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POSTED
14 JUNE, 2004
The Need for Body Ministry in the Messianic Movement
by
J.K. McKee
editor@tnnonline.net
One of the things that has really struck me over the past few
months, especially since I have traveled and spoken with various
Messianic groups and fellowships (throughout 2004), is the
strong reality that as a Bible teacher my writings and messages
affect real people with real lives. People will read something
of mine or hear an audio message, and then formulate a decision
or an opinion based on what I have said. This is quite sobering,
because I remember having to make some rather difficult
decisions in my own life as I adopted a Messianic lifestyle.
These decisions were more than just deciding what the Bible was
really telling me or what theologically matched up. These
decisions affected friendships that I had and changed my outlook
on the world. Many of these decisions were difficult, but I knew
that the Lord would honor me for my faith and He has been
gracious to give me a good support group of family and friends.
At the Shavuot 2004 gathering in Orlando, it became abundantly
obvious to me that there is a strong need for body ministry in
the Messianic movement. While certainly there is a need for us
to have well-examined and documented exegesis of the Scriptures,
this must be balanced with an appropriate spirituality and the
reality that what we say as teachers of the Word affects people.
There were several people who came up to me at the Shavuot 2004
gathering who had testimonies of how my writings had impacted
them and had helped them in specific situations. I offer some of
these examples to you, especially if you are leading a Messianic
fellowship or Bible study. Remember
that people are looking to you for leadership, and you have the
responsibility to lead appropriately.
I have about 2-3 Messianic friends who I try to communicate with
on a semi-weekly basis. They are my own age and are in their
20s, and I do my best to ask how they are doing, how I can pray
for them, I encourage them, and most importantly I try to get to
know them better. One of the ways that we grow in our walk of
faith, and establish ourselves, is getting to know the Lord
through His people. Each one of us encounters the same sorts of
challenges as the other, and there is a need for us to know who
our friends are, and how we can help one another. I know that
some of the Messianic friends my age are very new to this walk
of faith, so in addition to praying for them on a daily basis, I
do my best to ask them where they are with God and if they need
any specific help in areas of their lives. I am honest with them
and tell them if I need help in my life. Oftentimes people are
unaware of the fact that those of us in ministry need to be
ministered to every bit as much as the next person.
At Shavuot 2004, I encountered many people, most of whom are
much older than I, and I could not believe that they were
impacted by a person who was 23 (as of Spring 2004), and barely
a year out of college. A gentleman from Virginia, who had been a
pastor for many years, and has been in the Messianic movement
for several years, came up to me and let me know how much he
appreciated my work and how it has helped him and his wife to
communicate the truths that God is restoring to His people to
others. He encouraged me to keep doing what I am doing, that we
need people who will keep the faith and stand up for the truth,
but most importantly that he appreciated that I try to be fair
and scholarly in what I write and say. This really meant a great
deal to me, and indeed ministered to me, because I often do not
receive that many positive e-mails or correspondence with
people. To hear it from a person who was about three times my
own age really was an encouragement.
Another couple I encountered, which was from the South, had told
me how they had to leave their Messianic congregation because of
the strong influence of Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah. This
couple was afraid that people would be led astray from faith in
Yeshua, and all the research that they had done on this subject
led them to conclude that it was occultic and Satanic. They had
sent me an e-mail where they asked what my position on Kabbalah
was. I sent them a long quotation from the Enyclopaedia
Judaica which basically stated that it was derived from the
occult and Judaism as a whole considered it heretical. They let
me know how this confirmed what they knew in the Spirit was
wrong, and appreciated the fact that I did not hide what our
ministry’s position was on the subject for the sake of so-called
“unity.” This couple encouraged me to keep doing what I am doing
as well, and I let them know that I will keep them in our
prayers so that their fellowship situation might work out and
that they can help those who are being influenced by errant
theologies.
A strong spirit of unity and brotherhood was evidenced at
Shavuot 2004, and having worked the gathering I can let you know
that everything went smoothly and without incident. I think
people are tired of some of the divisions that have plagued the
Messianic movement in recent years. People want to get beyond
this and work together. But at the same time, we have to
recognize that as individuals we have personal needs.
One of the most unique things that I experienced at Shavuot 2004
was the unity exemplified at the Q&A Panel Discussion on Monday
morning. While those watching the recording may think we were
all stiff because we had our arms folded—in actuality all of us
were freezing sitting directly under the air conditioning ducts!
I have never seen a Q&A go so well, where everyone wanted to
answer the questions and truly help those in attendance. The
most critical question that I believe was asked was the question
about prayer. While the question mostly had to deal with the use
of Hebrew liturgy in one’s personal prayer time, the answers
that the various speakers, and myself, gave had to deal with how
we as Messianic Believers need to have a disciplined prayer
time. Much of the Hebrew liturgy used in traditional prayers are
hymns and praises to God. And certainly, I do use many of them
in my quiet times, and am convicted when I pray them. But most
importantly, I emphasized to the audience that all of us need to
spend time with the Lord, ask Him to convict us and refine us,
and uplift others in the Body of Messiah.
There is a strong need right now for body ministry in the
Messianic movement. All too often, over the past few years we
have had to deal with controversial theologies that have divided
us and let us be scattered. I know that as editor of TNN Online,
I deal with issues that are controversial, and I must pace
myself to decide which topics are worth addressing and which
topics I should just wait on. There is a sweet lady from
Alabama, with whom I have become good friends, who lets me know
that she prays for me everyday, because she knows that in the
type of ministry I have I deal not only with intense Biblical
research, but also am coming against demonic strongholds. I know
that I need this type of prayer and support, because I do not
see things getting any easier or less challenging.
If there is one thing that I do know, it is that in my
experience you would not be in the Messianic movement right now
unless God has a special call on your life. Each one of us had
had various life experiences that have molded us and led us to
where we are today. We are the forerunners of something great,
because many of us do sense in the Spirit that the masses are
coming in. Right now, however, we have to be refined and lift up
one another in spiritual support.
J.K. McKee (B.A., University of Oklahoma; M.A. Student, Asbury
Theological Seminary) is the editor of TNN Online (www.tnnonline.net)
and is a Messianic apologist. He is author of several books,
including: The New Testament Validates Torah, Torah In the
Balance, Volume I, and When Will the Messiah Return?.
He has also written many articles on the Two Houses of Israel
and Biblical theology, and is presently focusing on Messianic
commentaries on various books of the Bible. |
