Differences

"We are not on opposing sides."

“Specifically, the mystery is this: by trusting in the good news, the Gentile outsiders are becoming fully enfranchised members of the same body, heirs alongside Israel, and beneficiaries of the promise that has been fulfilled through Jesus the Anointed.” (Ephesians 3:6 VOICE)

THROUGH THE Holy Spirit, the Truth is revealed now to Israel, the apostle Paul said. But not as the Gentile church expects. This second part is our modern revelation. Truth is, for generations, we’ve expected them to become like us. Twinsies. When what God has done is make us part of them. We are two separate ways of thought, serving the same living God, and He’s perfectly fine with that. We are not.

We’ve preached condemnation over the Jews, which isn’t God, Romans 8:1, John 3:17. We’ve used salvation to do it. We’ve taken all they know … and read that again, they KNOW HIM … and made it ours at their expense. I’m not talking about Israel, as a nation, but Jewish study and worship. They have things wrong, we say. So do we, I reply. I’ve heard incorrect doctrine from both sides. The Spirit is the Teacher. Of both sides.

We’re not supposed to take sides. We’re not on opposing sides. Paul said this (Romans 3:29). What he didn’t say, but which is seen in his writings, is Jewish thought patterns. History from then to now also plays a HUGE PART. World Wars changed everything, as did the razing of the Temple, prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24.

“G_d formed the Jewish people so that their very existence reflects His own, praising Him simply by being. After the Holocaust, every single Jew is quite literally a living miracle, declaring and praising His presence to the world.” – Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson

From Paul’s perspective, though, we can see things he grew up with. Women’s head covering is an example. Married Jewish women today still cover their head in public. Unwed women do not. These are those who worship Hashem, of course. Both non-worshiping Jews and unChristian Christians exist. But Paul was raised a Pharisee sent to non-Jews and, according to Minister Rick Renner, idol worship was on every street corner. I’m talking actual idols with fires and lewd scenes. So the Gentile church needed to set an example. He used what worked for the Jews. There’s nothing wrong with this. You can follow it if you wish. We are told in Ephesians 4 and Romans 14 and Matthew 5 not to judge others for their differences. This includes vegetarianism and differing worship days (Romans 14:5). Christ HAS made us one, but again, circling back to the beginning — they aren’t us. We worship differently.

And would learn a great deal if we’d listen.

“Blessed are those who seek peace, who seek to reconcile all people—of all nations, races, and cultures—to God for all time, for they will be known as the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, Remedy)

“And don’t think that I have come to destroy what the Old Testament —Torah and Prophets—taught about God and his methods; I have not come to destroy but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17, Remedy)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com