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iSERVEaJEW -> RE: What is a "Messianic?" (3/31/2008 7:13:05 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: TheoJunkie So... what then is a "Messianic?" I'm getting a "vibe" that they want to be considered unique and different from other Christians, but also a vibe (and evidence thus far) that there is no substantial difference (other than the typical doctrinal disputes that mark any denomination). It seems that Messianics want to be identified as Messianics, but yet not. What's going on? Why the fuss? Why the question? Is the only distinguishing mark found in the use of Hebrew for some terms, observance of feasts, and avoidance of using all letters in various words for God in print? Does saying "I'm Messianic" basically amount to saying "I'm Lutheran (or insert whatever here)"? Question: Would a Messianic have communion at a Presbyterian church, or would they decline in quiet protest? If I were to visit your congregation I wouldn't partake in communion because I believe in having communion at the Passover Feast. I can't answer for all Messianics, as it is more of a movement than a denomination. I often identify myself as someone in the Hebrew Roots movement or simply as a Christian who practices Judaism. :) I'll say what I personally believe, but I ask those reading this to not start some debate on the Law of God. This is not the topic for that. I don't consider myself unique or different from my brothers and sisters in Him. I believe in following all of His Torah because I think that they are His commandments. Others believe in following all of His commandments too, but they have a different idea than I do as to what those commandments actually are. Most of my brothers in Him don't see some of the commandments as being important and I fully understand. I used to believe the same things as them. Now that I believe that we are to keep absolutely all of the commandments of God. I am a child of God, like all others, by His grace alone. However, we all have to keep His commandments because those are the household rules. In Matthew 5:19, I see that people who break the least of His commandments and teach others to do the same will STILL be in His Kingdom! When I read about the kings I see God talking about many of them, David included, who did what was right in His eyes (e.g. David - 1 Kings 15:5; Joash - 2Ch 24:2; Uzziah - 2Ch 26:4; Jotham - 2Ch 27:2; Hezekiah - 2Ch 29:2) though we know that they weren't doing all His commandments. This is made apparently clear when the life of King Josiah is talked about. King Josiah kept more of God's commandments than David did and God makes mention of it. Though King David is a hero of our faith, King Josiah is the better example. "Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him." (2 Kings 23:25) I don't want to be considered unique and different than other Christians. I want all Christians to be like our Master. We are supposed to imitate Him, yet most of us do things that He would never, ever do. That just doesn't seem right to me. The following article expresses what I've tried to say much better than I can: http://www.bethimmanuel.org/article.cgi?t=a1&a=1001
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