From August of 2008 through March of 2009, I was lost. No job, no prospects, confused about what God was doing, and not sure if the future would be any better. One positive though from being out of work... Tons of free time to study! And that's just what I did. Studied and prayed. My prayer went something like this. "God, please teach me your truth. Whatever it is, I'm ready. Just please show me where you want me and my family."
I was enjoying the few work hours that I did have as a weight instructor for the High School Swim Team at the local YMCA. Great kids and lots of fun! I was also getting to referee basketball games at the YMCA. Ironically, I was the referee for many church members from my former place of employment. It was awkward, but whatever.
March was the month. Of course I was oblivious at the time, but boy was it a big month. That was the month that the "cult group" (our friendly nickname for the 10 or so of us that were kicked out of churches) met Rabbi Yossi Friedman. For reasons only known to Rabbi Friedman and God, he agreed to come to Chelsea and meet with a group of Gentiles who were caught somewhere between Christianity and Judaism. It was about an hour of just questions from us, and amazing answers from him. I could not imagine what was going on in his mind. "Are these people serious?" "How did I end up here?" "I seriously think I'm the only Jew in this small town." But we peppered him with as many questions as we could think of. We learned more with each meeting. For me, I was cautious. The Jews were a mysterious group to me. I wasn't sure about them. I loved them, as any good Christian would. But there was always something about them. Something I didn't know, and wasn't sure I wanted to.
I will say this. Nearly 100% of everything I had ever been taught about the Jews came strictly from Christian sources and, was 100% WRONG. Way off doesn't even begin to cover it. Things like 1) legalistic 2) burdened by obedience 3) no real relationship with God 4) whitewashed tombs, etc. were at the forefront of my mind when we met with Rabbi Friedman. In just one short month, I could see that these labels were totally false. They are the basis for the subtle antisemitism in the church. Subtle antisemitism is what allows Christians to claim that they love the Jews, pray for the Jews, and respect their faith; but in the same breath admit that God replaced them with a better plan and better people. The church. It's not blatant and sometimes hidden. But it is there.
After meeting with Rabbi Friedman for a few months, I decided to venture out. One Friday night, I went to "the place." You know, that place where Jews go. OK, don't tell anyone, but I went to synagogue. What an experience! It was phenomenal. Once again, unlike anything Christianity had ever told me about "those Jews." It is a night I will never forget. Say what you will about signs from God, but that night I made a connection with The Almighty that still moves me to this day.
It was also around this time that I was challenged. By friends, fellow cult members. OK, no more reference to the group as a cult. In the way that only God can do, He confronted me with His truth. He did so with 3 questions. First, can God be a man? Second, who was Jesus? Third, who are you? I can't say for sure that God has a sense of humor, but I believe He does. The very things that were accused of me by the church were now being addressed in my life by God. See, God knew that as long as I was in church I would never even consider the deity of Jesus. To me, he would always be God, Messiah, High Priest, and greatest Prophet. And God also knew how much I loved the students at that church. I wasn't leaving on my own. It took an act of God to get me out of there. And he used the very issues to have me removed, that He would eventually bring full circle and rock my world! Classic!
Please let me reiterate. I was not looking for any of this. But God of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. And He had already marked my path. It is impossible for me to harbor ill-feelings towards my former church. Just as Babylon was used by God to bring about the repentance and redemption of Israel, so to was that church used by God to bring me home.
And that leads us to today. Someone who considers himself a member of the Abrahamic Faith. (read James Tabor's book by the same title) Neither Jewish (that I know of) nor Christian. But decidedly more Jewish than the former. Who knows where God is taking us. But I know He's calling us home. Home. But where exactly is my home? Well, stick around. The story's not finished yet...
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