Welcome Heretics (A Rewind)
For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 1 Corinthians 11:19 NASB
Factions – I’ve met some interesting people in my travels. Some of the most interesting are those who are really angry fundamentalists in Messianic clothing. They have usually come out of doctrinally strict hierarchical Protestant denominations. They found the ethos suffocating. Having discovered the depths of Hebraic thought, they cut ties to the prior rigidity and embrace a “new” way of living. But what they don’t do is leave behind the framework of their thinking. They merely substitute Hebrew words for Greek ones. The hierarchy of the pastor or priest is replaced by the hierarchy of the rabbi. The rituals of Protestantism are replaced by rituals of Judaism. They end up being just as rigid about the “truth” as they once were about doctrine. They are reformers in reverse, substituting one version of legalism with another.
And they’re angry. They’re angry that the “church” deluded them. They’re angry that their family and friends don’t see the path. They’re angry that they fell on the outside. They like to argue their points. They intend to win.
Perhaps it does us some good to remember Paul’s compliment toward hairesis. Yes, that’s right, it’s the word Christianity uses for heresy. But when Paul employed this Greek word, it wasn’t a theological term for false doctrine. It didn’t become a theological technical term until after the close of the first century. When Paul used this Greek word, it simply meant “disputes.” In fact, the classical Greek background of the word means “to select, to choose or to elect” (this is its only use in the New Testament). Its equivalent in the LXX is the Hebrew nedavah, a free-will offering. This word is about choice, voluntary election of action. In Rabbinic Judaism it is the translation of miyn, the word describing something that shares common characteristics. Hairesis does not become a designation of forbidden doctrine until the Christian church began treading the path of separation from Judaism. “The basis of the Christian concept of [hairesis] is to be found in the new situation created by the introduction of the Christian [ekklesia],” says Schlier.[1] But notice what this statement implies. It assumes that Christianity and the theology of Paul are identical, that the “church” was established at Pentecost and that Paul distinguishes his doctrine in opposition to the rabbinic Judaism of his past. Schlier’s position depends on the disjunction between later Christian understanding and the first century Messianic views of Paul.
But what if Paul just means “disputes”? What if all he is saying is that the community must have disputes, it must entertain the choices of others, in order that the approved ideas may be manifest? As I often tell my students, “You don’t need to tell me something I already know. Tell me something I don’t know so we can both learn.”
I believe Paul was a rabbi, and fundamental to rabbinic education is the process of debate. Dialogue is the vehicle of enlightenment. I believe that Messianic Judaism embraces the opportunity to disagree and to learn from each other with open hearts and open minds. Christianity as a religion closed its ranks with a new definition of hairesis, a definition that made anyone who disagreed with the Church an outcast, condemned to Hell. Christian doctrine is about conformity. You must believe exactly as I believe or you are outside the will of God. When we bring this same rigidity to contemporary Torah observance and Messianic allegiance, we do nothing but import a foreign philosophical system. The truth is not compromised because you and I disagree. It is only in our disagreement that we can both discover God’s point of view.
A man can learn anything if he is willing to be corrected.
Topical Index: hairesis, heresy, dispute, 1 Corinthians 11:19
[1] Heinrich Schlier, “hairesis,” in TDNT, Vol. 1, p. 183.
The more I just live according to the Torah the more opportunity I have to share what I believe. It never does me any good to argue my point or what is wrong or right. Every time I ever tried, be it in religion or politics someone always had a stronger argument and I didn’t know the answer. I tend to think that argument can become a form of witchcraft in as much as what happens is I almost become obsessed with my intentions and my thoughts and my ability to prove and manipulate someone else into seeing what I consider to be correct.
Sometimes a stronger and bigger picture is seen when we let Yaweh do the talking from our life and walk. When people want to know why the difference I can be quick to tell without beating them over the head.
This morning I am going to the church with my husband, why? Maybe it’s because I left behind a lot of people I loved and cared about. Maybe it’s because sometimes I do get caught up in trying to prove a point and it gets covered up with something it isn’t like people thinking the reason I left was I hate the pastor or some big argument was the reason.
I read how Yeshua ate and still had fellowship with people who didn’t agree with what He taught and I just have begun thinking why shouldn’t I? Are the lies of their doctrines going to make me unclean? If I don’t participate in all their services that involve the lies am I wrong? I guess it boils down to the fact that I work with people who don’t share my beliefs, and I have children and family who don’t share them, we all live here. Am I supposed to walk away and hide my light under a basket? I think this is me sounding off, what are we supposed to do? It gets very, very lonely here sometimes.
I understand…
simply …….. BRAVO! agreed
The rituals of Protestantism are replaced by rituals of Judaism. …They are reformers in reverse, substituting one version of legalism with another…When we bring this same rigidity to contemporary Torah observance and Messianic allegiance, we do nothing but import a foreign philosophical system.
Yep, thank you, Skip, for bringing this up, This is EXACTLY what we are trying to avoid in our new travels toward the Hebraic mindset as well as the Hebrew words of the day.
Maybe the anger displayed by so many former church goers who are now seeking Hebrew teaching is a NORMAL part of grieving. To be deceived one’s (almost) entire life and then realize the truth (as we are continuing every day to “peel the onion, one layer at a time”) would, indeed, bring on the 5 elements of grief.
Babs, I hear ya on the “lonely” issue. We were created to be social, to work, study, live and LOVE THE LORD together. Yet, I also am not “into” those who have the desire to jump right into what they think is the Biblical Hebrew way but show no real passion to worship or “live” together. That, too, is western “church” in most groups.
I hope that you can shine in your husband’s church. When we went with our son, we both felt like we were sitting in a sanctuary of 1100 stick people. It was super weird. We’ve been “church” for almost 60 years and, other than the coffee stands and book stands and glitz and glam, it’s still the same ole dry “club” from our way of thinking. Oh I do hope you can make a difference! I will specifically pray for this today.
P.S. Yes, Messiah sat with and talked with many different sorts of people; he did not go into their buildings of false worship. When you are there, REALLY look around and ask yourself, “What is REALLY going on here?” Is the congregation full of non-believers on THE LORD CHRIST? Are the people and the teachers humble and craving the God of the Bible?
When the Hebrews taught from the Torah, they sat in Moses’ seat and read Torah. When they were teaching or reading something else, they moved out of Moses’ seat to another location so as not to confuse SCRIPTURE with man-made stuff. Is it evident where you are going that the Word is GOD’S WRITTEN WORD vs the Pastor’s or visitors’ or whatnot? Does the crowd even care?
Haha! Just studying Acts 15 this morning and your timely post brings it all together marvelously. Thank you. Brilliant!
Babs, so do you have to go to church for religious reasons? I know a lot of people who go to church for the mere fact that its their social life. Their lives are not obedient to Torah, they don’t even know what Torah is…only that it isn’t Christian…so, just go for the party. You don’t have to do what the pastor tells you, I’m sure you won’t be alone in that category…lol
Definitely not alone in that, sad part there are so many who just sit and open their per say little mouths and take in a dropper of whatever it is supposed to be and walk out happy.
Your word makes me want to weep. I went and I sang and I read the word. Not what was read because it was on communion and then they served with the intinction method, normally I would have struggled the entire service on whether or not I should go and have them tell me, ” Christ’s body broken for you”, and then dip the bread into the cup where they would then say, “Christ’s blood spilled for you”, there was no struggle! I didn’t participate and I felt free. The prayers are appreciated and I don’t know how often I will go, but, my husband does and what else can I say? The fellowship of sorts from this web site helps to sustain me, and it helps to push away some of the loneliness simple because of the true warmth that seems to come through things said.
We are all in this journey someway together in our precious Father and that is something to be thankful for.
Someone said: The fruit of christanity is BRICKS – all must be exactly the same, or they will be thrown away; the fruit of Gods Word is living STONES – all different and that is very much OK with God!
Hi Kees,
I love what you said about bricks vs stones!
Darn right that God made us all different!
Conformity is one heavy yoke to bear and is squashes the life right out of you. What an amazing post today. So much practical truth here that one can put right to use.
So is a good Berean also a good heretic?
according to some, yes.
Nothing like a Kantian belief system where each person ‘creates’ his own version of reality – in this case, God’s Word. But you cannot read Torah without finding that the explanations of the “Ten Realities” do not permit of ‘variations’. They certainly do provide examples for later case law application. But the details of the rituals, for example, or the case laws that explain “Thou shalt not steal” make it quite clear that there are explicit meanings that have abiding consistency. e,g, Restitution is a ‘case law’ example of the prohibition against theft, and he who fails to make restitution is a thief. How much restitution? 100% plus anywhere from 20-500% in addition. No shades of great here except some discussion among the elders about how much ‘in addition’. For example, steal a taxi, a man’s livelihood, and it could 500% in addition. Another car for someone else might only attract 20%. You and I might have opinions about some of these issues, but the eventual application belongs to the elders/judges/priests.
And so the question arises: is disagreeing with the rulings of the elders/judges/priests considered ‘heresy’? 😉
Welcome back Ian!
G.K. Chesterton said it best: “The reformer is always right about what is wrong. He is generally wrong about what is right.”
Good question, Ian!
If heresy is really to be understood in light of discourse with the aim of arriving at the truth, then wouldn’t the true servant of God who is filling the post of elder/judge or priest welcome “hairesis”? 🙂
“But what they don’t do is leave behind the framework of their thinking.” Greek/Christian theological thinking, i.e, a mixed pot of beliefs (‘chop-suey’ 🙂 ) coming into Hebraic paradigm, yet not fully into it, creating a mish-mash. That exposes pride, if not arrogance, of not acknowledging/respecting that ALL of us are on a learning journey, at different levels.
Does not mean the newcomer into Hebraic mindset/Torah ways has nothing to teach others, on the contrary, I have seeking brethren who have such beautiful insights and a changed personality, it is amazing, comparing to some who have theological experiences who have not and no change.
“What if all he is saying is that the community must have disputes, it must entertain the choices of others, in order that the approved ideas may be manifest?” Amein!
This was taught and encouraged in my little ‘kibbutz’/home church where folks should not be afraid to have disputes and even ‘fights’, but to learn from each others’ aspects.
That so bonded us as a family throughout the years. HalleluYAH”.
Amazingly we were not into Hebraic mindset as yet.
“You don’t need to tell me something I already know. Tell me something I don’t know so we can both learn.” This speaks of humility, so lacking among us.
“Dialogue is the vehicle of enlightenment.” REALLY????? Not so! Below quote says it all-
“You must believe exactly as I believe or you are outside the will of God.”! And may I add, ‘you are a heretic’!
Love that translation of TW. Thank you for sharing it, made my day, Skip. Shalom!