From: R
To: Real Messiah:
My past experience with Judaism is bumpy but, obviously, deep. Though I lived in a secular home, my grandfather was pious, my grandmother lit Shabbos [Sabbath] candles and I was sent to an Orthodox yeshiva [Torah school] through 10th grade. I have had an abiding interest in Christianity since studying in Tel-Aviv U's English Dept. where some background in Christian theology is needed… Despite this, I still hold to the Jewish perspective because, for me, Judaism has a different take on the nature of man and G-d.
In my humble opinion, Christianity presumes too much inherent weakness and debased nature in mankind. Leviticus allows for t'shuva [repentance] but implies that man's iniquity is not innate but acquired and can be disinherited. It is simply the oversight of an individual who hasn't galvanized his animal soul in the service of his divine soul to perform "tikun olam"--the restoration of the world to its holy state. I personally relate best to what I perceive as Judaism's greater assumption in man's ability to accomplish His cosmic mission.
From: Real Messiah
To: R
Once again, I appreciate your thoughtful and clear expressions. We both agree that mankind has an incredible potential for doing good. I look at the outpouring of compassion being directed towards Haiti these days and I am reminded again that all men bear the divine image and are capable of performing incredible good in the world. There is still that spark in each of us that wants to see "tikkun" [repair] take place both personally and globally.
On the other hand, when I look at history, it is evident that we live in a world that is severely corrupt and broken and in desperate need of repair because it is comprised of people who are broken and in desperate need of repair. Zeroing in on our own (Jewish) history, despite the magnificent privileges bestowed to us, our pattern has been one of rebellion and disobedience in relation to God and our mission. Truth be told, we have bucked our calling as a nation from day one! Times have been few and brief when we have been on track as a nation. Jeremiah the prophet summed it up well when he said, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick..." (Jer 17:9). One of the most chilling, yet defining passages in Scripture regarding our pattern as a people is found in 2 Chronicles 36:16 when stood on the edge of our exile to Babylon: "But they mocked the messengers of God and despised His words and scoffed His prophets until HaShem's wrath ascended upon His people beyond remedy." The question is: Have things changed? Have we demonstrated that we can overcome this pattern (deceitful...mocking...despising...scoffing) so that we might merit the geulah [redemption]? The returnees from Bavli [Babylon] didn't merit it (their redemption was significant, but not the one promised). Mordechai's generation didn't merit it. The Macabees didn't merit it. Hillel and Shammai's [famous Rabbis from Yeshua’s time] generation didn't merit it...and on we could go. Over and over we have tried to merit the redemption - yet it is quite clear that it hasn't/isn't happening. Do you think that our generation will be more deserving than any other? And are we really less corrupt than the generation before the Flood, as the article you emailed me suggested? What good would it do if the traditional Moshiach [Messiah] came today and did all that is expected? He brings us all to the Land, rebuilds the Bayt HaMikdash [3rd Temple], raises the dead, brings world peace, etc. But what about our hearts? Would anything have changed? One might say, "Of course things would change! If we saw all of these things - we would surely follow Him!" Really? Look at all we have "seen" in our history. We have seen seas parted. We have seen our entire nation rescued from Mizraim [Egypt]. We have seen fire at Sinai. We have seen the Shekinah [Glory of God] in the Mishkan [Tabernacle] and in Bayit Rishon [Solomon’s Temple]. And in our day, we have seen the return to our Land [of Israel]...On and on I could go with the miracles we have seen...yet we still rebel. We still go our own way.
Redemption will come when we cry out as a people with a broken spirit and humble hearts. The geulah [redemption] will come when we see that we are broken and the only way we can be healed is through God reaching out and healing our hearts (Hos 6:1-3). We need God to breathe new life into these dead bones of ours (Ezekiel 37). We are dead, R. And we will be redeemed when we see that it is only through the resurrection power of God that we can truly have life. R, this is what Yeshua came to do. He came to raise us from the dead. He came to give us new life. He came to ransom us from our sin (Mark 10:45). He came to make us into a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Yeshua is God's means of mercy to us if we take hold of it. In Yeshua, our sin is dealt with and we are given new life. And this is the ground from which the other aspects of redemption can be realized. What good will it be if we are re-gathered to the Land, raised from the dead, new Temple, etc. if we don't have hearts that are ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven in relation to the rebellion and sin that exists in each of us?
R, I admire your patience and curiosity in dialoging with me.
Take care, Real Messiah Team