We are taught that the Torah is the same today as it was given fifty days from the Exodus from Egypt. I believe this to be true. Also, the Torah is the same today as it was yesterday. What I mean is this. Someone like myself who had never opened the pages of the Torah until February 2005, at that time is was given all over again. Sadly to say, my first experience with Torah was not at a Kosher synagogue, but a messianic one.
Every breathing moment is an opportunity to connect with Torah. The question was raised, “Why was Torah given in the desert?” The good question was answered, “So that no one can claim that they are removed from it.”
Today, alive and breathing, live over 1.5 billion christians. Maybe, and no more than, twenty million Jews exist. That number is based on the identifying identity of the Jew. Not that someone goes door to door asking, “Is this a Jewish home and if so, how many are there of you?” Within Judaism, one is counted a Jew if ones mother is a Jew. Continue. My mother and father are both Jewish, they are also secular. You guessed it, I too was raised secular.
It is known that if you are born a Jew you remain a Jew regardless if you are observant are not. Now if you go off and follow the masses to Sunday worship, need I say more? The mourners kaddish is recited on your behalf. Let us swing around here and take a look from the other side. If you are a Gentile and were raised as a Christian and one day decided to follow the way of the observant Jew, maybe your family didn’t recite the mourners kaddish, but they certainly believe you have left your salvation at the door.
Today is Shavuot, known as the day Torah was given. We are commanded from the second day of Passover to count the Omer for seven complete weeks until the morrow of the fiftieth day. Many Jews throughout the world will attend synagogue this evening, rather they are reformed, conservative or orthodox. As a child living in New York, I knew nothing of this. I was however familiar with Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, mainly in part because our schools would close during those times. For the past 10 years I reside in Texas where they do not close their schools, furthermore, many here have never met a Jew. Perhaps I should begin some kind of tour.
Where am I, how did I get this place?
There has been in all of history, one and only one national revelation. You guessed it, the Jewish one. Christianity on the other hand did not receive one and yet there are over 1.5 billion followers. Mormons, the very same thing. Christians must ask themselves a very important question, Why is this so? When it comes to locking your car and removing any valuables from sight, this you are careful to do. When at the check out counter you monitor the check out screen so not to be over billed, “How much was I charged for those apples? How about the mechanic, you want references and the best deal. Don’t you?
You really did know where I was going with this.
Forget the following. The virgin birth, replacement theology, new testament, second coming, blood atonement, suffering servant, replaced Torah (Heaven forbid), Peter, Paul and Mary.
Let us examine ourselves for a moment, that means stop texting and stop counting how many friends you have on face book.
Where did G-d inform us of a new way? Where did He instruct us to follow a false prophet or false doctrine? Today we can google any information we require. Two-thousand years ago there was no wifi or public library. Our sages and Rabbis, those who were fortunate for the time to have received a Jewish education, knew the Torah and the prophets forwards and backwards. Is it no wonder they rejected the way of jesus (if he existed) and later the teachings of Paul?
Who actually witnessed the resurrection? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? They couldn’t agree on most things! What about Paul? Was he even a Jew? So as you have it, twelve (really just four) uneducated Jews along with Paul (Much later) somehow convinced (Mostly Gentiles) to accept jesus as their savior!
Torah, I would say is the foundation of the WORLD. Judaism the mechanics, the operation. What is the body without the mind?
Torah is complex to the outsider, but doable to the insider. Christianity is doable to the insider, but questionable to the outsider. Putting it simply. The church pastor preaches, “Approach the altar and give your life to jesus, leave a new person.” That simple. In your mind without being rational, you accept it. It makes you feel good inside. The world is off your shoulders. Blue skies have returned.
Torah on the other hand, teaches that we are responsible for our deeds. Torah teaches that we have a marriage covenant with HASHEM and that certain things are expected of us. Torah tells us that we may not add or subtract from it. Is it any clearer why so many deny the Torah, or even exchange it for another.
Please I beg each of you, don’t give up without a fight. Spend time daily to consider what you have walked away from (Fellow Jews) and/or what you have denied (Gentile/Christian) all along.
