Dear Sister Hollis C, bless you dear one!
First of all I am sorry I did not rightly discern you were a sister instead of a brother- I could not tell by your name and took a 50/50 shot and was wrong! Of course gender does not matter, but what does matter is I wanted you to know that I consider you my sibling in the Lord :)...............................................
Secondly, thank you for your thoughtful letter- it was what I was hoping for - I was actually a little afraid to write to you because too many already seem to come on this forum to start petty arguments at times and I did not want to be another - I am so greatful that my thoughts were well recieved and not percieved as an attack of any kind..............................................
Rather it seems we are more alike than anything else- we have both been hurt and dissapointed by Messianic congregations that placed too much focus on legalism, worrying about whether or not to call Him Yeshua or Jesus, and other such sillyness...............................................
You did not offend me dear one, but I am very zealous for the salvation of Israel, and have been equally dissapointed and hurt by the mainstream church - I often wonder, we have "programs" for singles, for married couples, for the youth, for the addict, we have "coffee house" church and "rock concert" church and so many other "seeker sensitive" methods of evangelism- but what about the Jew? We are still to go to the Jew first, yet these days Jewish evangelism is all but forgotten.....................................
Thats the only reason I took issue with the label of MESSY anic is because it labels all the same and brings division in the Body - how I wish that churches, even churches that hold hard and fast to a change of the sabbath day to Sunday - how I wish churches everywhere would add a Friday night Shabbat service and be more inviting to Jews - hey we have Wednesday night service and other "seeker sensitive" ministries so why not?.............................................................
Anyway it is evident you are bringing this well needed Jewish connection into your church and I thank you for that, and I thank you for your letter that has brought much joy and peace into my heart and I think edified many others in this forum as well....................................................
I look very forward to meeting you someday at the Marriage supper of the Lamb and worshipping the King together at a heavenly Paul Wilbur concert (one of my favorites too)
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God bless you my sister, Remnant Navi