Principles of Ministry

The following is a response to many comments and questions we get from Messiancs of various backgrounds in our online Groups seeking to counsel people with spiritual problems, most of whom are from non-Messianic backgrounds and have little theological knowledge. We often get such Messianics telling new people coming for help to immediately switch using the Divine Names (from God, Lord, Jehovah, Jesus to Elohim, Adonai, haShem, Yahweh, Yah'shua, Yeshua, Yahushua, etc., etc.) Quite often books by Messianic Jewish writers are cited for study, such as Lew White.

We do not endorse everything that Lew White teaches, and whilst his book, Fossilized Customs, is a mine of useful information that all believers need to know, we believe he has a tendency of quench the Ruach (Spirit) and cause people to stumble over words. It is the position of this ministry, in respect of the Divine Names, that we ought to use them once we are satisfied as to the truth of them, but that Yahweh in His grace accepts our use of the paganized ones in the days of our ignorance.

Thus we reject White's contention that all 'Christian' churches are of the devil. Were this to be so, then there was a Dark Age of 1,700 years from the time of the apostacy of Messianic Israel in about the third century A.D. (or earlier) until the advent of Messianic Judaism (itself a hodgepodge of all kinds of theologies and beliefs) in the late 20th century. It is very clear to anyone who has the Ruach (Spirit) and has studied Church History in any depth that Yahweh has always been present, that salvation has been administered, even in the times when the Catholic Church had hegemony, and that millions have been saved by actively trusting in Yah'shua (Jesus), their wrong doctrines notwithstanding.

Most people meet Yah'shua not through having a correct theology about the true Divine Names but because He speaks to their heart in their life situation, meeting them Person-to-person, and not as a mere theololgical proposition. Dead legalism has done more to destroy people's relationship with the Messiah than any other heresy over the centuries. Yah'shua says that the condition for entering the Kingdom is having a heart like a child, not a perfect theology or church practice. As we grow then we need to study theology and accept it if we have come out of the world. That is why the Jerusalem Council only placed a few Torah requirements on the first pagan converts as they matured in the faith, so that they would not be overwhelmed. We must feed milk before meat or we end up choking the baby.

We meet Yahweh long before we know His Name or can even express ourselves in words. The correct vocalisation of His Name is not as important as its meaning, at least not for those young in the faith. We do not want to be pedantic and controversial in this Ministry, which exists for people, mostly of whom are unschooled in theology, who are simply coming with a cry on their hearts for help. First things first. And these are what they are:

1. The First Principle: Yahweh is Love. Eat from the Tree of Life, not the Tree of Death. The simple way of "being" of a small child. Meet Yah'shua in your heart by opening your heart's door to Him and letting Him in. No theology here. The first steps of deliverance. Simple evangelical Protestantism;

2. The Second Principle: Yah'shua's Two Great Commandments/Summaries - Love Yahweh with all your might, mind and strength - Love your neighbour as you love yourself. No theology here. All personal relationship still. The second step of deliverance;

3. The Third Principle (and the beginnning of theolology, including the Divine Names and Sabbath observance): The Ten Commandments or 'Words' - shows how to maintain and deepen the relationship we have with Yahweh by right living - right behaviour towards Him, and right behaviour towards fellow Messianic Israelites. Exposes the major lies that allow demons to subvert our souls. The third step of deliverance;

4. The Fourth Principle (the minutae of theology): The rest of the Mitzvot or commandments, including festival observance, kosher dietary laws, etc.. Leads to deeper relationship with Yahweh and each other, digs out the many other lies that impede that relationship, and gives us a more cosmic picture of life and existence. This leads to the final part of deliverance.

We take people where they are at, Messianic and non-Messianic, and minister to their immediate needs. We do not believe that such people should have theology rammed down their throats as soon as they come to us but should be led, first of all, in the spirit of the Torah and leave the letter of the Law to later, unfolding the Gospel Plan as we work our way through deliverance to deeper and deeper levels. It is important that the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) first be experienced so that Torah can be voluntarily written on the heart (this can't be done by compulsion), as Jeremiah prophesied would characterise the New Covenant (as opposed to the Mosaic one which was by mutually covenanted compulsion), as a voluntary act. Far too many Messianics come with a Mosaic mindframe and want to put people coming for deliverance - who are particularly vulnerable - under theological bondage when their first and most important crying need is first and foremost divine encounter with the Messiah.

We know that many offering counsel in our Groups mean well (most are not members of MLT) and we appreciate their hearts. However, it is important for all concerned that we state this ministry's modus operandi and so avoid misunderstanding and and ill-feeling.

Grace and peace to you all in Yah'shua our Messiah!

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