay down the law by declaring you
HAVE to do this, they are
showing that they cannot break
free of the chains of the law. It’s just a crying shame. If you’ve evinced
bravery and courage to come to the Lord – with all the difficulties it
brings you – why go back to your legalism? Paul
describes this so well in the Book of Galatians. Galatians should be
required reading for all Messianic Jews.
So when I
find people telling me how you should pray, eat, wear, I agree it’s like
putting on an old coat: familiar, comfortable, no anxiety. But it’s a false
paradise. It stops us from acknowledging the situation now and confronting
it. We need to step out in faith. We must put our faith in the Lord.
Harold’s
words concern the Messianic movement. But might they not also apply to parts
of the wider church?
February 20th, 2003
