They Say that Curiosity Kills the Cat
True to form, Hilary and I canvassed portions of YouTube to augment our worship this past Shabbat.
Because we do not currently attend a fellowship on the weekly Sabbaths, we watch a couple of Messianic worship service postings in addition to any potentially substantive and meaningful teachings that might pop up from the YouTube algorithm.
Well, in our canvassing, we came upon a Friday evening service posting by a major New York City synagogue. We were drawn to watch the video simply for curiosity’s sake. You see, I was interested in how they conducted their service (I.e., their order of service), while Hilary was interested in the Hebrew liturgy. Obviously, we weren’t tuning into this video service for any doctrinal instructions.
Also, having been exposed to a few Messianic assemblies and their order of service, I was curious as to any similarities between the two types of services. I pretty much knew that many Messianic assemblies borrow a good portion of their order of service from their Jewish synagogal counterparts and I wanted to get a sense of the similarities and differences.
Starting off, all was well and good. The opening songs and prayers were bright and encouraging and we were both getting a great deal from watching the recorded proceedings.
The Horrible Mashing of a Midrash
However, our spiritual ride came to a screeching halt when the female rabbi over the assembly launched into her “drash” of this week’s Torah portion. And let me just mention here that our concern had nothing to do with the rabbi being a woman. But rather, our concerns were grounded entirely upon the content of her message which we quickly found to be extremely troublesome and indicative of a wider problem that is plaguing so many so-called houses of worship (both Jewish and Christian alike) throughout the world today.
Here are some of the highlights of her roughly 15-minute message and you make a determination for yourself as to whether there is a cause for concern in her message.
Wearing a rainbow-colored tallit, the rabbi delivered her message which she entitled: “Building New Cycles”.
- “Politicians and religious leaders tell people not to go to drag shows; that people who are trans are out to get your children; that teachers should not be allowed to talk about sexuality for fear of turning children gay as though that’s possible.”
- [After an incident there is” “Quiet. Until someone walks into a gay nightclub–a space that is supposed to be safe–and shatters the lives of so many.”
- And the cycle (i.e., of hate and violence) begins again. Favoritism. Violence. A cycle highlighted in last week’s Torah Portion.
- She speaks to the hatred that leads to hate speech that leads to hate shootings.
- The rabbi calls for a break the cycle of hate shootings.
- “We are here to hold you up” (speaking to the victims of the Club Q Shooting).
- She says that “the destructiveness of words brings violence” and that we should speak only loving words in such situations. And so, the LGBTQ community is loved and welcomed at her synagogue.
- She declares that we are not bound by our sins.
- And in closing she suggests that we need to build a world of love.
What Gives?
It turns out that this midrash was delivered by a Reformed Jewish Rabbi to a reformed Jewish congregation. And what was referring in her message was a recent incident where a 22-year-old male gunman opened fire in a Colorado nightclub named The Club Q on 11/20/2022. It should be no surprise, given much of the verbiage in her message that this nightclub caters to a predominantly LGBTQ clientele. This is according to The Associated Press article. Tragically, this shooting resulted in the deaths of 5 and the wounding of 18 souls. The shooter was subdued by attendees of the club and was taken into custody without further incident.
As tragic as this abominable act was, the greater tragedy is the fallout that followed. Many supporters of the LGBTQ community have taken to blaming the shooting on Christian-Conservative groups, despite allegations from Colorado police reports that the suspect in the shooting may himself have been a member of the LGBTQ community (this according to an MSN article entitled “The Club Q Shooting Suspect Identifying as Non-Binary Won’t Prevent them from Being Charged with Hate Crimes, Legal Experts Say“).
True to conventional wisdom form, the blame for this horrific act is being manifested by acts of violence against certain Christian organizations (reference article dated 11/26/2022, entitled “Is this stochastic terrorism? Colorado Springs Christian Ministry vandalized over gay club shooting“). And this becomes all the more ironic given that many of these faith organizations claim to worship the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, have themselves openly embraced the LGBTQ community and its agenda (reference excellent article written by Carmel Richardson, dated 11/18/2022, and entitled “Prostitutes in the Temple: What are drag queens doing in church?“) I have more to say about Ms. Richardson’s fine article later on in this post.
But getting back to the YouTube video in question: After doing a little digging, I found that this rabbi and her congregation are members of the Jewish Reform Movement in the United States. And I have to say that I was shocked to learn that “The Jewish Reform Movement…has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights since 1965 when the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) called for the decriminalization of homosexuality” (reference article entitled “LGBTQ+ Equality“–https://reformjudaism.org/issues/lgbtq-equality).
So there we have it. Members of the Jewish community calling for inclusiveness with the LGBTQ community. And let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not just the Reformed sect of Judaism that has bonded with the LGBTQ community. It turns out that both the orthodox and conservative arms of Judaism have of late been entertaining acceptance of the community as well.
What’s the Problem with Jews and Christians Accepting the LGBTQ Community into their Assemblies?
When it comes to our Jewish cousins, both ancient and modern, wasn’t it the beloved Apostle Paul/Shaul who described them–his brethren–as possessing the distinct advantage of Yah having entrusted the Torah to them? (Romans 3:1-2). Indeed, Yah did entrust His Torah to the safekeeping of our Jewish cousins. This means that they should know, better than any other people of faith, how the Creator feels about homosexuality.
So, I ask you beloved: How can our cousins in Judaism, who claim to know the Elohim of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov blatantly ignore Yah’s commandments that directly prohibit his chosen ones from engaging in and inviting into their community those who practice and advocate for an LGBTQ lifestyle and its agenda? Well, according to an article written by Rabbi Denise Eger, who is described in the article as “the lesbian rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood”, there is this inherent problem that is associated with the “very literal fashion in which religious texts are often viewed” (“What Does Judaism Say About LGBTQ People?). And in that article, Ms. Eger provides her reader with the remedy to the general adherence to the literalness of religious texts (of which I presume she means the Tanach), whereby it is imperative that people of faith “bring their critical, insightful mind to whatever text they’re reading…and that they do not check their mind at the door”.
Assuming this is the basis upon which Reformed Judaism and the Orthodox and Conservative Judaisms are also bringing to the spiritual table on this issue, the once referred to “people of the Book” are abandoning the very Book that Abba Yah entrusted them to safeguard. That Book that Shaul referred to as the Oracles of Yehovah (Romans 3:2)) is unapologetically being replaced by hasatan’s book of lies. His book of lies wholly supports the sentiment of satanist Aleister Crowley’s infamous declaration: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”.
This very sentiment was present with our ancient Hebrew cousins back in the day. And sadly, it remains with our Jewish cousins even today.
This “Do as thou Wilt” Sentiment is not limited to our Jewish Cousins
Beloved, my intention here is not to focus attention on the spiritual deficiencies of Judaism. The insidious intrusion of the LGBTQ agenda and lifestyle into the realm of Faith is not limited to Judaism. We, unfortunately, see clear evidence that it has permeated into Evangelical and Fundamental Christianity. (But what would one expect when the keeping of Torah by our denominationalist cousins is firmly rejected by them.)
Returning to her excellent article entitled “Prostitutes in the Temple: What are Drag Queens doing in the Church?” (11/18/2022), journalist Carmel Richardson documents the many occurrences of:
- “Drag Gospel Festivals.”
- Promoting transgenderism as a perfectly acceptable lifestyle option for members from the pulpits of certain denominationalist churches that have been described as being “loud and proud”.
- Drag Bingo.
- Drag Queen Halloween church celebrations.
- Congregation leaders having people arrested who protest against these events taking place in their churches.
- Churches use their congregants’ tithes and offerings to financially sponsor and put on such activities that more times than not are focused on sexualizing the congregation’s children.
- And having drag queens performing in the churches on holy days such as Pentecost worship service (as was the case of an upstate New York church).
All this just to name a few.
If anything is to be learned from this horrific intrusion into what is supposed to be the sacred realm by the abomination that is LGBTQ, is the reality that so many church leaders and their congregants are as morally bankrupt as their drag queen performers.
Carmel concludes her short piece by writing:
“There is something-Someone-particular about a church that belies the whole transgender ideology, and so it is there they feel the need to shout the loudest.”
Indeed, no truer words have been spoken to date on this issue.
Scripture Confirms that Yah is Nonetheless Displeased with Such Abominable Acts Taking Place Amongst Those who Claim to be His
Differences in doctrinal beliefs aside beloved, Yah is none the least happy with the state of the organizations and people who are supposed to be set apart to preserve, teach, promote, preach, and model His Words and Way of Life to a world that is desperately in need of saving. And one cannot help but know within their spirit that judgment is not only coming to this nation and the world at large but also, judgment and Yah’s righteous wrath will likely begin with the so-called church.
I’m reminded of that most frightful event that the Prophet Ezekiel documented just before Yah’s Spirit left the first Temple because the morally bankrupt Jewish leaders opened their doors to hasatan and his ways. In that eeriest vision, as Yah takes the prophet on a somber tour of the Temple that was supposed to be His set-apart dwelling place, He says to the prophet:
“…Hast thou seen this (this being the ongoing abominations taking place at the temple), O son of man? Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these” (8:15).
And after showing Ezekiel the various and numerous abominations that were transpiring at the Temple proper as though they were sanctioned of Yah, Yah declares the following:
“Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose (i.e., they basically are thumbing their noses at Me!). Therefore will I also deal in fury: Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them” (8:17-18; KJV).
Is it a light thing O Jewish Synagogues and Denominationalist Churches that you commit such abominations and that through your arrogance and disrespect for Yah and His Ways, filled the nations of this world with violence and provoked Yehovah Sabaoth to anger, as you go about your abominable acts thumbing your very noses at your Creator? Why have you forsaken your charters to call people to repentance and bring many sons and daughters into a knowledge of Yehovah and of His Ways? Do you really think you will get away with such foolishness?
And once the dust settles from the wrathful judgment to come and you and your followers stand before the righteous judge, Yahoshua HaMashiyach, what will you say and do when He declares unto you:
“…I never knew you: Depart from Me, you that work iniquity/lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
Truly the fear of Yah our Elohiym has become the rarest of traits among all human beings these days. And so, we who are called by His Name, are to boldly recognize that the ego of the world’s religious leaders are inflated and are without integrity. But for our part, we are called by Yah to live by our faith (Habakkuk 2:4). And so, let us then take to heart the wisdom of the Apostle Paul who wrote to the Messianic Assembly at Galatia:
“Let us not be weary in well doing: For in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially them who are of the household of faith” (6:9-10; KJV).
Beloved, it’s time for us to focus on the steadfast purpose of our walk and our relationships with Yehovah and our brethren in the true faith once delivered, as we await our Master’s glorious coming. Let us remain “unblameable in holiness before Yehovah, even at the coming of our Master Yahoshua HaMashiyach with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Teshuvah is Desperately Needed
The point of this post is not about the abominableness of homosexuality. I should not have to comment on this reality since the scriptures are clear as to where Abba Yah stands on this subject (see Genesis/Beresheit 19; Leviticus/Vayiqra 18:22; 20:13; Deuteronomy/Devarim 22:5; 23:17; Judges 19:22; Romans 1:26-28, 30-32; 3:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). But what’s at stake here, and what Abba Yah is desperately attempting to get His chosen ones to understand and stand against, is the blatant disregard that His supposed chosen ones have towards Him and against His Torah. Contrary to what should be spiritual conventional wisdom, those who are supposed to possess knowledge of Yah and His Word are not only speaking in favor of the LGBTQ agenda but are also encouraging their congregants to accept and embrace that community along with its abominable lifestyle.
The Prophet Yesha’yahu (aka Isaiah) wrote:
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (5:20; ASV)
Of the religious leaders of His day, our Master used harsh words to describe them:
“You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44; NET)
Beloved, those who claim to belong to the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov and who are boldly and unapologetically getting into bed with the LGBTQ community are, like the drag queens and homosexuals they support and promote, children of hasatan. And because they should know better than transgress Yah’s Torah in this and in other areas of their lives, they are primed for Yah’s wrathful judgment. For indeed, that wrathful judgment is coming to those who claim to possess His name and ecclesiastical authority. To those who deny Yah’s truth in their teachings and in their behavior (Titus 1:16). And to this world that has chosen to call that which Yah says is good, bad, and that which Yah has declared is bad, good.
Beloved, I ask you, why are the Jewish Rabbis and the so-called teachers, preachers, evangelists, pastors, and ministers of the 21st century west Church, who claim to know Yah and His Word, not condemning the LGBTQ agenda and lifestyle? Why are they not calling their congregants and the nations to repentance? Why are they embracing wokeness and inclusiveness? Why are they encouraging their followers to celebrate the LGBTQ community and their lifestyles from their pulpits?
Like the Apostle Paul/Shaul, in confronting those of the Corinthian Assembly who were being permissive in their handling of the abominable sin that was taking place in their midst:
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up (i.e., you are arrogant), and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the Name of our Master Yeshua Messiah, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Master Yeshua Messiah, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Master Yeshua. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah, our Passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:1-7; KJV).
It’s time that we who are Yah’s chosen ones stand against the abominations that are ongoing in the faith communities. It’s time that we speak the truth as it relates to those abominable transgressions. It’s time that we ourselves seek Yah’s forgiveness for our silence and tolerance of such pervasive sins in our midst. It’s time that we walk uprightly before Yah and before our fellow man—regardless of who they may be—and image Yah in all the earth. It’s time that we call all who would belong to Yah to repentance. To Teshuvah.
Indeed, we cannot stop people and their organizations from doing what they intend to do. But we can certainly stand firm and walk in our faith and not tolerate their foolishness in our midst. We must not have anything to do with such individuals and or their organizations. We must certainly come out from them and intercede on their behalf. That they will come to realize the error of their ways, repent, and return to Yah and ways while it is still time.
Shalom Beloved.