We are commanded to be salt and light. We are told that if we have become ineffectual, like salt that has lost it's savor, we're good for little more than to be trampled underfoot. We are commanded to reveal our light before men - not conceal it - and to be cities atop hills, illuminating the shadowy valleys below. I want to do that - and I want to learn from others that are doing it - it's why I'm here. Unfortunately, many don't share this sentiment (and a few of them have internet access) so I took my e-mail off my profile. As much as I'd prefer that folks post in the comment section (so that we all might learn something from it), some insist on "questioning" me privately. Few of these things are in the form of questions, though. Still others post comments only to delete them a few hours later. Why would you do that? Thing is, I would still relish it if they were actually seeking a discussion, but it's less enjoyable if they just envision themselves as part (or head) of some theological task force. For the sake of the light, I'd like to take just a minute to address a common misconception that stems from that centuries-long slow drift that needs to be cleared up. I'll make it brief.
Messiah Yeshua did not nullify the Word of G-d in Mark 7. How could He? He is the Word. What He spoke against was (as usual) what was being taught by the Pharisees (some might say the "contemporary" religionists) which were completely man-made rules, security systems around Torah, if you will. This time it was about hand washing - something not in G-d’s Torah. Messiah used this as an opportunity to explain that the things that defile a man come from the inside, from a dirty heart - not dirty hands. This was not an issue of what the disciples were eating at all, if it had been, the Pharisees would have surely mentioned it, without a doubt.
Also, Acts 10 is in no way a retraction of kosher food laws. This one is so obvious, it’s bizarre that it ever got so much traction in the Church. Peter by his own admission had never eaten anything unclean (and still hadn't, nearly 10 years after Yeshua’s resurrection!). He could not understand why it appeared that G-d was instructing him to do so. Each time the vision was given, he implored G-d to explain the apparent contradiction. G-d revealed to him just a few verses later (in Acts 10:28) that the vision was not about food at all, but about bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles - who until that time, were deemed unclean. Visions are seldom literal. They use symbols to emphasize their point. G-d chose to use one of the most detestable things in Peter’s mind, the notion of eating unclean food, as a symbol to illustrate that He had the power to make even Gentiles “clean”, and had done so. Again, if Yeshua had taught that all food was ok to eat (back in Mark 7) why was Peter so confused about it during the vision? Wouldn’t he have been eating (formerly) unclean things for over 10 years by then? Was he just absent that day for the lesson? Of course not. Notice that in the entirety of scripture there is not a single instance of a believer eating anything unclean - not before Yeshua, not after, not one.
It might be interesting to add here that in Isaiah 66, the prophet is very obviously describing G-d returning to deal with man at the end of this age and His subsequent establishment of the New Jerusalem, but He still speaks of those that eat swine flesh as an abomination to Him (verse 23). Why is that? If there could possibly be any doubt, the entire New Testament is riddled with references to unclean things (even unclean animals all the way in Revelation - the future!). Why would this terminology still be used if it’s application had long been negated (about 60 years prior)? There are a few other scriptures people use to try to prove the G-d contradicts Himself between covenants and I have no problem addressing any of them, but I’m trying to stick with the ones folks are firing at me. Rest assured, in every case, its a misunderstanding of what is actually being talked about. It’s easy to do and I did it myself for years.
Surely someone will misunderstand what I’m getting at and think I’m some sort of Judaizer, etc. I’ve heard it all before, believe me. But honestly, it’s not like that at all. It’s really just what I’ve been discussing this entire time - that we need to forget what centuries of Roman error has embedded in the faith it commandeered from the first century believers (after it slaughtered them all) and get back into the Word ourselves - prayerfully approaching it as children (in humility and faith) and learning only from the Holy Spirit and not from men. Dethrone your theological preconceptions.
"…not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16
"Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:17
I pray G-d challenges you to set yourselves apart to Him in every aspect of your lives - as that day so quickly approaches. Matt 5:19 & Matt 7:21-23
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