Coming Together
As we have been contacted by and met with individuals, families, and groups, we have had to address several questions, concerns, and dilemmas, causing us to observe and reflect how we find ourselves often in complete unified and compatible fellowship, usually quite comfortable with fellowship despite some minor differences in understanding, and sometimes understanding fellowship is not to be.
As we have been contacted by and met with individuals, families, and groups, we have had to address several questions, concerns, and dilemmas, causing us to observe and reflect how we find ourselves often in complete unified and compatible fellowship, usually quite comfortable with fellowship despite some minor differences in understanding, and sometimes understanding fellowship is not to be.
Stemming from our interactions over the years, we offer our following thoughts on where we unite in compatible fellowship, agree to disagree in compatible fellowship, or determine we must part ways and sever fellowship.
Stemming from our interactions over the years, we offer our following thoughts on where we unite in compatible fellowship, agree to disagree in compatible fellowship, or determine we must part ways and sever fellowship.
Where We Unite
Where We Unite
We are a family set apart to our Creator, our Father, the One True Elohim, יהוה. We understand the Father’s covenants to have been made with Israel. As we are in covenant with יהוה and are joined to Him, we are grafted into Israel, are as the native born, and are to exercise our belief by obeying the Torah as the Father instructed and as taught and exampled by the Messiah יהושע.
We are a family set apart to our Creator, our Father, the One True Elohim, יהוה. We understand the Father’s covenants to have been made with Israel. As we are in covenant with יהוה and are joined to Him, we are grafted into Israel, are as the native born, and are to exercise our belief by obeying the Torah as the Father instructed and as taught and exampled by the Messiah יהושע.
יהוה gave His Word and presented the Messiah to us within the Hebrew language, culture, and context. As such, we endeavor to learn as much as possible about the Hebrew language, culture, and context as a foundation for properly understanding the Father, His creation, His Word, His people, and the Messiah. We also enjoy many preserved traditional songs, dances, and activities.
יהוה gave His Word and presented the Messiah to us within the Hebrew language, culture, and context. As such, we endeavor to learn as much as possible about the Hebrew language, culture, and context as a foundation for properly understanding the Father, His creation, His Word, His people, and the Messiah. We also enjoy many preserved traditional songs, dances, and activities.
We are committed to obeying the Father’s instructions as they are able to be observed today. These consist chiefly of loving and fearing יהוה, removing all remnants and practices of idolatry from among us, keeping the seventh day Shabbat, observing the appointed times of יהוה, respecting and tending to our parents, loving and caring for our brothers and sisters, living honorably among our neighbors, wearing tzitzit, abstaining from eating animals determined by יהוה to be unclean, abstaining from practices defined by יהוה as unclean, and always endeavoring to discover all the ways we may be ever more set apart to Him.
We are committed to obeying the Father’s instructions as they are able to be observed today. These consist chiefly of loving and fearing יהוה, removing all remnants and practices of idolatry from among us, keeping the seventh day Shabbat, observing the appointed times of יהוה, respecting and tending to our parents, loving and caring for our brothers and sisters, living honorably among our neighbors, wearing tzitzit, abstaining from eating animals determined by יהוה to be unclean, abstaining from practices defined by יהוה as unclean, and always endeavoring to discover all the ways we may be ever more set apart to Him.
Where We Agree to Disagree
Where We Agree to Disagree
Disputes about the pronunciation of the Creator’s name, יהוה in His Word, should never become a point of contention. Our family has been presented with the arguments and evidence for the renderings of His name and have been persuaded to use the pronunciation Yehovah (ye-ho-VAH). Each of us has experienced intimacy with the Father that we attribute directly to using His pronounceable name as He commands. Likewise, we understand the pronunciation of the Messiah’s name, יהושע in the Bible, to be Yehoshua (ye-ho-SHU-a), which means Yehovah Saves. Comparatively, ישוע in His Word, to be Yeshua (ye-SHU-a), which means deliverer and He will save. Though we are less inclined to use substitutions such as Jesus, God, the Lord, haShem, or Adonai, this is never a point of contention with our brothers and sisters.
Disputes about the pronunciation of the Creator’s name, יהוה in His Word, should never become a point of contention. Our family has been presented with the arguments and evidence for the renderings of His name and have been persuaded to use the pronunciation Yehovah (ye-ho-VAH). Each of us has experienced intimacy with the Father that we attribute directly to using His pronounceable name as He commands. Likewise, we understand the pronunciation of the Messiah’s name, יהושע in the Bible, to be Yehoshua (ye-ho-SHU-a), which means Yehovah Saves. Comparatively, ישוע in His Word, to be Yeshua (ye-SHU-a), which means deliverer and He will save. Though we are less inclined to use substitutions such as Jesus, God, the Lord, haShem, or Adonai, this is never a point of contention with our brothers and sisters.
We understand the wearing of head coverings to be a matter of individual personal conviction as we have yet to see the practice commanded in the Torah. Additionally, there is much spiritual and practical benefit to modestly grooming and dressing, but we do not find exacting instructions for these in the Torah and each family must themselves discern how to apply any verses of guidance regarding head and facial hair as well as types and styles of clothing.
We understand the wearing of head coverings to be a matter of individual personal conviction as we have yet to see the practice commanded in the Torah. Additionally, there is much spiritual and practical benefit to modestly grooming and dressing, but we do not find exacting instructions for these in the Torah and each family must themselves discern how to apply any verses of guidance regarding head and facial hair as well as types and styles of clothing.
We have discovered that determining the moments of chodesh and ultimately the festival calendar is not altogether clear in the Father’s instructions. After much study and prayer and all things considered, we have determined each year to keep a festival calendar as best we understand from the Torah instructions, focussing our attention on observing each festival to the fullest we are able. Considering the many different dates kept by our many brothers and sisters as well as understanding the study and points of view from which they all come as being somewhat convincing in parts, we do not see the issue of exact festival dates as one that should keep us from observing appointed times together.
We have discovered that determining the moments of chodesh and ultimately the festival calendar is not altogether clear in the Father’s instructions. After much study and prayer and all things considered, we have determined each year to keep a festival calendar as best we understand from the Torah instructions, focussing our attention on observing each festival to the fullest we are able. Considering the many different dates kept by our many brothers and sisters as well as understanding the study and points of view from which they all come as being somewhat convincing in parts, we do not see the issue of exact festival dates as one that should keep us from observing appointed times together.
It is curious to us that the shape of the earth has become a topic of such intense debate among believers and that through certain teachings, specifically regarding the shape of the earth, many are claiming to come to faith in the Father and the Messiah. Sadly, we have witnessed gross misuses and misinterpretations of the Father’s Word to support a multitude of views. Though our own experiences, observations, study, and prayer lead us to maintain that the earth is a sphere, we understand that, when considering literary tools and applying proper hermeneutics, one may not be able to argue solely from the Bible that the earth is either spherical or flat. This being so, we are hopeful our brothers and sisters will refrain from holding their views of the earth’s shape as a major tenet of their faith as well as being majorly concerned with constantly battling and refuting the understanding of others.
It is curious to us that the shape of the earth has become a topic of such intense debate among believers and that through certain teachings, specifically regarding the shape of the earth, many are claiming to come to faith in the Father and the Messiah. Sadly, we have witnessed gross misuses and misinterpretations of the Father’s Word to support a multitude of views. Though our own experiences, observations, study, and prayer lead us to maintain that the earth is a sphere, we understand that, when considering literary tools and applying proper hermeneutics, one may not be able to argue solely from the Bible that the earth is either spherical or flat. This being so, we are hopeful our brothers and sisters will refrain from holding their views of the earth’s shape as a major tenet of their faith as well as being majorly concerned with constantly battling and refuting the understanding of others.
Where We Part Ways
Where We Part Ways
It is not pleasant when we understand we are to part ways from another believer. We have defined parting ways as no longer inviting one into our lives as an intimate. We would, at certain times, be in company and be kind, share a meal or serve alongside. However, we would not fellowship or worship or maintain a close relationship with those from whom we have parted ways. There are a number of reasons this may happen at various times in our lives. We have identified a few areas that were not considered lightly, but with much study, prayer, and counsel.
It is not pleasant when we understand we are to part ways from another believer. We have defined parting ways as no longer inviting one into our lives as an intimate. We would, at certain times, be in company and be kind, share a meal or serve alongside. However, we would not fellowship or worship or maintain a close relationship with those from whom we have parted ways. There are a number of reasons this may happen at various times in our lives. We have identified a few areas that were not considered lightly, but with much study, prayer, and counsel.
We would certainly have to part ways from those insisting on continuing participation in idolatrous celebrations and traditions, most notably Easter, Christmas, and Halloween.
We would certainly have to part ways from those insisting on continuing participation in idolatrous celebrations and traditions, most notably Easter, Christmas, and Halloween.
While we do not understand the Father to declare polygamy a sin, we have observed from the Bible and in life that the practice is almost always accompanied by distress and suffering. For this reason, we are convinced it is best to disassociate with the practice. Though the Father ultimately uses all things to fulfill His ultimate purposes, we understand that the singular language in Scripture regarding marriage promotes monogamy as the ideal marital situation and is supported by the Messiah’s Words as well as the leadership requirements presented in the later writings.
While we do not understand the Father to declare polygamy a sin, we have observed from the Bible and in life that the practice is almost always accompanied by distress and suffering. For this reason, we are convinced it is best to disassociate with the practice. Though the Father ultimately uses all things to fulfill His ultimate purposes, we understand that the singular language in Scripture regarding marriage promotes monogamy as the ideal marital situation and is supported by the Messiah’s Words as well as the leadership requirements presented in the later writings.
Some have taken to the notion that the renewal of covenant with the Father (via the Messiah) spoken of in Jeremiah is a brand new thing presented to the “gentile church.” We understand this idea to be in error and therefore assert what the Father spoke -that it was to be a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah and that the Torah would be written on their hearts. We also assert that just as the nations were given opportunity to be in covenant with the Father before the Messiah was manifested to humanity, with the manifestation of the Messiah, the Father has continued this opportunity by grafting believers of יהושע into His people, Israel. Followers of יהושע will hear His voice, do as He said, seek the Father, and endeavor to walk in His Way, which is to obey the Father's instructions, the Torah.
Some have taken to the notion that the renewal of covenant with the Father (via the Messiah) spoken of in Jeremiah is a brand new thing presented to the “gentile church.” We understand this idea to be in error and therefore assert what the Father spoke -that it was to be a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah and that the Torah would be written on their hearts. We also assert that just as the nations were given opportunity to be in covenant with the Father before the Messiah was manifested to humanity, with the manifestation of the Messiah, the Father has continued this opportunity by grafting believers of יהושע into His people, Israel. Followers of יהושע will hear His voice, do as He said, seek the Father, and endeavor to walk in His Way, which is to obey the Father's instructions, the Torah.
We reject the idea that because the Torah is written on the heart it no longer practically applies to believers. We maintain what the Father instructed and יהושע taught -obey the Torah.
We reject the idea that because the Torah is written on the heart it no longer practically applies to believers. We maintain what the Father instructed and יהושע taught -obey the Torah.
As the Word of יהוה is utterly superior and sufficient to guide us in exercising our faith, we pursue neither instructions or enactments imposed by men nor Judaism as a practice and we reject movements such as Noachidism. Also, we must separate ourselves from antisemitism as well as from those who subscribe to Replacement Theology as we understand their sentiments and tenets to be opposite the Word of יהוה.
As the Word of יהוה is utterly superior and sufficient to guide us in exercising our faith, we pursue neither instructions or enactments imposed by men nor Judaism as a practice and we reject movements such as Noachidism. Also, we must separate ourselves from antisemitism as well as from those who subscribe to Replacement Theology as we understand their sentiments and tenets to be opposite the Word of יהוה.