Founder’s Blog
Wise Men Still Seek Him
Long ago, wise men sought out the one born king of the Jews.
In the days of King Herod, when Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem of Yehudah, megushim [wise men] came from the land of the east to Yerushalayim. They said, "Where is the king of the Yehudim who was born? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to bow down to him." (Mattai 2:1-2 DHE)
Today wise men still seek out the king.
Lynn Cooper penned a beautiful and meaningful song entitled, "Wise Men Still Seek Him" the opening stanza states,
We are all just travelers on this journey called life; Some walk in darkness, while others follow a light. We carry our treasures so close to our heart; Some we let go of while others never part. And somewhere on this journey we encounter a King That will change us forever, to Him our treasures bring.
It is so easy to forget that we are all on a journey--that each of us walk in darkness with only limited light of revelation. Can we be honest and see how we exploit our limited light--turning it into a flaming torch to burn others?
My family celebrates Hanukkah--but we are well aware that most of the rest of the Christian world is just now preparing for Christmas. I guess Messianic Jews have always felt a certain ambivalence about the Christian celebration of Christmas--its origins and symbolism.
The new audio teaching, "What About Paganism?" strikes a chord in the Hebrew Roots movement and reveals the need for us to explore this topic with honesty and balance. The teaching attempts to be impartial, presenting information so that each person can come to his or her own conclusions based upon the information. We have attempted to remove the hype, hysteria, and sensationalism surrounding the issue of "fossilized customs," pagan practices, and the origins of certain traditions, and we offer guidelines for approaching these issues today.
More than anything, I hope that this series will bring real education to the people of God and equip them to understand the issue from a biblical point of view. It is my prayer that it will soften everyone on all sides of this issue so that we will be able to treat one another with respect, despite disagreements. "Wise Men Still Seek Him" the Christmas song continues:
We are all just travelers on this journey called life; Been through the darkness, and now we see the light. We carry a treasure more precious than gold, A gift of redemption, His grace we now hold. And someday we'll find ourselves at the foot of the King With all of God's angels, His praises we'll sing.
When our focus is not on the king, on personal relationships, on his kingdom, it is easy to focus on others and thus engage in judgment, condemnation, and division. Quoting from, "What About Paganism?" Janicki states:
The weighty matters of honoring relationships and family need to be weighed against the often inconsequential and obscure pagan origin of some practice. We need to allow people to come to different conclusions than us and not be judgmental, so long as everyone is seeking to honor both God and his commandments against avodah zarah [idolatry].
Wise men do continue to seek him. May each of us be wise as we continue to seek the king and respond to his call.
Purchase:
"What About Paganism" CD set: Here
"What About Paganism" MP3 (download): Here
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Visitor Feedback:
I completely agree. As we've learned about the origins of some Christmas traditions, we've discontinued some and scaled back others as we step closer to more biblical expression of our faith. At the same time, we've been dismayed at the tone so many books and ministries take. Taken to their logical end, we'd have to conclude that God has not been able to 'keep' His church. We're grateful that God is giving us time to learn and change and we must give others the same. What good does correct doctrine do us if we fail to extend love, humility and patience toward those attempting to walk the path of faith with us? I am fully confident that God is able to bring us all to the same page before the end. He has promised to do so.
Lynda Nedrow | December 12, 2010 8:58 PM
beautifully said. it's not our place to hinder the work of God in the lives of others by standing in His place in the judgment seat.
Trishia | December 12, 2010 10:10 PM
I haven't received the CD's yet, but am excited about learning the truth, and the balance! Six years ago I was called to "love the Jewish people." I didn't understand much then, but since have learned so much about their history, the Bible, and my Savior. I've encountered harshness when celebrating anything but the 7 feasts. It seems to me that the pendulum keeps swinging to far in each direction. The early church was predominately Jewish, then it was predominately gentile, now it's swinging back the other way. Instead it should stop in the middle, where Jesus is. Didn't Paul say there would be "one man" made out of the two? I simply adore the Jewish people, and all the flavor they offer my faith. As I read the New Testament the word that stands out the most is "Love."
Leslie Springs | December 13, 2010 8:05 AM
I enjoyed and liked this very much, and what a wonderful world it would be if we all could stop trying to judge each other and realize that each and everyone of us is doing that best we can with what we've got to work with. I feel that only God has the right to stand in judgement of anyone, I for one don't feel I'm qualified to judge anyone but me.
mary mennenga | December 13, 2010 5:41 PM
Thanks for the reminder of “The weighty matters of honoring relationships and family”. My small family travel from 2 states plus Toronto to meet. We got the invitation. However, since being among “the called out ones” we opted out, but we’ll go the next weekend.
BACK in the church I liked Handle’s Messiah, the lights, and the aura of the season. I believe God meets us where we are. I had a book about miracles at Christmas: “a car veering off the road and being righted by angels; a basket dropped at a door with food and toys; a car ran out of gas and kept going, after prayer”. Yes Abba meets us.
ALSO this year our small Cong. celebrated Chanukah. The first and last night we met at people’s homes. We lit the candles, read the Apocrypha, and compared it with events of our day. Awesome experience.
Dandy | December 20, 2010 10:40 AM
Thanks to FFOZ and all that God have done and do.I have been celebrated Christmas in darkness but through Gods grace in Yeshua and through peoples who loves Messiah have guided me to look upon the one who give his life to us and he will live through us and all is grace from above.His word is a lamp for our feet and if we have been or are in darkness God have promised that he shall never leave or forsake his children. He shall lead us and care for us because he is our loving Father and he will do what he have promised with upstraight arm in Yeshua. I support FFOZ through money and i pray that all that FFOZ do shall be a great reward when Messiah will come.
Fredrik Hjärtkvist | December 20, 2010 11:25 AM
I am so glad that you have offered some "balance" to the subject of Christmas!There seems to be so much judgment on those believers who haven't entirely given up this tradition.
I feel the Lord is leading me to celebrate family, and His warmth and love for them as we still celebrate an abbreviated form of Christmas. I struggles with this issue a lot over the holiday season and came away with a sense that God loves me and that this matter isn't as "major" as many would think.
Mary Kinsella | December 29, 2010 2:56 PM