tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post6796435238277357925..comments2023-08-16T07:20:09.921-05:00Comments on Kineti L'Tziyon קנאתי לציון: God's Calendar vs Man's CalendarJudah Gabriel Himangohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-11244165623138380522008-04-01T16:31:00.000-05:002008-04-01T16:31:00.000-05:00Judah:I respond to your musings about the Jewish c...Judah:<BR/><BR/>I respond to your musings about the Jewish calendar at http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/in-defense-of-the-jewish-calendar/<BR/><BR/>Derekderek4messiah.wordpress.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02116000293798063018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-63605782075743125342008-04-01T10:54:00.000-05:002008-04-01T10:54:00.000-05:00In my family, we were raised keeping God's feasts ...In my family, we were raised keeping God's feasts as early as I can remember. We ditched the western holidays when I was very young, I must have been 7 or so. And when I was a young teen, we started keeping as much of the Torah as possible including kashrut.<BR/><BR/><I>May be... but I would stay far away from the Two-House</I><BR/><BR/>I recognize some truth in it. I believe the truth that God is calling gentiles out of the world through Messiah to keep his commandments and become members of God's set-apart people: Israel. That doesn't mean one has to have a lineage to one of the 12 tribes, but it does mean you have been called out by Messiah and grafted into the Israel tree.<BR/><BR/><I>The point is being from the tribes of Israel - it about who were are and who we will stay for ever</I><BR/><BR/>Precisely, Gene. I believe that God can call people who were not his own people and make them his people. Paul revealed this mystery to us in Romans, that gentiles who were lost are grafted into Israel through Messiah.<BR/><BR/><I>Judah... the 12 tribes scattered abroad are the Jews - they were in the diaspora, and many still are (like me). It's nothing to do with Gentiles really being hidden Jews. Acts 2:5 speaks of Jews coming to Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven." There they are, the Jews from all the nations! What say you?</I><BR/><BR/>Jews are members of the southern nation of Judah, hence the name. Jews today are mostly members of the tribes of Judah or Benjamin, with some Levi. <BR/><BR/>The southern nation of Judah, comprised mostly of 2 tribes, returned from their captivity in ~700 BCE IIRC.<BR/><BR/>The northern nation of Israel, comprised of 10 tribes, did not return from their captivity.<BR/><BR/>Those 2 statements are both Scriptural and historical, I suspect you do not disagree with them.<BR/><BR/>I must ask then, how can "the 12 tribes scattered abroad" mean only Jews? Jews were from Judah, which did not contain all 12 tribes. Please explain this, Gene, it's very troubling when considering your theology.<BR/><BR/><I>It's just hilarious to read their "academic" papers trying to discount lack of genetic continuity with not only the Jews, but the rest of the Middle Eastern population!</I><BR/><BR/>Gene, your mocking of it does you no good. Point me to some papers you mock, I'd like to read them for myself.<BR/><BR/><I>Paul said they must not. If this was a command of G-d for them, Paul would only encourage it, right (but with proper intentions)? But of course, Paul does not such thing. He only forbids, without qualifications.</I><BR/><BR/>Were that true, why did Paul circumcise Timothy, a gentile?<BR/><BR/>I'd also ask how you reconcile that theology with Messiah's statement that suggests anyone who teaches others to disregard even the least of a Torah mitzvah will be considered least in God's kingdom.<BR/><BR/><I>Not only that, but here's the biggest verse to counter your point. Do you remember the following scripture:<BR/><BR/>1 Corinthians 7:18</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, Paul also says, "Were you a slave when you were called? Remain so."<BR/><BR/>Paul is not advocating uncircumcision any more than he is advocating slavery. That's missing the point. He's saying you don't have to change your circumstances to please men. This point is made over and over again in his epistles, especially to Galatians. This point was also addressed by all the apostles and Paul in Acts 15, when Jewish Pharisee believers in Messiah were submitting one must be circumcised to be saved.<BR/><BR/>Paul even finishes his bit by saying, <I>"Do not become slaves of men. Each man, as responsible to God alone should remain in the situation God called him to."</I><BR/><BR/>I believe this to be the same reason Paul refused to circumcise Titus: believers were asserting he must be circumcised to be saved, and Paul wouldn't have any of it.<BR/><BR/><I>Gentiles having a Jewish heart and being true Jews in the spirit, not the actual Jews.</I><BR/><BR/>I agree. That's my theology. <BR/><BR/>Likewise, not all Jews are real Jews. The reason I posted it was to help you see that not everyone who bears the name "Jew" is a real Israelite, a real man of God, and also that even people who are gentiles can be made Israelites, real men and women of God. Because it's all about God circumcising the heart and placing you in his kingdom, it's not about lineage to an ancient forefather.<BR/><BR/>Another reason I posted that Scripture was because you asserted that Scripture never refers to Jews or Israel as anything but blood descent. Here we see that's not the case -- as you say, true Jews, true Israelites, aren't necessarily so by lineage.<BR/><BR/><I>bethavinu.org</I><BR/><BR/>Awesome, sure thing. I prefer to take this conversation elsewhere since it doesn't have any relation to this blog post. I'll post over there later today.<BR/><BR/>Shalom Gene.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-24983450464024437502008-03-31T22:15:00.000-05:002008-03-31T22:15:00.000-05:00Erev tov, Judah...You said: "I am only part Jewish...Erev tov, Judah...<BR/><BR/>You said: "I am only part Jewish as I said previously. 3 generations to go back to the Polish Jew progenitor by the name Sokolowski."<BR/><BR/>I have a family friend with that last name... a Jew from Ukraine (like me).<BR/><BR/><BR/>You said: "If you're going to argue I'm not "Jewish enough" to be considered Jewish, well, I guess I'll leave you to your categorizations."<BR/><BR/>It's a tough one. Were you raised with a Jewish identity? Was your grandfather raised as a Jew? I personally tend to consider Jews as coming from patrilineal descent. How far back can one go? I am not sure, but I do not see too many (or any) example in the scriptures of someone recovering their Israelite identity after living many generations as a Gentile (I guess that would make me opposed to the Messianic Israel, even if they had a drop of Jewish blood in them). <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if you Judah really are a direct patrilineal descendant from three generation back (can it be documented?), if I were you, would I personally try to reclaim my Jewish heritage as a Sokolovky? May be... but I would stay far away from the Two-House/British Israelism mess...<BR/><BR/>You said: "I'm not sure race matters since Messiah has made Jew and gentile on equal footing before God."<BR/><BR/>Judah, that's not the point, is it, who is superior? Who argues that? Nobody argues about some inherent superiority of Jews (although you have to acknowledge the Jewish nation's impact on the world out of proportion with it's number - but it ALL came from the grace of G-d, didn't it, not from the effort man?). The point is being from the tribes of Israel - it about who were are and who we will stay for ever (Jer 31:35,36).<BR/><BR/>You said: "I agree that there is no genetic evidence supporting racial descent; I haven't seen any evidence. With that same honesty, I submit that we know some Israelites were scattered among the gentiles, heck, we have one of the books of New Testament written to the "12 tribes scattered abroad". An intellectually honest person agrees Israelites were scattered abroad -- I suspect you agree to this point as well." <BR/><BR/>Judah... the 12 tribes scattered abroad are the Jews - they were in the diaspora, and many still are (like me). It's nothing to do with Gentiles really being hidden Jews. Acts 2:5 speaks of Jews coming to Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven." There they are, the Jews from all the nations! What say you?<BR/><BR/>Mormons also claim descent from Ephraim and Manasseh (so the Two-House folks are in good company). They also say that Jews (Judah) their brothers. It's just hilarious to read their "academic" papers trying to discount lack of genetic continuity with not only the Jews, but the rest of the Middle Eastern population!<BR/><BR/>You said: "You simply argue that the gentiles today claiming Israelite descent can't know they're Israelites and have no genetic evidence to back up that assertion. To that end, we agree."<BR/><BR/>No my friend, I argue that the Gentiles claiming Israelite descent ARE NOT Israelites, period, but deceive themselves and others. That's my opinion and that of many other MJs.<BR/><BR/>You said: "Ah, Gene, you've opened another can of worms! :-) I disagree that gentiles do not need to keep mitzvot such as circumcision."<BR/><BR/>Paul said they must not. If this was a command of G-d for them, Paul would only encourage it, right (but with proper intentions)? But of course, Paul does not such thing. He only forbids, without qualifications. Not only that, but here's the biggest verse to counter your point. Do you remember the following scripture:<BR/><BR/>1 Corinthians 7:18 "Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20. Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. "<BR/><BR/>How can you explain away the words "Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. " if G-d really intends for Gentiles to get circumcised (as you claim)?<BR/><BR/>You said: "Take Romans 2 for instance:<BR/><BR/>"A man isn't a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." What do you think of that one, Gene? "<BR/><BR/>This verse has nothing to do with Gentiles whatsoever. It simply speak of what it means to be a TRUE Jew. But this verse is absolute FAVORITE with replacement theologians. Let me give you the following analogy/statement to clear this up pretty quickly:<BR/><BR/>"A beautiful woman is not just the one who is so externally, but rather the one who also beautiful on the inside, in her heart"<BR/><BR/>Now Judah, would you extrapolate from the above statement that it's really about a man, not a woman? If you don't, neither would I explain away the verse you gave me to say that it really speaks about Gentiles having a Jewish heart and being true Jews in the spirit, not the actual Jews.<BR/><BR/>You said: "I'd like to discuss a few others as well, but we'll take one at a time; I find these blog comments already getting long enough to write a short novel. :-)<BR/><BR/>Getting long... perhaps we can take it to my forum (bethavinu.org):)<BR/><BR/>Shalom, it's been fun.<BR/><BR/>GeneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-9867659197913594662008-03-31T17:28:00.000-05:002008-03-31T17:28:00.000-05:00Hey Gene,Please do not take offenseNone at all. I'...Hey Gene,<BR/><BR/><I>Please do not take offense</I><BR/><BR/>None at all. I'm <A HREF="http://judahgabriel.blogspot.com/2008/03/im-offended-that-youre-offended.html" REL="nofollow">tired of people being offended</A>. :-)<BR/><BR/><I>I find that a lot of Gentiles believe in an "all-powerful" Jewish blood - a single drop eons ago makes one a Jew and make all "Gentilness" null. Oye!</I><BR/><BR/>The name is Finnish, good guess. My dad was adopted at birth by an American family with a Finnish ancestry.<BR/><BR/>I am only part Jewish as I said previously. 3 generations to go back to the Polish Jew progenitor by the name Sokolowski. If you're going to argue I'm not "Jewish enough" to be considered Jewish, well, I guess I'll leave you to your categorizations. I'm not sure race matters since Messiah has made Jew and gentile on equal footing before God.<BR/><BR/><I>[I disagree with the] Part of the movement that claims physical descent from Israel.</I><BR/><BR/>I agree that there is no genetic evidence supporting racial descent; I haven't seen any evidence<BR/><BR/>With that same honesty, I submit that we know some Israelites were scattered among the gentiles, heck, we have one of the books of New Testament written to the "12 tribes scattered abroad". An intellectually honest person agrees Israelites were scattered abroad -- I suspect you agree to this point as well. You simply argue that the gentiles today claiming Israelite descent can't know they're Israelites and have no genetic evidence to back up that assertion. To that end, we agree.<BR/><BR/><I>Should Gentiles keep the commandments of G-d? Yes, of course. But not the Israel specific commandments and identity markers (Should Gentiles be circumcised? Not according to Brit Hadasha).</I><BR/><BR/>Ah, Gene, you've opened another can of worms! :-) I disagree that gentiles do not need to keep mitzvot such as circumcision. The New Testament suggests we do not need to be circumcised to be saved, but it does not suggest that gentiles need not keep any commandment. Messiah's words in Matt. 5 suggest all commandments are effectual. Perhaps we need to start a new thread for that topic!<BR/><BR/><I>I do not believe in a "Church". I believe in the Body of Maschiach composed of Jews (Israel) and Gentiles (Nations), joined together as one (yet distinct at the same time, just like like husband and wife)</I><BR/><BR/>Me too. I also believe in gentiles and Jews together as one in Messiah's Body. I call that true Israel; never in Scripture does God refer to anyone but Israel as his own called-out people. If gentiles are called part of his people, gentiles are part of Israel, God's people, regardless of physical lineage.<BR/><BR/><I>NOWHERE does the scripture EVER refer to Gentiles as Israel or Israelites - please show me if you can find it. Everywhere the scriptures talk of Israel, it's of ethnic Israel alone.</I><BR/><BR/>I disagree. Take Romans 2 for instance:<BR/><BR/><I>"A man isn't a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."</I><BR/><BR/>What do you think of that one, Gene? I'd like to discuss a few others as well, but we'll take one at a time; I find these blog comments already getting long enough to write a short novel. :-)<BR/><BR/><I>as I started reading the rest of your blog, a saw the now familiar Two-House theology liberally sprinkled across your blog. That's why I decided to challenge you in your very latest post. I hope that you don't mind that, do you?</I><BR/><BR/>Not at all, man, was just trying to understand where you're coming from, and I wanted to get clarity on that: readers of these comments should understand that what we're discussing has no relation to this blog post on God's calendar.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-19560104306150348622008-03-31T16:16:00.000-05:002008-03-31T16:16:00.000-05:00Hi Judah... You said: "Gene, I'm Jewish from my fa...Hi Judah... <BR/><BR/>You said: "Gene, I'm Jewish from my father's side. " <BR/><BR/>Please do not take offense, I am curious about your surname, "Himango". It seems of Finnish origin (not that many Jews in Finland, you know). Who on your father's side was Jewish? Your father, your grandfather, your great-grandfather? It seems that you are not tracing your descent patrilineally (from father to father), otherwise your Jewish paternal surname would have been preserved at least in some form. I find that a lot of Gentiles believe in an "all-powerful" Jewish blood - a single drop eons ago makes one a Jew and make all "Gentilness" null. Oye!<BR/><BR/>"Still, I wonder how many Jews today would be able to answer that [about one's father being a Jew]."<BR/><BR/>An overwhelming majority, I would say.<BR/><BR/>"Gene: I have read the paper you linked (months before, and now again)<BR/><BR/>Judah: Really? Where did I link to it? Google tells me I haven't yet linked to it, but I could be mistaken."<BR/><BR/>I was talking about READING that paper months before, not you linking it. I only found your blog last week.<BR/><BR/>"Gene: Historically, genetically, and scripturally, this movement is absolutely baseless...<BR/><BR/>Judah: What part of the movement are you talking about, that gentiles may have Israelite descent? Or that God is calling even the gentiles to keep his commandments? Please explain, I'd like to better understand your position."<BR/><BR/>Part of the movement that claims physical descent from Israel. <BR/><BR/>Should Gentiles keep the commandments of G-d? Yes, of course. But not the Israel specific commandments and identity markers (Should Gentiles be circumcised? Not according to Brit Hadasha).<BR/><BR/>"Gene: He [God] redeemed you, and planted you on a good tree along side with Israel.<BR/><BR/>Judah: Show me Scriptural support for this. Where in Scripture does it say God will both have a "Church" and have his people "Israel", both with different standards? (E.g. one group has to follow Torah, the other does not.)"<BR/><BR/>I do not believe in a "Church". I believe in the Body of Maschiach composed of Jews (Israel) and Gentiles (Nations), joined together as one (yet distinct at the same time, just like like husband and wife). NOWHERE does the scripture EVER refer to Gentiles as Israel or Israelites - please show me if you can find it. Everywhere the scriptures talk of Israel, it's of ethnic Israel alone. A husband being joined to a wife doesn't become a wife, and vice versa.<BR/><BR/>"Judah Gene, I guess my previous post can be summed up as, "What in the blog post do you disagree with?"<BR/><BR/>Is there something you disagree with, or are you here to debate me about some theology that was not put forth in the post?"<BR/><BR/>I wrote to you in my very first post, that I didn't take offense at your Jewish calendar post. In fact, I would agree with you that a lot of the Rabbinical Judaism is but a shadow of the original Biblical Judaism. I would also agree that indeed, paganism has crept into some of it.<BR/><BR/>However, as I started reading the rest of your blog, a saw the now familiar Two-House theology liberally sprinkled across your blog. That's why I decided to challenge you in your very latest post. I hope that you don't mind that, do you?<BR/><BR/>Shalom,<BR/><BR/>GenedjAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-47094098292735438772008-03-31T12:57:00.000-05:002008-03-31T12:57:00.000-05:00Gene, I guess my previous post can be summed up as...Gene, I guess my previous post can be summed up as, "What in the blog post do you disagree with?"<BR/><BR/>Is there something you disagree with, or are you here to debate me about some theology that was not put forth in the post?Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-15466279925730124682008-03-31T12:40:00.000-05:002008-03-31T12:40:00.000-05:00If you do view yourself as a physical Israelite, w...<I>If you do view yourself as a physical Israelite, what evidence can you put forth?</I><BR/><BR/>Gene, I'm Jewish from my father's side. Still, I wonder how many Jews today would be able to answer that.<BR/><BR/><I>I have read the paper you linked (months before, and now again)</I><BR/><BR/>Really? Where did I link to it? Google tells me I haven't yet linked to it, but I could be mistaken. Anyways, moot point. Let's get to the meat of what you're saying.<BR/><BR/><I>I guess you can make the same statement about all the false teachings and religions out there. Don't try to teach or fight against us, or you'd be fighting G-d Himself!</I><BR/><BR/>Indeed, does not Messianic Judaism claim the same defense? That the Jewish people are being called to Messiah by a work of God? I believe it. Messianic Israel believes that gentiles are being called to God's Torah as they are part of Israel, whether physical or grafted-in. I believe it.<BR/><BR/><I>Historically, genetically, and scripturally, this movement is absolutely baseless</I><BR/><BR/>What part of the movement are you talking about, that gentiles may have Israelite descent? Or that God is calling even the gentiles to keep his commandments? Please explain, I'd like to better understand your position.<BR/><BR/><I>to have only a small remnant left among the nations (of their ENEMIES), not the " many more millions of people" as described in the TNN rebuttal.</I><BR/><BR/>And yet Abraham's descendants are to be as the sand on the seashore, the stars in the sky.<BR/><BR/><I>He [God] redeemed you, and planted you on a good tree along side with Israel.</I><BR/><BR/>Show me Scriptural support for this. Where in Scripture does it say God will both have a "Church" and have his people "Israel", both with different standards? (E.g. one group has to follow Torah, the other does not.)<BR/><BR/>On the contrary, I see Scripture suggesting that there is but 1 tree, Israel, with 1 standard, Torah:<BR/><BR/><I>Did Israel stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!<BR/><BR/>If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.<BR/><BR/>Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!<BR/><BR/>I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.</I><BR/><BR/>Gene, so far I have spoken softly to you and to Derek, and have hopefully backed up everything brought into question with Scripture. Your arguments seem to be against the Two-House/Messianic Israel movement, more than they are against me.<BR/><BR/>Does that sum up your view? If you do have arguments against something I have stated, please present it. If it is against the Messianic Israel theology, well, I only recognize some truths in it. Right now it appears as if you're ranting against a theology that wasn't even mentioned in the blog post.Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-1173630002842589352008-03-31T12:08:00.000-05:002008-03-31T12:08:00.000-05:00Judah... but you, yourself, you do believe that yo...Judah... but you, yourself, you do believe that you are a "lost" Israelite, don't you? Or do you simply view yourself as an in-grafted Gentile believer, with no provable physical Israelite heritage?<BR/><BR/>If you do view yourself as a physical Israelite, what evidence can you put forth?<BR/><BR/>I have read the paper you linked (months before, and now again). I love how it tries to silence its critics: "If you disagree with the Two-House teaching that advocates the restoration of all Israel, you are entitled to your opinion. But I advise you not to speak against it or claim that it is "heresy." Remember that we believe that when Judah and Ephraim are reunited Yeshua the Messiah will return and restore the Kingdom. It will be consummated with His Second Coming. If indeed this movement is truly of the Lord—do you want to be found speaking against it? It would be advised for you to just respectfully disagree with us and leave us alone. Time will tell whether this is truth or error. It is God’s problem if it is error, not yours."<BR/><BR/>What "hutzpa" to appropriate that scripture verse for themselves!I guess you can make the same statement about all the false teachings and religions out there. Don't try to teach or fight against us, or you'd be fighting G-d Himself!<BR/><BR/>Historically, genetically, and scripturally, this movement is absolutely baseless, not to mention very offensive to the real Israelites, the Hebrews (or generically, the Jews). Israel is prophesied (in Isaiah 10:22) to have only a small remnant left among the nations (of their ENEMIES), not the " many more millions of people" as described in the TNN rebuttal.<BR/><BR/>Then there's this whole "lost tribes" myth..., which were never lost to begin with (just read 1st Chronicles 9:1 and 2nd Chronicles 11:14-17; 15:9,10; 30:6,10,18;, and a little friendly warning to the would be "Ephraimites" from G-d in Ezekiel 35:10). Acts 2:5 speaks of Jews coming to Jerusalem "from every nation under heaven."<BR/><BR/>I want appeal to all my Gentile brothers and sisters in the L-rd to stay away from the deception of trying to claim physical Israelite descent and identity. It's a false identity without biblical or historical evidence, and it's very offensive to the Jewish people (and I dare to say even to G-d who chose them), believing or not. G-d loves you just as you are, He redeemed you, and planted you on a good tree along side with Israel.<BR/><BR/>Shalom,<BR/><BR/>GeneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-69748902909287157842008-03-31T09:33:00.000-05:002008-03-31T09:33:00.000-05:00Gene,I can't speak for the whole of a theology, so...Gene,<BR/><BR/>I can't speak for the whole of a theology, so perhaps <A HREF="http://www.tnnonline.net/two-housenews/judah/ee-ce/index.html" REL="nofollow">this</A> can explain things better than I can.<BR/><BR/>I can speak for myself: I don't believe all gentiles to be members of lost tribes of Israel.<BR/><BR/>I do believe that everyone who believes in Messiah is grafted into Israel. (Romans 9, 10, 11 especially) That doesn't mean one becomes "Jewish", but rather, it means one becomes different from the gentiles by following God's righteous ways, different from a foolish world that takes offense at the notion that there is only one way to God.<BR/><BR/>A Jewish man once said,<BR/><BR/><I>"The world that is pluralistic and likes to consider many paths to truth has got to contend with a gospel that insists upon itself, and the Jesus of that gospel, as the only truth. It is uncompromising in its insistence. It is absolute in its expression. And the very question of absoluteness and singularity itself runs right across the whole tenet and grain of the modern world. You understand that? Do you understand how pluralistic the whole mindset of the world is, how many options -- I don't know's, the maybe's, the grey's, who's to say's -- and into that whole mucky world of vagaries, and choices, and nuances, comes one statement out of the heart of God: "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me." To insist on the singularity of the gospel, to insist on the absoluteness of it: this is not just an issue of religion, it's hitting the world head-on in a confrontation of wisdoms, of moral systems, of mentalities.</I>Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-53116917755765873782008-03-30T11:49:00.000-05:002008-03-30T11:49:00.000-05:00I would rather go with the calendar made by YHVH t...I would rather go with the calendar made by YHVH than follow the calendar made by man.<BR/><BR/>LeviAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-3090204763244264282008-03-29T23:40:00.000-05:002008-03-29T23:40:00.000-05:00Hi Judah...I wasn't offended by your post about th...Hi Judah...<BR/><BR/>I wasn't offended by your post about the Jewish calendar. However, after reading other posts on your blog, I have a question for you.<BR/><BR/>Can you tell me what are the differences between your beliefs (about Two-House, gentiles really being the lost tribes of Israel) and that of the British Israelism? Are not both trying appropriate Israelite identities for themselves? Is it just terminology? I find very little difference just by looking at available online materials.<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/><BR/>GeneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-84147957577686586082008-03-29T16:38:00.000-05:002008-03-29T16:38:00.000-05:00Anonymous, the term "false gods" is highly offensi...Anonymous, the term "false gods" is highly offensive. I believe that the God of Israel is the only real God. I am glad that goes directly against the grain of the evil people in this world. It offends many, but such is the nature of truth.<BR/><BR/>Derek,<BR/><BR/>I'd love to discuss this with you. You said I made 3 naive errors; if they are found to be in error, I will correct my theology, and if they aren't errors, then your theology needs be corrected.<BR/><BR/>I'm open. :-)<BR/><BR/>So, let's figure this out.<BR/><BR/>The first issue you bring up is Rosh HaShanah being the head of the year. My understanding is that it is deemed the head of the civil year. Is that correct?<BR/><BR/>My point there was that the term "Rosh HaShanah" is not Scriptural. I don't see it anywhere in Scripture. Referring to it as the head of the year isn't something God instituted. Is that correct?<BR/><BR/>Your second point about following community standards. Can you explain that a bit more? I don't know what you mean by community standards.<BR/><BR/>Third point, well, you've got a good point there. At the same time, it doesn't take away from the reality that the Jewish calendar in use today is not the same as God's calendar he gave in Torah. It is close, but not the same. Would you agree?<BR/><BR/>Regarding the beauty of Judaism, hey, I think we agree. In <A HREF="http://judahgabriel.blogspot.com/2007/11/to-jew-first.html" REL="nofollow">this post</A> I said,<BR/><BR/><I>I have found myself applauding and am often drawn towards the beautiful Jewish lifestyle, even with its faults, as I find it more Scriptural than the way most Christians are living!</I>Judah Gabriel Himangohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10277699587853707632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-9067562754995617512008-03-29T07:00:00.000-05:002008-03-29T07:00:00.000-05:00Judah:Your critique of the Jewish calendar makes t...Judah:<BR/><BR/>Your critique of the Jewish calendar makes the kind of naive error often found in Two-House and Hebraic Roots circles. First, you misunderstand certain details of the calendar (such as why Rosh haShanah would be considered a new year). Second, you reject the idea that Judaism is a community and that we all need to follow community standards and not make our own standards. Third, you assume that any mixing with pagan terminology makes something tainted with impurity (never mind that the Bible uses pagan mythological references — Ps. 48:3 (vs. 2 in Chr. Bibles) calls Zion Zaphon’s peak (in the Hebrew, but not in most translations) with Zaphon being Baal’s mountain in Syria, and check out Leviathan and Rahab in a concordance for more examples, just to name a few).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate your contribution. I do not discount your writings because we disagree about these issues. But it reminds me we should read everything critically.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, Judah, I challenge you to take in the Jewish perspective. You might be surprised at the beauty of Judaism if you try it.<BR/><BR/>Derekderek4messiah.wordpress.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02116000293798063018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836835.post-60371297595298114232008-03-29T02:01:00.000-05:002008-03-29T02:01:00.000-05:00The term "False Gods" is highly offensive. How is ...The term "False Gods" is highly offensive. How is your god any less false than mine? My gods are older than your god. Therefore my gods get the privilege of having the months and days named after them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com