Galatianism

AMF International Mailbag

Q: As a non-Jewish believer, I have lots of questions because I am confused. In the past, my family and I visited a messianic congregation that is not part of your affiliation. In this particular congregation, people intended to retain Jewish identity. I thought that was pretty neat until I read Galatians. There is no Jew nor Gentile in Christ, only Christian. Don't you have to be careful? Do you call your pastor Rabbi? Do you celebrate Shabbot? What do you think? I would love to know.

Also, my family and I attend a very conservative fundamental Christian church. It is taught there that the spectacular gifts ceased with the completion of the New Testament. I see that many messianic congregations practice the spectacular gifts. Do you think this is biblical?

I ask these questions because I have a deep curiosity and desire to know.

A: Shalom from AMF International, and thank you for asking this important question. AMF International is an outreach to Jews and non-Jews on behalf of Messiah and is in no sense an organization of congregations. We do represent Yeshuah (Jesus) as Messiah. We do not necessarily represent the "Messianic Judaism" movement. In fact, whenever people do contact us through this web site to inquire about Messianic Congregations they might visit, we include a warning about Galatianism.

On the other hand, we cannot condemn a congregation of Jewish believers for bringing their cultural background with them as they meet to celebrate the Jewish Messiah, as long as the service stays within New Testament guidelines. After all, it is from the Jewish cultural background that all Scripture is written, both Old and New Testaments, and we would not discourage any other ethnic group from bringing in their cultural background as far as it is compatible with Christian teaching. The danger comes in assuming that anything that is considered ¡§the Jewish Way¡¨ is inherently superior to any other way. This is especially true considering that much of what constitutes Jewish custom today originated after the New Testament was completed. Even in his own day, Yeshua himself opposed ¡§tradition¡¨ when it got in the way of God¡¦s own Word. (Mark 7:13) This is, I believe, what Paul is getting at when he says there is no Jew or Gentile in Messiah ¡V not that Jews should forsake their identity but that they should not consider themselves superior because of it. As far as the body of Messiah is concerned, we are all on equal footing.

As for the tendency of Messianic Congregations to tend toward the charismatic (the "spectacular gifts," as you put it), I suppose that has something to do with the psychology of the kinds of people who are drawn to alternate worship in the first place. I have to disagree with those who argue that the Jewish people have some inherent tendency towards exuberant worship. The Hassidic movement got its start at least in part because Judaism had become too dry and intellectual for some people, and those people found release in the emotionalism of Hassidic worship. It is in this sense a parallel to the Pentecostal movement within Protestantism. Enthusiastic worship is good, even Biblical. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get carried away with emotionalism and in the process lose sight of the truth. The key is to keep an eye on the Scripture and not allow the service to get out of line with what the Bible says it should be. The most controversial of the spectacular gifts is the gift of Tongues. Some have argued that there is no longer any need for this gift. Perhaps not, but I would rather allow it than risk limiting God. As long as it is done within the limits set out in I Corinthians 14, and the interpretation itself is in keeping with Scripture, I would not complain..

Most if not all Messianic Congregations meet on the Shabbat. See http://www.amfi.org/mailbag/shabbat.htm for some notes on this issue.

The congregation I belonged to in Israel called the pastor ¡§Pastor.¡¨ Most congregations in the US which use the name "Messianic" have "rabbis." Does this contradict Matthew 23:8 and 9? I don't have a problem with it, since I think what Jesus is talking about is the tendency to put people on a pedestal or to seek glory for one's self. We have only one Master and we are all brothers, says verse 8. That we should nevertheless organize ourselves and appoint leaders is borne out by other scripture, such as 1 Timothy 3:1. What we call such leaders is not important. "Rabbi"literally means "my great one." In our own time however, it is simply the common term for the spiritual leader of a synagogue. Ironically, the word Paul used in 1 Timothy has become the grandiose title of "bishop"!

I hope this helps. Feel free to write back anytime for clarification or additional questions.