A Church on Every Corner
Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, the more altars he made; the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars. Hosea 10:1 NASB
More/ better – According to Hosea, affluence produces an increase in religion. There is no better example than America. American Christianity has invented a word for its preoccupation with religious expansion. The un-churched. That’s right. We don’t worry about transformation and community. We worry about getting people into church. Church is big business and marketing techniques and advertising dominates the American religious landscape. I wouldn’t be surprised to find churches praying for another terrorist attack so that more people would flood the pews as they did after September 11th. We worry about churches that are no longer “competitive.” We want to make sure our church grabs the biggest market share in the area. Heaven forbid that we should ever consider combining offices, staff or services with all those other denominations in our neighborhoods. No, we must have a new building campaign so that we can attract the biggest congregation possible.
God has something to say about all this religious frenzy, this penchant for greatness. God’s evaluation of the situation comes in the next verse. “Their heart is faithless. Now they must bear their guilt.” Proliferation of congregations is not a priority of Scripture. The fever-pitched mania about church planting and church growth is not a biblical concern. God is able to do more with one man abandoned to Him than with a million Sunday church attendees. Affluence may produce an increase in religious organizations but it seems that affliction produces true devotion. In Hosea’s time, Israel’s prosperity produced many new religious sites but from God’s perspective, those sites didn’t make one bit of difference. The people substituted location for love of each other. The community collapsed from consumer consciousness.
There are approximately 450,000 churches in America. That’s nearly a half million buildings that need to be paid for, maintained and managed. What nation on the face of the earth at any time in human history could ever afford such expense? Apparently, only in America. Even with 450,000 churches, that is only one church for every 625 people in the country. What kind of impact would the Body (not the church) have on those 625 people if all that money, time and effort were redirected toward righteous living? What would America be like if the Body spent its resources on being Good Samaritans rather than good ushers or singers in the choir? Perhaps we will live to find out. If affliction brings commitment to God rather than to a building, perhaps God will bless America with affliction as it has never known. He did the same for Israel.
Oh, yes, the Hebrew words translated “more” and “better” are ravah (to become many) and tovah (good, better). “Mo’ better” in Hebrew might be ravah tovah. Hosea uses the alliteration to get our attention. Mo’ better isn’t always God’s purpose.
Topical Index: church, affluence, affliction, un-churched, Hosea 10:1
And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16.18)
I live in the “Bible belt” of America. Not only do I live in the Bible belt, I live in the belt buckle of it. Yes, there is a “church on every corner.” I will not refuse to deny “Jesus” is big business. Walk into any “Christian” bookstore and the shelves are loaded down. Not to mention Christian music sales or lest we forget the pagan holiday of Christmas and the chocolate bunny and candy sales at Easter. Yes, my Jewish friends- “what a friend we have in Jesus.” It’s good for busine$$.
Does any of this catch G-d by surprise? No. Not a chance. (That is if you believe in “chance.”) But, if you believe in Sovereignty we might see a different story. The spread of the gospel of Jesus (who is the) Christ. I don’t know about you, but I’m all for it. Not only am I for it, but it seems Rabbi Sha’ul like it that way too- “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” (Philippians 1.18) The things you do for love..-amazing.
Has America become “inundated” with the Gospel message? Have we reached “market saturation?” I often wonder how many passengers on each plane leaving for South America has some sort of “gospel missionary” or “Christian worker” on board. If I were “in charge” (too bad I’m not..) every passenger would be involved in some sort of “Mission 3.16”. Every passenger would be “an ambassador for Christ.” Every passenger would be “His epistle, known and read by every man..”
Those who have been “wounded by the church” will respond to this diatribe today with glee. Yes, the church has enemies without, and enemies within. Guess what? -So do I and so do you. Surprise, surprise. Welcome to existence. Welcome to my world. Until you have been wounded by your own wife, (ask Hosea), as a matter of fact, let’s ask Jesus, – has your wife wounded you? Yes, church- we have. We (as in you and I) are the cause of the wounds in His hands and His feet, and the scars upon His body.
Oh my friends, my brothers and my sisters- what do the scriptures say concerning the wheat and the tares?- “Let them both grow together.”
We do need to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints,” but we need to contend without being contentious. Oh, how difficult it is to “speak the truth in love..” Amen to that one, y’all. Difficult, indeed!
Yes, I have seen those who are practicing “zadon.” Master manipulators- politicians in the pulpit. Those with (the very Greek mindset!)- “what’s in it for me!”. Self-serving, and self-centered. G-d is not blind to these things. Not one bit- The LORD knoweth them that are His. Thank you Father for the comfort of your words. “Comfort one another with these words.”
Church membership will not get us to heaven, neither will a gym membership get us “in shape.” Those of us who do frequent either a church or gym know (experientially), “no pain-no gain.” Just the facts m’am. This is the way Elohim designed it. According to His flawless words:- “in this world you will have tribulation.” Surprised? I’m even more surprised to read further- “but be of good cheer.” Why? -Because according to His words- “I have (already) overcome the world. Now who has overcome? Is it me? No. Is it Him? Yes. Really tuff, huh? Okay big boy.. time to step down. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Familiar words..- you can almost see the word “family” in famiiar, right family?
In times like these I refer back to Noah’s ark. Pitched within and Pitched without with pitch. Sealed and watertight. That boat did float. But what a cacophony inside! Poor Noah!! What a headache!
Carl,
Your statement about America being inundated with the Gospel message, to the point of market saturation brought something to mind that I have thought about for a long time.
It seems to me that the type of ‘evangelizing’ that has been taught and done in churches in the USA, has as its effect, IMMUNIZATION, against the power of the Almighty, and the Holy Spirit. It seems to kill the germ that would make me decrease, and Him increase. It even seems to ‘paralyze’ our ability to move, in response to the Word. I viewed it in this manner long before I ever knew anything concerning the controversy about all of the chemicals (and animal DNA) that are actually put into ‘vaccines’ that the USA requires for our ‘health and safety.’ There are so many things that the Church can no longer take a risk to do – it is more important to manage and control, so we look like everyone else, and offend no one.
How I long for a local gathering of Followers of the Way, who will fearlessly HEAR AND OBEY the Word. I know many of us in the Today’s Word community desire that very thing! May it be!
When Yeshua said that he had no place to lay his head, he spoke more than we first imagine. The accumulation of property saddles the Church with obligations and invested concerns that were never part of Yeshua’s ministry. These obligations force changes in willingness to be bold. They dissipate the message because the churches NEED membership to continue. Watchman Nee said it years ago. Something like “As soon as the Church can survive without the aid of the Spirit, it is no longer the community of the saints.”
that’s why i long to belong to a home church/organic to the roots!!! ♥
With Jesus – someone is always going to be offended – who said that, i saw a Miss America say that a while back… ♥
Shalom brothers and sisters,
I have been thinking about the Apostle Paul and and his call and commision from Yeshua. Acts 9:15-16, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Was Paul faithful to his call and commission? 2 Corithians 11:16-33, in this passage you will find that he uses his sufferings as a defense for his Apostleship. Can this badge of authenticity be used for the modern day American churches and their leaders? They want to embrace his message of grace, but not emulate his life of faithful service and suffering for the King!
Thank God, there are leaders (men and women) who have been found faithful to their call and commission! Yet I believe the American church has embraced the grace, but not its empowering lifestyle of light and salt to the world. A bigger building, and more people in that bigger building is never a sign of God’s approval. He looked at one man Abram, later Abraham, and through his life, God would bless the nations!
Someone has borrowed this book in which this quotation is found, so hopefully I will get it right. Frank Laubach said “When God looks at my life He will not be looking for the trophies, but for the scars.” Paul said in Galatians 6:17, From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus. Joy is not found in the suffering itself, but in the name of the ONE we suffer for!
I totally agree with you, but think it is not only an American problem. Here in SA we have a joke that if I am the only survivor on an island, there will definitely be 2 or more shelters built, of which one will be the church you don’t go to anymore.
The division between churches is a powerful stronghold of Satan, I think. They agree to disagree on nearly everything, accept “their love for God”. Still lots of work towards unity?
A few months ago I read the “The Harlot Church system” written by Charles E Newbold, Jr. Although I do not agree with everything he says, it sure made me ask some questions.
“As soon as the church can survive without the aid of the Spirit….” is true for me, His church, as well? Then I am no more?
We cannot and must not however throw the baby out with the bathwater and say (as does the world BTW)- oh, “those preachers” are only in it for the money. You and I and that fellow over there all know some godly pastors, and some godly painters and plumbers as well. We are all “in it” to serve one Master and according to our standard (the word of G-d, the Lamb’s book of life, our Bible) we (as in no man) can serve two masters. We cannot (and must not) serve G-d and mammon.
By our words we (all) are justified and by our words we will be judged. (Matthew 12.37). Same goes (again) for the preacher, the painter, the poet and the plumber. Every one of us will give account of himself to G-d and all things (all things) are “right now” open to the full viewing of Him with whom we have to do. Yes, G-d is watching. Is He pleased with what He sees?
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (hello brother!) to live together in unity.” I didn’t say that- G-d did. (Psalm 133.1) We should look for things that unify us, not divide. I like what one pastor said: “The devil would rather start a church fight than to open up a liquor store.” Daddies don’t like it when their children squabble.. Our Father’s answer? – “love one another..”
While I appreciate your concern on this matter, I’m afraid that it is time (past time) to actually throw out the whole thing. Sort of like the Congress of this country that refuses to deal with the issue of debt. Time to get rid of them all. So with the church. Would the cause of the Lord be better served if every building, every asset, every program were flushed and all that money, time and people became living examples of Torah obedience right where they lives and worked? Does God really need 450,000 buildings? Does He really need millions spent on mortgages? What would happen to accountability if “church” was at your home? Would be actually start loving our neighbors instead of driving 20 miles to be with a group of people we only see on Sunday? I believe the Scriptures are filled with examples of judgment that fell on those who made faithfulness into a religion. I see no other way but to abandon this institutionalized worldliness.
I totally agree… ♥
I hope the request for abandonment includes the seminaries, the creation of each “denomination” which has uncovered the real truth, and calls everyone to abandon their “old” ways and join the “new” way. Preachers apparently have to have somewhere to preach. Why not one of those 450,000 buildings?
On the other hand, another possibility is to go back to ekklesia and its origins. The ekklesia were the “called out” ones who sat at the city gate and dealt with the issues. They were the local “government”, not legislative (making laws) but administrative, applying Torah to the situations of life. Just as Deut. 4:5-10 indicates.
Sounds good to me! We need a significant overhaul in all areas, starting with those who are willing to speak up and say, “NO, this is not what the Lord has in mind!”
Skip,
Were you in Tulsa? The capital of Mega Churches! It seems a lot (450,000) of churches and the sad thing about them, probably 99% are worshiping on the first day of the week instead of the seventh day like G-d commands. But it shouldn’t surprise all of us, since G-d prophesied it in Revelation 13:3; “… and all the world marveled and followed the beast.”
Skip – I sent you an email about a plea for help in financing the furthering of my education/training in human trafficking as an advocate for OK or where ever the Lord wants me. I sent it as a Note on facebook & to your email address. I just received an email from Robin Jeep about if I would be comfortable in posting my plea from your site which never entered my little finite mind – but only with your permission first & what you would allow me to post – the email/Note I sent to you & posted on facebook or something you would like to post on my behalf – just let me know what you would allow me to do or not to do.
jano
I will post this as a need of the community. Thanks for letting us know.
Skip
I agree with you Skip! I guess it is a whole lot easier to maintain a building then to be taught and be transformed by a lifestyle of Torah observance. We have adopted and conformed to the thinking of this world that says, ‘to be successful is to have more numbers and bigger facilities.’ There would be a great denial of this, but 450,000 churches speaks louder than any protest that could be given.
How about this subject. I was talking to my wife earlier this week concerning the paper mail that we get from some worthy organizations and ministries. She actually shared this frustration with me a while back. They do some unbelievable kingdom work in this world, and I have supported them for this reason. Because of their connections, they can take the money that you give and multiply it through their viable connections. (I am writing here, as one who has sowed into their ongoing kingdom work.) Yet they will send out an outrageous amount of paper mail to us! Why do they do this? I can appreciate a timely letter now and then, or how about e-mailing me. This seems to me to be a great waste in how they try to connect with those who give, and lack of long term thinking and proper management of the sources that Abba has given them. We have patterned our raising of funds, even for worthy causes, off the pattern of this world. This ought not so to be! There has to be a better way?! I guess if we would give up our infatuation and pouring of money into the buying and maintaining of the church building, instead releasing those funds into substantial acts of righteousness as salt and light into the world, then there may not be such a need for these outside organizations and ministries.
Of course, there is the continued pilage and raping of the earth for all of these resources! Will we stand and be found faithful, or will we continue down the same road of conformity to this world. I do not mean to belittle the body of Messiah that He died for. The more God has given us, the more we will be held accountable for.
Brian,
I, too, have an issue with the use of others’ gifts for fund-raising. It pains me to see a stack of mail, with pleas to give for this cause or that one. I always wonder, “Why didn’t you use the amount you spent on these extravagant mailings?” At that point, I begin to ask the Father if that is the specific mission to which He would have those funds go.
Have we then come to believe “Israel” is the church? Israel, (quite the mystery) is a person, place and picture. Both physically and spiritually. Israel is a picture and a parable. Israel is a man with a message. His is a story of redeeming and restoring love. We gain far more in Christ than we ever lost in Adam.
What gives me great delight are the words of our Savior, “I will build my church.” And when G-d purposes to do something, we can either help or hinder, but I wouldn’t stand in the way of an oncoming train. Not a good idea. The purpose of the Father is to “build a bride” for His Son. That’s us, folks!- We are today the ever growing “body of Christ,” and tomorrow the “bride of Christ.” We are the betrothed of our Beloved. We are destined for the marriage supper of the Lamb. There is going to be a party “what am.” I’m going, RSVP, for I have accepted the invitation of the King.
One last comment concerning the church. The (true) church is not an organization, it is an organism, a body. We might also remember- “other sheep have I which are not of this fold,” – this thing is bigger than the little white church on the hill. G-d is in the people business, – we should be too. Whatever we can do as His representatives here on this green planet, we should do, because we belong to Him and are called by His name. We are the “called out ones”- the ecclessia, the beautiful body and bride of our soon returning conquering King.
There is work for all of us to do in telling others His marvelous story of redemption and grace, reaching out to a world in need of our Savior’s love, and starting with my neighbor who is near. “Go ye therefore” is still the clarion call of Christ. We are to proclaim the gospel at all times and when necessary use words. To accomplish this G-d given task, we must be prepared. How is this done? – Read and follow label directions- “shema”- O Israel!
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917.
Did this man know Jesus? Are these just words? -or are these “just” words? “Rest assured” my friends,- G-d knows. Hallelujah!
I have enjoyed Skip’s teachings, but this one, A Church on Every Corner, needs some work. I’m not a huge fan of mega churches, but some of them are bearing much fruit for the Kingdom. House/Home churches are great, but they also have their limitations. The building and physical facility of the church only has relevance if it contributes to the fullfilling of the vision and mission of the church. Let’s also remember that the church is people, not buildings. When the building becomes a burden and a heavy yoke, maybe it would have been better to remain in the home. Buildings should not bridle the work of God. They should be a tool to further the work of God. Now back to Skip’s teaching from Hosea.
It seems Skip has misinterpreted the context of Hosea, which negates his premise about American churches. He begins with a verse from Hosea 10.
Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, the more altars he made; the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars. Hosea 10:1 NASB
I know this is NASB, my favorite translation most of the time, but the translators have missed it here again in Hosea. “Boqeq” does not mean luxuriant, but comes from the Hebrew word to empty, make void, depopulate, remove or destroy. Abraham Ibn Ezra says, “Empty in the sense it has no strength to produce fruit, and so it has no fruit.” Ibn Ezra agrees with Rashi here by translating, “Israel is like a vine that empties all of its good fruit.” Ibn Ezra also translates “peri yeshaveh lo” as “he [Israel] thinks that he will be fruitful, or… his fruit will be as a vine that is empty.”
So starting with the premise that Israel is “luxuriant” is misleading. Actually, Israel is empty, a nation where there is “no truth, no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land.” (Hosea 4:1) They have transgressed the covenant and rebelled against the Torah. (Hosea 8:1) They have increased the altars of Ba’al, but not the altars of God. They have become empty, reprobate, void of judgment.
Skip then says:
According to Hosea, affluence produces an increase in religion. There is no better example than America.
On the surface, I can see how he could apply this to the church in America. Our nation is “luxuriant” and we have produced much fruit for ourselves. But the altars and sacred pillars mentioned here were not for the LORD, but for the Ba’alim, the false gods of the Canaanites. Israel’s affluence may have produced an increase in religion, but it was not “true” religion, but the religion of their pagan neighbors. Skip goes on to say,
In Hosea’s time, Israel’s prosperity produced many new religious sites but from God’s perspective, those sites didn’t make one bit of difference.
Again, these were not “sites for the LORD,” but sites for false gods, producing more harlotry, sin and debauchery.
I don’t think the churches of America, howbeit capitalizing on the desire to build, expand and create user-friendly “estates” for worship, can compare to the totally lost nation of Israel right before they were taken captive to Assyria, that is, unless, our houses of worship are pagan at its core and not honoring to God.
Skip continues:
God has something to say about all this religious frenzy, this penchant for greatness. God’s evaluation of the situation comes in the next verse. “Their heart is faithless. Now they must bear their guilt.” Proliferation of congregations is not a priority of Scripture.
The proliferation of pagan places of worship cannot be compared to the “proliferation of churches/congregations.” It’s apples and oranges. I personally think God wants places of worship all over the globe in as many places as possible. This could be in buildings, or in homes, parks, tents, etc. The more worship of the one, true God… the better.
I do agree with Skip when he says, God is able to do more with one man abandoned to Him than with a million Sunday church attendees. Affluence may produce an increase in religious organizations but it seems that affliction produces true devotion.
Ahmen to that.
I also think his Hebrew alliteration analogy in the last paragraph demonstrates a lack of Hebrew understanding and is out of context.
Skip says:
Oh, yes, the Hebrew words translated “more” and “better” are ravah (to become many) and tovah (good, better). “Mo’ better” in Hebrew might be ravah tovah. Hosea uses the alliteration to get our attention.
He is referring back to verse one: The more his fruit, the more altars he made; the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars.
There is no alliteration in Hosea’s Hebrew. Hosea says “he [Israel] increased the altars”, “hirvah lamizb’chot.” The word “made” may be implied, but it is not in the original Hebrew. And the word “more” or “increased” is not ravah, but hirvah.
It doesn’t say, “the richer his land, the better he made the sacred pillars.” The Hebrew reads, “k’tov l’ar’tso haytivu matsayvot.” A more accurate translation would be, “as the goodness of his land, or according to the good of his land, they have decorated pillars,” or KJV, “according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.” The English word “better” is not found here and should not be used. It looks like Skip and NASB took the Hebrew word “haytivu,” (they decorated, or made) which has two Hebrew letters the same as “good,” and used that to come up with his reference to Hosea’s alliteration (tovah), which simply does not exist in the original text.
I could have typed the Hebrew throughout, but I don’t think it would have benefited many. If the Hebrew is desired to back up my claims, I am more than happy to include it with the Hebrew transliterations I have used.
This is my first time writing on this forum. I am a messianic Jew who leads a messianic congregation in Washington state.
For the sake of good hermanutics, and for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
Thank you for the eloquent addition. In my own defense, however, I would point out that there is significant debate about the meaning of Hosea 10:1a. For example, boqeq is translated in the LXX with the positive description luxuriant since the basic meaning “to pour out, to be empty” could also mean to spread out, as in be fertile. While the Jewish sages take it as a negative implication, and there is no doubt that Hosea sees it as such in its essence, the term could still be used sarcastically as an appearance of luxuriant growth but without godly results (cf. Macintosh, Hosea, pp. 383-385).
You correctly point out that Hosea uses this metaphor to actually describe the proliferation of sacred sites not dedicated to YHWH, but it isn’t clear from the text or the history that these sites were only intended for pagan worship. It is possible that the sites were used for both (against the wishes and direction of YHWH) in much the same way the the golden calf was supposedly used as an image of the one true God.
While I agree that some churches in America do in fact produce godly fruit, I find that the vast majority preach a replacement theology and an anti-Torah practice, both of which I consider essentially pagan. Therefore, in my view, the vast majority of churches in America actually fit Hosea’s description even under your interpretation. They are shrines to something that YHWH would not endorse. I believe the comparison to Israel prior to the Babylonian captivity is an accurate one. America is lost. It worships a false deity in the same way that Israel worshipped a syncretistic god. And it is blind to its own apostasy. The proliferation of churches teaching that Torah has no relevance, that Israel has been replaced, that Yeshua nullified the Law seems to me to be about as pagan as it can get. I don’t think this is apples and oranges. In your case, as a leader of a Messianic congregation, you may see American expression of Torah obedience differently, but my experience, with many pastors as students, there is considerable ignorance and resistance among churches to embrace this truth.
Personally, I see no justification in Scripture for the proliferation of buildings (called churches) as the expense of massive debt, restricted giving and separation from living communities. It is true that God wants followers everywhere, but I don’t think that implies He wants millions of people to make payments to support property instead of millions of observers who make a difference in the homes where they live. We can disagree on this. I just find that the more emphasis placed on the physical structure, the less effort, time and resources go into actually transforming neighbors and neighborhoods. It seems entirely unreasonable to me that most of the tithe today goes to paying the mortgage.
As for “mo’ better,” I stand corrected. Thank you for your diligence. I guess I’ll have to rewrite this one. 🙂
Thanks for this verse. I’m about to plant a Simple/House Church and be a part of the House Church movement to bring about explosive growth in the San Francisco Bay Area by multiplying our House Churches all over the place until we “have a church on every corner”. These will be churches in homes, businesses, wherever people meet no bigger than 15 to 20 people. When you get number 21 it’s time to multiply. A small church like this will also build community and transform lives, because we will all be sharing our lives together (along with a meal) and discipling each other. It’s very exciting for me. The Simple/House Church is the new/old model of church (Acts 2:42) where the new big church is small. Sound exciting?
Awesome! Please keep us posted as you learn lessons in this movement.
Dear Skip,
Thank you for posting my rather lengthy comments above. This demonstrates your humility and willingness to hear other opinions, a trait of a good teacher. I am aware of the debate regarding the Hebrew “boqeq.” I choose to go with the Jewish sages on this one, while I respect and often use the LXX as well. Thanks for pointing out the difference.
I’ve recently preached 30 sermons through the Book of Hosea, and we just finished chapter 8. I see clear similarities between the Israel of Hosea’s day and our dear US of A. I’ve spoken it clearly from the pulpit. Some think I have been “too political,” but I tell them, Hosea was political, too. I’m not afraid to preach a hard message. That said, I don’t think our American Christian enterprise is even close to what Hosea encountered in the northern kingdom. Our churches may have some replacement theology and anti-Torah teaching, but they preach Jesus is Lord and salvation if found in no one else. They point people to God, not Ba’al, Molech or Ra.
I was in gentile Christian churches for 26 years before becoming a messianic rabbi. My wife and I came home and can never go back. We visit friends there and I preach in them when invited, but our home is within the messianic Jewish movement where we honor the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, worship on Shabbat (a weekly Appointed Time of the LORD), support the nation Israel, celebrate the Festivals of the LORD, and basically live a Biblical lifestyle honoring Messiah Yeshua.
My Christian friends may be missing something I consider essential. They may have some replacement theology, which I detest, and they may think Sunday is the new Sabbath, etc., but they are not pointing people to pagan gods like Israel did when they went to Egypt and Assyria. Israel went to their enemies; mixed with the nations; they sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind.
The church lost its moorings when it rejected it Jewish roots and ripped themselves from the olive tree. But there is a movement of the Spirit in the churches, and it’s not from the top down but from the bottom up. Christians are asking themselves, “Isn’t there something about the Jewish roots of Christianity that may be helpful in understanding and enhancing our walk with God?” I don’t want to alienate them, but encourage them to press on to know the Lord and to search out the roots of their faith.
Regarding buildings: We own 5+ acres with buildings. We also have a strong community, which is one of our high values along with the Word, worship, mission and discipleship. We also have people who live far away meeting in their homes for fellowship and bible study. I don’t think one is good and the other bad. Both are good as long as we continue to love one another in the fear of the LORD. If buildings produce massive debt, they become a noose and a weight beyond what is good. May God grant us wisdom as we grow and mature so that we don’t become enslaved to the lender, but use our money wisely as stewards of the Most High. LORD, lead us into what You have for us as a community of believers. Ahmen.
FYI, about 15% of our general offerings goes toward our mortgage. Would you consider that “massive?” Thanks again for listening.
We are all travelers here. Any additions and corrections are welcomed.
It’s so nice to hear that you and your community are experiencing renewal in YHWH. I am sure you would agree that this is rare among the 450,000 churches in America. I applaud you and your efforts to remain true to Yah. I wish we had such a vital community here.
While I agree that Christian churches at least point people toward Yeshua, I am perhaps not as optimistic about the result. Most of my experience with many churches and many different denominations is that after they have successfully pointed to the Messiah, they begin teaching doctrines that rip Him out of His culture and perpetuate an obedience that would never have been recognized by Him. This is extremely worrisome and sad. I believe this is one of the reasons why there is a growing grassroots movement toward a reconnection with Jewish roots. While this might not be as pagan as Israel in the days of Hosea, I don’t see how it can be considered “less” pagan if the end result is the denial of Torah. How will the Church ever provoke the Jews to jealousy if the Church rejects the Law of God? As far as I am concerned, this is just a much more subtle variation of the same issues that brought Israel into captivity. We might not have pagan statues, but we certainly have a pagan theology.
And as for buildings, 15% might not be massive (I do know of churches here that have debts in excess of $40 million), but the real question (for which I have no ready answer) is this: What would God do in the service of others with that money?
Welcome aboard. I will look forward to your comments. And some day perhaps you will share your sermons on Hosea.
I appreciate your perspective on the church and its historical shift to a pagan theology. Let me give you my perspective. Both my wife and I grew up in a dense Jewish community in Los Angeles. We affectionately called it The Borscht Belt. Neither of us knew more than a few gentiles, and no born again Christians. To make a long story short, we both accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior on the same night in Switzerland at a place called L’Abri, the home of Dr. Francis and Edith Schaeffer. These were gentiles who loved God and demonstrated that love toward us: wayward Jews looking for Truth in all the wrong places. Mrs. Schaeffer was writing her book, Christianity is Jewish. They called us Abraham and Sarah. They seemed to love the fact that we were Jewish, but they did not embrace Torah as we understand it today. They were evangelical Christians, not messianic. However, I wanted what they had: love, joy peace, and the other fruit of the Spirit. It was their love for God and messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus that drew us into the Kingdom.
Interestingly, many of my messianic rabbi friends have similar stories. Many of us were saved in the 70’s through the ministries of gentile Christians who did not have a clue about Jewish roots or Torah observance. They celebrated Christmas and Easter, ate ham, worshiped on Sunday, etc. But they loved God and pointed us to Jesus, who we now call Yeshua the Messiah, the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Now back to the church at the beginning of the 21st century. The reason it is “less” pagan is because it/they still point people to Jesus; to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Him; to receive the Bible as God’s revelation and applicable to our lives; to recognize sin and turn from it; to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God; to love the LORD and your neighbor as yourself; to pray without ceasing; to worship and praise at all times; to feed the poor and homeless, for this is the will of God; etc., etc.
Hosea’s Israel was very different. As mentioned in an earlier post, they were a nation where there was “no truth, no mercy and no knowledge of God in the land”(Hosea 4:1). They had transgressed the covenant and rebelled against the Torah (Hosea 8:1). They increased the altars of Ba’al, but not the altars of God. They had become empty, reprobate, void of judgment. Israel had committed harlotry by worshipping other gods. They were a mess, and Assyria was about to take them captive: God’s judgment for rejecting Him.
Skip. I think we are both right. There are Christian churches that have lost a true Biblical perspective and have become dead and lifeless with pagan theology. And there are churches that still preach the gospel, the good news of salvation in no One else. There are messianic congregations, like ours, that possibly understands Scripture from a wider, more comprehensive perspective, embracing Torah, Shabbat, etc. And there can be found everything in between. So there you go.
Back to buildings. You said, “What would God do in the service of others with that money?” What God is doing at Beit Tikvah is providing a place that preaches the Word; where people learn to worship God in Spirit and in Truth; where training and discipleship happens as a normal part of life; where Christians learn about their Jewish roots and experience the joy of celebrating the Festivals of the LORD in a bigger context; where Jews can come and not feel alienated by pagan, Christian customs and symbols; and all this in a loving community of believers. There was a tabernacle for a time. There was a Temple for a time. We have a building for a time. May God continue to gain glory from all we do. Ahmen.
I spent quite a bit of time at L’Abri in the late 60’s. When were you there?
I think your perspective is a good one. Perhaps, having grown up in an evangelical culture that I now see as theologically bankrupt, I don’t share the same “coming out” experience that you have had. While I agree that Israel was overtly pagan in the days of Hosea (of course, not ALL the people of Israel were pagan), I am far more fearful of a hidden paganism, one that convinces people that they are true followers but denies the character of following. I am sure God is compassionate. After all, I wouldn’t be where I am today if He simply refused to deal with those of us who were once blinded by paradigms, but I worry a lot about the “I never knew you” verse. Grace overwhelms, but what does that mean when the Church teaches grace without obedience?
We were at L’Abri from November 1970 till April 1971. We are very fortunate indeed. Grace is when we get what we don’t deserve. Mercy is when we don’t get what we do deserve. God is good to us.
I was at L’Abri from July 1969 to March 1970. Sorry we missed each other then. It’s nice to connect now.
Skip,
Have you seen the photo documentary of L’Abri called “Portrait of a Shelter” by Sylvester Jacobs? My wife and I are in the book. 🙂 Were you at the L’Abri 50th Jubilee Celebtration/Reunion in St. Louis in 2005? It was a blast seeing folk we hadn’t seen in 35 years.
The Church on the earth.
Over the years I have tried to explain the church to folks who aren’t churched, in this manner. The church if it exists on the earth is always two things: One it is an organization and as such it has all the complications and troubles which organizations have. In fact if you just do a little research on Organizational behavior you will think they are talking about Church when in fact they are describing organizations. This aspect of the church exists on upon the earth. Did you know that according to the courts God can’t own assets because He doesn’t have a local address? Membership in church is membership in the organization. Property belongs to an organization called Church. Federal and State’s recognition is of the organization. This organization can own property. Do business as church. It exists in the same way as an entity does and so forth. Most people understand organizations, so they can understand what the church is as it is just like a Rotary club which does good deeds.
The other aspect of the church is that it is an organism. It is alive. It is the living body of Christ. It is where faith, love, hope and all those other words which we love to use to describe the church exists. It is the family of God and is much like all families on the earth which exists and we understand them but have a very difficult time describing because they are dynamic and every changing as live is lived out here. For most of us in the kingdom this aspect is the part we love. I think we don’t understand this duality of Church so as a result we slowly loose the life and love we once had for the CHURCH.