Articles

It is to be commended that a significant majority of the people, in today’s Messianic movement, genuinely want to study the Bible at a deeper level. But, in order to study the Bible at a deeper level, a variety of guidelines do have to be followed. Simply picking up an English Bible version, and having a Strong’s Concordance by one’s side, is entirely insufficient in order for today’s Messianic people to study the Bible at the level that they want to study it. Indeed, one needs to be able to read multiple English versions of the Bible and catalogue astute observations, have access to up-to-date Hebrew and Greek lexicons, if necessary be able to access Hebrew and Greek language tools, and also be able to access a selection of up-to-date Bible dictionaries and commentaries. The simple, yet complicated rule, of Biblical interpretation, involves (1) reading and interpreting the text for what it meant to its original audience, and (2) applying it in a responsible manner for modern people. Many of us will find, that when making the significant effort and attempt to read the Bible for what it meant to its original audience(s) first, that Scripture will actually be more relevant and critical for us living today, and not less.

When people enter into the Messianic community, whether that be from a background in the Jewish Synagogue or evangelical Protestantism—it would be an understatement to say that there can be some tension, and even fights, over major matters of theology. One’s local congregation, or assembly, is likely to be a microcosm, of the diversity of opinion and perspectives witnessed in the wider Messianic world. (This has especially become even more complicated in our information age, and with the wide array of online venues spouting off theological opinions and perspectives.) What are some things that you certainly need to be aware of, as you continue in your Messianic walk?

Today’s Messianic movement is not like evangelical Protestantism, where you have a sufficiently large enough group of people, as well as a wide enough variety of denominations and local assemblies—where if an individual or family does not quite receive what they need in one place, they can go to another. Today’s Messianic movement is small, and there are not that many options available to people. Today’s Messianic movement is much more like the Jewish Synagogue, in that you have a very tight knit group of people—and as the old adage reminds us, “Two Jews, three opinions.” Unlike the Protestant world, where if you disagree with the theology of a particular group, you can try another group—in the Jewish world you learn how to maneuver through a plurality of views and positions on a variety of non-essential issues. The Messianic movement is quite similar: on non-essential issues, people have to learn how to be flexible, respectfully disagree, and at least encourage reasonable dialogue on issues so as to decrease unnecessary tensions.