HEBREW ISRAELITES AND THE 'black' CHURCH

 

 

When it comes to the subject of how we as the 'Messianic' Hebrew Israelite-aware should relate to our so-called African-American brothers who practice mainstream 'Christianity', the controversy, along with the confusion, rages on. But despite the finger-pointing and endless debates, the truth still marches on as well...

 

A weed that grows wild and unchecked in the vineyard ultimately becomes a real and present danger to the fruitful vine. Behold Yisrael - this satanically inspired division between the Hebrew Israelite-aware and the Spirit-filled 'African-American' Church in Messiah must finally be rooted out, and exposed to the light of truth!

 

To begin with, the fact that those of us who are 'Israelite-aware' have been granted the revelation of our true identity in no way automatically suggests spiritual superiority over the 'Israelite-unaware.'

 

We would all be wise to remember that we were in full possession of the knowledge of self, and were dwelling in our own land, when Titus and the Roman legions sacked Jerusalem, leveled our temple, and slaughtered over one million of us - with most of the rest of us fleeing into Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya for our very lives... Sélah.

 

The vexation of spirit caused by endless strifes of words is an every day fact of life. And this principle holds true in even greater measure when it comes to reasoning in the word and doctrine among warring brothers.

 

The division, cynicism, sarcasm and in many instances, outright hostility existing between what are in truth, two factions of the same family, is debilitating and tragic. And while this subject is highly volatile and theologically complex, as with every crisis under heaven, it does have a very basic set of underlying causes; easy to be understood.

 

The first fundamental cause of this division among our people is, in my judgment, the matter of language. In a simple equation: the snare of semantics = the curse of confusion.

 

The idea of a man rejecting his brother because he chooses to use the words God and Christ, or YAH and Y'shua, is short-sighted and distracting - a straining at gnats. For example, the word Christ is nothing more than the English transliteration of the Greek word 'Khristos' which simply means 'anointed one.' So then "Christ-ian" or 'Christian' simply means one who's anointed, and in the Anointed One. It's simply just another word to describe Mashiach and His anointed ones. Likewise, YAH and Y'shua, etc. are legitimate translations and acceptable pronunciations.

 

And yet there are those who insist that the word "Christian" represents the religion of our enemies - when for example, the apostle Peter used the word, saying "...if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify YAH on this behalf." (1 Peter 4:16). Now we know he wasn't writing in 'Koine', the Greek "Ebonics" of the day, when he wrote those words (the apostle Paul used it when addressing the Greeks). But the word Christian is clearly in keeping with a true-on transliteration from Greek to English.

 

And on the other hand, there are those among our Israelite-unaware brothers who immediately categorize anyone who uses Yahshua, Yahawashi, Yeshua, etc. as not knowing the Messiah at all, but as being a part of a 'cult' or 'hate-group.' Whew...
 

The truth of the matter is, the very words God, Christ, etc. were coined as a result of the Gentiles being exposed to OUR culture and faith to begin with. And while it's obviously preferable not to refer to a brother Juan as brother John, one should not be ex-communicated from a congregation on that basis! And likewise, the use of Hebrew as an outward sign of reclaiming one's lost heritage and of identifying with the roots of the faith is no automatic indication of anything other than just that.

 

When we fall into the snare of semantics, we then lose our ability to distinguish the truly sacred from the truly profane - a real deal-breaker when it comes to our ultimate redemption!

 

And then for us to quarrel over pronunciation? Brethren, with all the endless strife and the evil surmisings that follow, our Father is not pleased.

 

Questioning a man's standing in the Kingdom based upon the 'doctrine' that Mashiach's name MUST be pronounced Yahshua, Yehoshua, Yahawashi, etc. is like suggesting that if you say "Loes-ahng'-eles" and I say "Lahs-an'-gelis", it shows that somehow, I'm more of an authority on "The City of the Angels" than you are.

 

Let us no longer err, my beloved brethren! It is written, YAH is LOVE, not YAH is language. As it is also written, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (1 Yehochanan [1 John] 3:18).

 

A second basic cause for our disunity is simply cultural pride.

 

Again, there are those who revel in the knowledge of Hebrew, however limited; and then strive over which version must be used - whether ancient or modern - while they themselves are fluent in neither of the four current versions. Again, the word says Elohim is love, not language...

 

And then there are those who glory in the laws, statutes and commandments of Moses, and zealously seek to impose them upon the 'Israelite-unaware' while they themselves are yet under its curse. In reality, such men are guilty of lawlessness just like the Hellenized brothers they seek to convert - and manifest only envy, strife and confusion in the flesh, rather than love, joy and peace in the Spirit.

 

For example, some even insist that the wearing of certain special garments is a mandatory requirement for citizenship in the nation - and they wear this religious regalia with great cultural pride. Is this not the same worldly tendency the rebellious ancient Israelites were given to, that ultimately led to rejection of her Messiah and expulsion from the promised land?

 

The truth is, the only garments required among the faithful remnant in Mashiach/Christ at this hour are robes of righteousness, being clothed with humility, and putting on the garments of praise!

 

Brothers, this cultural arrogance and hypocrisy toward the churches ought not to be! Let us no longer persecute and vilify our Israelite-unaware brethren; but rather let us earnestly pray for them, that they may be granted the restoration of their true Biblical heritage as well - remembering also that most among our ranks were in times past, walking in ignorance of our true identity and destiny in like manner.

 

Finally my beloved brethren; we as the faithful remnant of Hebrew Israelites in Messiah/ Christ must once and for all, put away the formulating of doctrine and interpreting of scripture as a reaction to the lies and heresies of our enemies.

 

We must preach, teach and confirm the word of YHWH based solely upon that which is written, and that which is uttered and confirmed under the inspiration of Ruach Ha Qodesh! And we must take back ALL that our enemies have stolen from us, including the very terminology of scripture - even in their own languages!

 

For example, the word 'catholic' simply means "universal." And again, 'Christian' simply means "an anointed one", and the word 'church' means "called out ones." How can we then stand idly by, or even agree with our enemies, and teach that "Christianity" is a "Catholic" doctrine? And that, while a lost world continues to refer to the 'harlot' system as the "Catholic Church."

 

Is the Universal, Called Out Body of the Anointed One ("Catholic Church of Christ") a harlot? YAH FORBID!!!

 

Be not deceived, O Messianic Yisrael. The truth is, we are the TRUE Christians - the true Catholic Church! And in the sight of YAH, the faithful remnant consists not only of the Messianic 'Israelite-aware' community, but the true disciples of Christ of the 'Israelite-unaware' community as well.

 

Together, we are the lost/found Kingdom of Judah in Mashiach...  HalleluYAH!

 

The hour has come for the faithful remnant from both factions of natural Israel in Christ to come together in love, peace, and Kingdom order; that the Commonwealth as a whole (the faithful remnant out of EVERY system) may behold our reconciliation; rejoice, and join the united Royal Priesthood of Yisrael unto an authentic, uncompromised, and unprecedented unity of the faith! Ahmein & Amen.

 

Thy Kingdom Come, O YAH! - YBY

Shalom Aleichem!