There are times I teach or preach or otherwise communicate in ways that can offend, without intending to be condemning. Yet, like the Lord spoke to Amos, “YHVH God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” The apostle Paul knew the difference when he was speaking the words of God and when he was giving his own sanctified opinion. (1Cor 7:10,12,25,40) I suppose in one way, that is my aim: to speak the truth in righteousness and in love, with a humble spirit, knowing that whatever I have to offer that has any value has only been given me through God’s grace. It’s obvious I am not always going to succeed, but neither can I refrain when the Spirit of the Lord has stirred up something within me that needs to come out.
An Arab brother who has been responding rather sharply to me – sometimes generally as representing a side, other times personally since my name is given – wrote in one response that he can not mention his own name publicly when criticizing Israel or Messianic Jews because he would lose financial support either for his family and/or for his ministry. I told him that that happens to us, too, sometimes.
I remember some years ago, we were receiving support from a family to the congregation. . .until I became called and chosen to be the pastor. The donors were going in an opposite direction regarding ‘church’ and didn’t approve that we were moving in what we believed was the biblical direction of having a full-time pastor dedicated to the flock. Other times I have written regarding my/our views with respect to rabbinic authority and oral law on believers in Yeshua and the New Testament – especially on Jews, but also on Gentile believers. There is also the matter of gifts of the Spirit and our attitude towards different ones which have been directed towards us, and my responses. I do not know all of those on our mailing list personally, or the inclinations of every one on some of these issues. I write and instruct on issues of reconciliation, especially between Jews and Arabs/Israelis and Palestinian believers.
I have taught on the priesthood in the congregation and sent out an article on the appearance of Jesus, touching in a special way on the length of His hair. It is not for me to give my own personal opinion apart from the Word of God, but having His word, who can but ‘prophesy’? Even the full moon has been a point of controversy, as more believers seem to want to go back and celebrate the new moon. Amos gives another of Scripture’s own interpretation: that the new moon is when it is dark/’hidden’, not when the light is first visible as a sliver, which is actually the Islamic symbol! (Amos 8:5; 1Sam 20:5)
Recently, the whole issue of war and its surrounding aspects of proportionate response, and the character of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, has taken a front-line place. I personally needed to have a better understanding of the subject, not only because our son is directly involved, but also because of the attacks within the Body of Christ, here in Israel and also from abroad. What sayest the Lord?!
On all of these controversial issues amongst ourselves, there is a risk involved in speaking out. We may not only be misunderstood; I may be not understood. It is not for me just a platform to discuss or argue certain points, but to have an answer from the Word and Spirit of God to take away stones and to make straight the teaching of God that gives peace when we all can agree that we are all under HIS authority and teaching, and not under any one’s personal or denominational distinctions.
I am not writing this because of finances. It is just an encouragement to myself from Amos, who was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet; he was just a sheep breeder. We are all being sanctified as we cooperate with the Spirit of Messiah, being brought to maturity and fullness to the glory of our Lord and God, who is also giving us His glory.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
“Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything [we] think otherwise, God will reveal even this to [us]. Nevertheless, to that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”