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Messianic Oddballs

By D. Thomas Lancaster | Comments (6)
August 18, 2008

The call of discipleship and the message of Torah result in a decidedly counter-culture type of life. The great American author Flannery O'Connor once said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you--odd." The Messianic movement is beset with oddity. We are those who have taken the call to be a "peculiar people" quite literally.

This oddness is manifest in every aspect of our lives. The way we dress, the food we eat, the food we don't eat, the day we worship, the way we worship, the way we interact with one another, with the other gender, the way we raise our children, handle our finances, etc.

Some of our oddities, however, cannot be attributed to the particular demands of Scripture. Rather, it results from the caliber of people who are drawn to Messianic expression. A local Messianic Rabbi described his congregation as one filled with what he called "fragile personalities." I often tell Christian pastors that they should be thankful for Messianic Judaism. I tell them, "Think of us as the bug-light of Christianity. If these people were not attending our congregations, they would probably be in yours. You owe us a debt of gratitude."

I became Messianic in my mid-twenties. When in your mid-twenties, a counter-culture lifestyle has a certain appeal. It might seem "cool" to be out of sync with the rest of the world at that age. Now I have entered my forties, and the cool-factor has long ago lost its glimmer. I do my best to appear normal. But I am still odd and at odds with the mainstream of society and even the majority of Christian theology as it relates to Torah.

The problem with studying Torah is that it completely changes the way you read and understand the Bible. Once you step into this larger world, you can't go back. Once you know the truth, you can't un-know it. With or without your consent, God will sweep the Torah student into the great drama of redemption, filled with spiritual adventures and misadventures.

Participation in the Messianic world takes a peculiar kind of person. One has to be an independent thinker and a non-conformist to even consider the religious ideals we are espousing. Not only are we thinking outside of the box, many of us can't even find the box we originally came in.

The typical First Fruits of Zion reader is not typical. He or she is the kind of person who is not content to let social norms and institutional conformity dictate the terms of faith and relationship with God. The Messianic person is a seeker--asking, seeking and knocking.

The normal person who wants to remain normal should stay in his fishing boat when he hears the mysterious rabbi from Nazareth say, "Follow me." Once you hazard to step outside of that boat and begin to follow the rabbi, anything can happen, and it usually does.

If you find that your religious convictions make you an oddball, be encouraged, you aren't the only one. If you don't regard yourself as an oddball, then let me suggest some serious Bible study through a subscription to Torah Club. The new reading cycle will be starting in just over a month. You can check out Torah Club membership here. Torah Club membership is the primary support mechanism that keeps the ministry of First Fruits of Zion afloat. A portion of the monthly subscription is tax deductible.

Torah Club is not just for scholars. It is written on a layman's level. Though it plumbs the depths of God's Word, anyone with an eighth-grade reading level and basic biblical literacy can understand it and profit from it. Be warned though. The study of Torah is the study of Truth--and the truth will make you odd.

D. Thomas Lancaster
17 Av, 5768

About the Author: D. Thomas Lancaster is Director of Education at First Fruits of Zion, and regular contributor to Messiah Journal. He is the author of the Torah Club programs, and the books Grafted In, Restoration and King of the Jews

Visitor Feedback:

Daniel - You almost had to pay for my ER visit on this post. With the statement about us being the "bug-light of Christianity" I almost ruptured my spleen laughing so hard! It's soooooo true! I'm still laughing right now! :-)

The struggle is to be "peculiar" while not being a total alien from the planet Dork. To paraphrase 1 Peter 2:20, if we suffer, we need to be suffering for our righteousness, not for being a bonehead.

On the flip side, I have found that my peculiarity has been quite a draw for people lately. I constantly have people coming up to me and asking about my religious convictions and for insight into a particular passage of Scripture. Maybe it's the kippa? Maybe it's the beard? I know it can't be the shoes. Maybe it's the Spirit stirring up an awakening from the slumber of the status quo. Whatever it is, Hashem is beginning to do marvelous things through us oddballs.

Darren | August 18, 2008 10:47 AM

I keep a few boxes on a shelf in the garage. When I get too many, I place the least desirable boxes in the recycle bin. I think that is where my old box went. :)

Daniel F | August 18, 2008 12:42 PM

I hear you on this one, LOL! Like when my husband goes and orders a double bacon cheese burger with no bacon! They laugh everytime, but they usually ask why which is interesting. So many examples it's crazy. I'm glad though that we are different than many. I would rather be a loving odd wife and mother than be an angry wife and mother with no joy or peace. I agree that we are odd to many around us because of our torah walk, but to Adonai there is nothing odd about it at all. And besides these odd ways about us are usually the very thing that draws people to ask questions about us like why no bacon or why aren't you open on Saturday, and why is homeschooling your children so important to you don't you think they need to be at school with all the other kids. Yes, we are an odd cummunity, but we are to be set apart and set apart we are. Great article!

Blessings all,
Kimmy

DTL Replies: You forgot about the option of being an oddball, Torah observant, angry wife and mother with no joy or peace. Always a possibility. Glad to hear you aren't though. Stay on the path.

Kimmy Mashore | August 18, 2008 6:59 PM

Better to be an oddball than a fruitloop!
It's rather ironic to hear sermons (we are still attending regular church) to get 'passionate', 'zealous' and dare I say it - 'fanatical' for Jesus, and then be considered an oddball for actually doing it.

I wouldn't have it any other way!
When I describe my experience of discovering the riches of Hashems' Torah, I liken it to watching black and white TV for your whole life then suddenly viewing a colour set.
I love my life and walk with the Master in vivid technicolour - oddball or not!

Blessings,
R Marchand

Rebecca Marchand | August 19, 2008 2:51 AM

I've always said that congregations outside the mainstream are going to attract people who are outside the mainstream.

I have known some fruits and nuts. Maybe its part of G-d using the foolish to confound the wise. Makes it tough to find fellowship, though.

I think a big part of the solution is mature male leadership in the congregations. Sorry guys, but most of the weirdos I've encountered were male. I think most of them would have done well if they had strong male spiritual role models. Our divorce-ravaged/single parent society has robbed a couple of generations of proper male leadership in the home, and it is reflected in some of the bizarre behavior we see (even among women). Lots of congregations seem to assume the men automatically know how to be men and never bother to spend time teaching it.

Hopefully, as people learn more Torah some of that damage will be undone.

MJ Belko | August 19, 2008 9:26 AM

Man - what a cracker this is... I laughed and laughed. Aren't we an odd bunch indeed. A truly peculiar bunch for certain. In high school, back in the 70's, I was voted the "Most Individualistic" in my graduation class. I'm not sure that's exactly what you meant here, but it's nice to know that I have finally found a home where people like us can follow G-d as He has called us to and we can be His people. I pray that one day there will be more of us in every town and city in America.

And as for that "Bug-light of Christianity" analogy, aren't we supposed to let our light shine for the whole world to see. A Bug-light won't do any good when it's hidden under a basket. eh? Blessing to you all!

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