Category: Jewish customs

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Swine in the Father’s House

Bacon Sandwich

What Western Christian church doesn’t understand is that the Torah is a set of rules and guidelines to live by that make you “different” than the peoples and nations around you. Its a code of conduct. Follow it and you will be blessed. Don’t follow it and you will be cursed (Deut 28). It is about living different, which makes you distinguished, which makes it more obvious that you are a child of Yehovah, the one true God of the universe. This is NOT legalism. This is about your identity- who are you? Are you a child of the devil and the world or are you a child of the Kingdom Yehovah and of another world?

So, eating that bacon swine flesh sandwich may not send you to hell, but it sure identifies you with the kingdom of this world. It separates you from God and the people of God. If you eat it, you miss out on the blessings of obedience. It’s your call. Blessing or curse? Obedience or disobedience. Satisfy the cravings of your flesh and eat the same flesh of a pig that was used to desecrate the Lord’s temple or walk in the Spirit?

It’s Hanukkah, so this becomes even more relevant as I am writing this. Antiochus Ephiphanes slaughtered a hog on the altar in the Lord’s temple and erected a statue to Zeus to desecrate it. The Bible says our bodies are now the temple of Holy Spirit. Hummm. That should make us think.

So also picture this-

In Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the Prodigal Son. The people of the day, no doubt, knew exactly what Yeshua was saying. Its a picture of a father and two sons. The father is, of course, Father God. The two sons are the two nations of Israel- Israel and Judah. Israel are the northern tribes that were scattered in 722 BC and never came home. They are the “lost house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

That is the son who found himself in the pig pen. The other brother who stayed home is the southern tribes of Judah, Judah and Benjamin. Judah came back home from Babylon and rebuilt the temple with Ezra and Nehemiah. These are the “Jews.” (Judah = Jews) They have been given charge to hold the scepter of the law for all these centuries (Gen 49:10). Its been their duty. Without them, we would have no Bible. Without them there would have been no Hanukkah. Without them there would be no nation of Israel today. Remember, Yeshua IS a Jew.

So now, with that big picture context lets ask the question, When the prodigal son (who basically represents us) comes home and embraces his father who is Yehovah God and eats the fatted calf, then reconciles with his brother who stayed home and tended the farm, will he also want to slaughter a hog on his father’s kitchen table? That is what the pagan Christian who comes back home is demanding saying, Father we love our bacon sandwich and want to bring it into Your house.”

What Peter’s vision was about in Acts 10 was “receiving” the people who had been eating unclean foods and opening the door of salvation to them. The blood of Yeshua was making the people clean. This matter does not mean that the food laws changed. It means Father will receive you no matter what you ate because of the blood of Yeshua. Remember, Yeshua said He did not come to strike a single letter from the Law (Matthew 5:18). And we must realize Yeshua would never contradict Himself. So…

The big question is, (check your heart) Do you still want to bring your bacon lover’s sandwich into the Father’s house? Do you think shrimp cocktail and lobster will be served at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb?

The Gentile church who is “Israel” needs to reconcile these big picture truths that are much deeper than just our salvation and adoption and “get out of Dodge” for free.

This may be the first time you have recognized that bacon or lobster or that shrimp cocktail or catfish dinner might be an idol in your life and you never realized it. Selah.

Please take a few moments and pray about this before you immediately dismiss it.

Grace and love.

HalleluYah!

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Why Are Some Christians Doing Jewish Holidays?

Question: Why are some Christians starting to do Jewish holidays?

Answer: First of all, they really aren’t “Jewish” holidays.

Jews simply do what the Bible tells them to do. Faithful Jews have been doing these things for centuries. They are Bible festivals or feasts called “appointed times” with the Lord. Yehovah promises to bless His people for their obedience. It is like having a divine appointment with Yehovah to receive His blessings.

Basically, Yehovah (the God YHVH who reveals Himself in the Bible) instructs His people to observe three times a year- Spring-Passover, Summer-Pentecost and Fall-Tabernacles (See Leviticus 23). In recent years some Christians are beginning to recognize they have been following “church tradition” instead of the Bible and and so they want to start following the Bible.

Some take a knee-jerk reaction to this waving the red flag of legalism or thinking someone might be converting to Judaism. This is actually not the case at all. The New Testament does not promote division between Jew and Gentile. In fact, it teaches exactly the opposite. Paul calls it, becoming “one new man.”

Ephesians 2 (ESV)

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Paul clearly saw the household of God would include both Jews and gentiles. Retrospectively, we can gain further clarity to what Yeshua spoke early in His ministry. Here we can clearly see that Yeshua intended for His followers to be obedient to the Law of Moses.

Matthew 5 (ESV)

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Some interpret “all is accomplished” (v.18) to refer to “it is finished” spoken on the cross (John 19:30). This is very shortsighted and aligns with replacement theology. Others believe “all is accomplished” to imply the fulfillment of the coming kingdom (Luke 22:18).

The caution I will share with you is what has taken place in most modern Western churches. Most follow a doctrine of grace to the exclusion of any works (Ephesians 2:8-10). They hold this doctrine to be central throughout their Christian life which tends to excuse them from doing any good works following their salvation. Consequently, many are stunted in their spiritual growth and maturity through the continuous rehearsal of salvation doctrine.

In closing, let us please, re-read what Matthew captured in the teachings of Yeshua:

Matthew 5: 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This forces the question- What commandments?

How you answer this will expose your heart.

Blessings in Yeshua

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Christians and Hanukkah

The eight lamp “Hanukkia” is used during this winter festival.

Question: Should a Christian celebrate Hanukkah? Why don’t Christian’s celebrate it? What significance is there for believers in Jesus?

Answer: Yes, though most Western Christians have never been taught to celebrate it, I believe Christians should celebrate Hanukkah. Here is why-

Holidays are designed to help us remember important historical events. These events helped to shape who we are as people. If we forget them, over time, we will forget who we are.Christians don’t “remember” Hanukkah because this historic event took place before Jesus was born and the accounts surrounding Hanukkah are not in our Bibles. The five books of Maccabees, primarily the first two were not included in the Hebrew Bible because the official list of books had already been formalized.

Most Western Christians have been taught replacement theology which promotes division and separation from the Jews and all of the biblical feasts which is unfortunate. The Christian church has been severed from its roots or removed from its foundation since the time of Constantine in 325 AD.

Hanukkah is significant for Christians because Yeshua (Jesus) also recognized the festival. Hanukkah is also known as the “Feast of Lights” or the “Feast of Dedication.” We see this in John 10:22. Hanukkah is a historical remembrance of the struggle between the Greeks and the Jews that took place in the time span between Malachi and the birth of Yeshua around 160-165 BC. It reminds us that with the favor of God, we can overcome the oppression of the world and its (man made) humanist ideologies. It is a message of hope and promise for the people of God who are not afraid of revolution and that God is with us in revolutionary conquest when we are fighting for His cause. It reminds us that God is with us during dark troubling times, even during the Diaspora (scattering of the people of Israel).

Moreover, we can make the suggestion that if the Maccabees revolt had not taken place back in that time, it is possible that Israel would not have survived as a nation. Then, if there was no Israel, it would be difficult to present Messiah to the world. Many prophecies concerning the coming of Messiah would be maligned. The revolt and subsequent Temple re-dedication were essential for the preparation of Messiah to come.

The miraculous sign of God came as a supernatural replenishment of oil for the Menorah that burned for eight days with one flask of oil. Eight is the number associated with “new beginnings.” This is why we see the 9 lamps of the Hanukkia presented during this festival- a center light with eight lamps representing each day the Menorah in the temple remained burning. For distinction, the Menorah itself has 7 lights.

Closing thoughts- Hanukkah gives us the light of hope during the dark seasons of history for the people of God. We can clearly see Yeshua in the celebration if you look for Him. Yeshua is the “Light of the World” who came to save us. There is also strong probability that Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit during Hanukkah giving the Festival of Lights a new and deeper meaning. Yeshua was born nine months later on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, “Sukkot.”

I can’t think of any reason why a believer in Yeshua (Jesus) should turn a blind eye and ignore the Feast of Lights- Hanukkah. We should be seeking every opportunity to teach our children, family, friends and churches the deep meaningful history and the miracles Yehovah performs among His people. It is a happy festival with bright blue and white decor, food and fellowship lasting eight days and offers wonderful devotional elements for Christians.

Blessings, Amen