Weekly Bracha 18

This week in the Messianic blogosphere, plus related items. Lots of goodies this week:

• What Would Jesus Pick and Choose? – Dr. James McGrath asks his students to read Leviticus 19 and check off which commandments they think are applicable today. Hat tip to GatheringSparks.
  
  
• What is Replacement Theology? – Seth asks what exactly is replacement theology? Great discussion in the comments.
  
  
• Porn and Sex Work – One Messianic’s view of porn, sex work, and feminism. Great post. I think a lot of Messianics are scared to talk about this. Kudos to Matt for speaking frankly about this.
  
  
• Restoring the Judicial Function to the Body – Dan Juster on divorce and accountability in the Messianic movement and the greater Christian church.
  
  
• Jesus and the importance of being Jewish – The Jewish Chronicle has an article on Christians “forgetting the object of their devotion – with painful results”. Hat tip to MessianicsForTorah.
  
  
• Why I Am Messianic – a Messianic congregational elder of 25 years, David explains why digging for knowledge and wisdom led him to become a Messianic follower of Yeshua.
  
  
• Complexity of religion, simplicity of faith – Michaela wonders: if faith is so simple, why is religion so complex?
  
  
• The Problem of Christian Rabbinic Mythology – Rabbi Leman explains the problem with looking at Messiah as a Talmudic-era sage.
  
  
• For Whom The Bell Tolls – For Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance day, James highlights how Jews have been singled out, even today: the Holocaust is systematically denied, while the older events like Columbus day are celebrated without any doubt. Or how the world condemns Jews as occupiers and oppressors for living in our own land. James warns this same kind of dual-standard is what led to the Holocaust.
  
  
• Why Did Moses Write Down the Torah? – Joseph, who is generally not in favor of Messianics keeping the Torah, has written a multi-part series on the Torah. Interesting discussion in the comments.

J-BOMs:

• Digging With Darren - JPS Commentary on the Haggadah, Part 2
  
  
• Gathering Sparks – Poor Welcome?
  
  
• Messiah Connection – JPS Commentary on the Haggadah, Part 6

That’s a wrap! Enjoy your tasty bracha bits!