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Are We Beyond the Trough of Disillusionment?

In the software world, technological fads come and go. Vendors promise the world, people get excited, the technology invariably fails to live up to the hype, and disillusionment sets in, and people move on. But the few who hold on through the tough times begin to reap practical benefits, and over time, the technology is recognized as stable and trustworthy, at least among a particular niche.

This pattern is recognized as the Gartner Hype Cycle:

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It can be summed up in the follow steps:

  1. "Trigger" — The first phase of a hype cycle is the "trigger" or breakthrough, product launch or other event that generates significant press and interest.

  2. "Peak of Inflated Expectations" — In the next phase, a frenzy of publicity typically generates over-enthusiasm and unrealistic expectations. There may be some successful applications of a technology, but there are typically more failures.

  3. "Trough of Disillusionment" — Technologies enter the "trough of disillusionment" because they fail to meet expectations and quickly become unfashionable. Consequently, the press usually abandons the topic and the technology.

  4. "Slope of Enlightenment" — Although the press may have stopped covering the technology, some businesses continue through the "slope of enlightenment" and experiment to understand the benefits and practical application of the technology.

  5. "Plateau of Productivity" — A technology reaches the "plateau of productivity" as the benefits of it become widely demonstrated and accepted. The technology becomes increasingly stable and evolves in second and third generations. The final height of the plateau varies according to whether the technology is broadly applicable or benefits only a niche market.

Our Messianic faith – centered on Messiah and Torah – can be likened to this hype cycle.

Theologies and doctrines come and go and finally return in tweaked incarnations. They crop up quickly, reach the peak of inflated expectations. But then as they fail to materialize to hyped expectation, they fall into the trough of disillusionment and quickly become unfashionable. Eventually, they make their way back with, perhaps, some moderating, cleaned up, some of the faulty parts reworked or removed altogether.

I think Messianic Judaism has been, in many respects, in this “trough of disillusionment” for the last few years:

There was the initial “spark” of renewal among Jews and gentiles in the Jesus Movement of the 1970s. And yet more gentiles returned to God’s commandments and identity as part of the commonwealth of Israel in the ‘80s and ‘90s, particularly through the Torah restoration movement.

Despite these sparks, we’ve been in the cellar lately:

Sensationalist teachings on one side, marginalization of gentiles on the other. Fundamentalism and closed-mindedness. Sectarianism. Confusion. Massive infighting. Closing off self to everyone who doesn’t follow our particular brand of MJism, and labeling them as pagans (side A) or heretics who should go back to the church (side B).

Cellar, cellar, cellar. It’s no wonder we’ve lost many God-seeking people to the synagogue and the church during this long plunge from the heights of inflated expectations to the depths of the trough of disillusionment. And it’s not limited to just the so-called “fringe” sects of Messianic Judaism.

It’s time to get out of the cellar.

After talking a bit with Messianic apologist John McKee this past week about achieving new wisdom and stability in the Messianic movement in the 2010s, it occurred to me that all we really have to do is wait it out.

The trough of disillusionment, as painful as it is, tends to build stability: sensationalism and fundamentalism can’t be milked forever, especially when it has become unfashionable. Likewise, folks that don’t really have a relationship with the Lord – for example, people that are defined almost exclusively by hatred of the church or synagogue, despite legitimate criticisms – soon disappear. Those people will either reform themselves, as I have, or move elsewhere. What I am saying is, if your whole faith is defined by hatred for the church, and there’s no substance to your spiritual life, you’re not going to last very long. That’s not something you build your house on.

By contrast, the people that are in this for the long haul, who have developed a real love for the Lord, actually serve Messiah, and have derived practical, pragmatic values from this Messiah + Torah faith, these people who are contributing to the Kingdom of God – these will be the ones standing when the smoke clears.

Folks like Boaz Michael, John McKee, Derek Leman, Stuart Dauermann, Russ Resnik – these people, from my perspective anyways, are really trying to build the kingdom. They are trying to move past many of the problems that have plagued the Messianic movement during the Years of the Trough. And more importantly, they really do serve the Lord, and have persevered through thick and thin, looking ahead towards the victorious end, and the reward for all those that love Messiah.

Where are we headed?

I predict that even though we’ll mature and stabilize in the years to come, the divide between the 2 divisions of the Messianic movement will grow: the division that sees Messianic Judaism as a safe place for Jews to practice faith in Messiah, and the other side that sees Messianic Judaism as a completion of the Reformation, a renewal among all God’s people, Jews and gentiles.

I’ve made it no secret I side with the latter view.

Why the schism? Because there are “in-it-for-the-long-haul” folks on both sides, and there is goodness in what both sides are doing, yet tragically, the differences between these views are irreconcilable, in my opinion. The end result is a schism that will grow in the coming decade.

Where do you think we’re headed, fine blog readers? Are we moving beyond the Trough of Disillusionment in 2010?

13 comments:

  1. Derek Leman meant to comment on this post, but ended up commenting on a different post. I'm reposting his comment here:

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    Judah:

    Thanks for kindly mentioning my name in a positive light. You also are clearly one in it for the long haul.

    I believe you are right that the future is hopeful and those committed to Jerusalem's redemption need to stand firm. While standing, we should always study, always be open to change, and always hold firm to Yeshua even when we don't understand it all.

    May 2010 be the beginning of greater cooperation, trust, and accomplishment.

    Derek Leman

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  2. "Why the schism? Because there are “in-it-for-the-long-haul” folks on both sides, and there is goodness in what both sides are doing, yet tragically, the differences between these views are irreconcilable, in my opinion. The end result is a schism that will grow in the coming decade."

    Judah, I don't believe that the schism will continue to grow. Instead, I see one side expanding and getting revitalized with fresh boldness and fresh blood, while another as changing direction and making amends (but there will always be offshoots that will continue on the same path). I see signs of that already. I certainly see everyone benefiting in the long run as the result!

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  3. I agree that Messianic Judaism is ideally a continuation of the Reformation, I think there are also Counter-Reformation elements within it too though!

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  4. I think the big shock that will hit, at least part of the Messianic world, is that the end-times really did not come crashing down on us in the 2000s. We just remembered the tenth anniversary of Y2k, and the apocalypse still hasn't arrived.

    It is time to think differently and more long term. The Second Coming is a ways off..

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  5. Judah, Good thoughts in your article, I tend to agree with JK that the seconed coming is a long ways off yet. Those believers who love Messiah from wherever they are from, will grow, if they continue to study His Word and purpose to love His Word more than dogma and doctrines if need be.

    CF

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  6. There is a lot to say here, but I don't think people want to hear the truth.

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  7. Go ahead, Dan. Just because some of us might disagree doesn't mean you should keep quiet.

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  8. I would beg to differ that the "Second Coming" is at the rebuilding of the third Temple (bimhera beyameinu!). What I'm awaiting is the existence of the cloud/pillar of fire over the third Temple. The Ssemahh ("Tzemach", Branch--not "Nesser/Netzer" or "Sprout") of Dawidh/David, who will appear and reign over all Israel in that same time, will marry and have sons.

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  9. "Folks like Boaz Michael, John McKee, Derek Leman, Stuart Dauermann, Russ Resnik"

    It may not score controversy points (a la your 2010 plan), but nevertheless, I appreciate this, Judah.

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  10. I appreciated your entry as I read it today with my kids (they're reading over my shoulder). There are two things you said that really "hit home" for us:

    "Likewise, folks that don’t really have a relationship with the Lord – for example, people that are defined almost exclusively by hatred of the church or synagogue, despite legitimate criticisms – soon disappear. Those people will either reform themselves, as I have, or move elsewhere. "
    We have experienced this ourselves and have seen it taking place in the lives of others. The disillusionment with the church once one begins to study and learn on their own is natural, but we simply have to move past that and we need others to encourage us to do so. Many of us have had to "reform themselves" as you and we have and I think that maturing will bring much fruit to the body at large and in the subsequent generations.

    The other thing you mention is that one "side" sees this "as a completion of the Reformation, a renewal among all God’s people, Jews and gentiles." I've been thinking, and mentioning, for a long time now that we are working and living within a continuation of a reforming of our faith by the Spirit. There is still much reforming to be done but I am seeing a spirit of reformation taking place in various Christian denominations as well as the Messianic circles (though I cannot say anything about Jewish circles for certain as I am not connected to any at this point). The Father is not finished with us, the Bride is still being prepared. Only now, she's a little older and getting closer to her wedding day. Closer doesn't mean tomorrow though, we have much refining yet to go through I think. I really think "the end" will come when the Bride is prepared - let's not be too concerned with "before the Temple" or "after the Temple" stuff just yet.

    In thinking about the schism you mention, we're not so sure we see a schism widening in MJism in the coming years. The two camps may continue on indeed but we're wondering if the two camps are coming to terms with each other and rather than work against one another, they'll compliment and encourage one another. I think both sides are becoming more willing to let HaShem be the Judge while we all work out our faith with fear and trembling. Our focus really needs to be on the Father through the Son and not on who is doing what the right way or the wrong way, according to me. Once we can get past ourselves, I think we'll represent Yeshua's desire much more fully: "They will know you are my talmidim by the love you have for one another."

    Hopefully it's not just a dream, hopefully this growing maturity within the body will produce much good fruit for the whole world to see. Truly, it is not too hard for us and it is within our reach. Hopefully this mom and her teenage children aren't completely dreaming. :)

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  11. Hey, I hope you're right, I hope we can avoid the schism between the two camps of people that really love the Lord.

    p.s. I like your blog. Subscribed.

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  12. :) Thanks. I'm enjoying finding a little time each week to browse through my RSS feed reader. I'm still trying to work through the "Choose an identity" deal in the comment section. LOL

    Let's agree to work toward that goal - the goal of us both being right. How? By encouraging others toward maturity, love and patience. Of course, prayer is the most important part of the puzzle too.

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