Workman

We had been communicating with each other via the "message thingy". I left a couple of posts after his last communication.

"Arrabon" was his handle on this board. I haven't heard from him for 2 years. I'm afraid he may have went Home.

It's pretty obvious that "the fellow" you are referring to is Hank Hanegraaff, aka "The Bible Answer Man" radio show. The founder was Dr. Walter Martin, with whom I had the honor of speaking to during the program in the 80s. I don't know much about Eastern Orthodox Christianity, except that you're required to stand during the service, something this old guy couldn't handle. It's ok to use their names, just leave out the gossip.

I put them on the same level as bumper stickers. If people don't know you're a Christian by how you live your life and treat others, no amount of verses in the form of tattoos, bumper stickers, shirts, flags, trinkets, etc. are going to help. Pray and let God bring the people to you. Even Jesus had to introduce Himself to people, e.g. lady at the well. He did not stand out in a crowd (Judas had to kiss him when he was hanging out with the disciples because there was nothing about his appearance that stood out). "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2 In short, visible "ads" that you're a Christian are a waste of time.

I think a few people here are confusing the original discussion about Messianic Jews. There's "ethnic" Jews, and then there's "Judaism". If you go to a Messianic Rabbi and ask him about something in the Old Testament, he will consult the same Bible that Gentiles use. I would have no qualms about asking the Rabbi at the Synagogue I visited about meaning of scripture in the Old Testament because he is a Christian, but Jewish by ethnicity. I also have no qualms about blending in some Jewish non-theistic customs, clothing, dancing, and singing, or using a Bible that includes the New Testament, but it's in the Hebrew language. That's no different than any other ethnic church.

I'm just looking for a Bible-believing church that doesn't imitate the world. The most practiced worldly issue is the loud rock music that takes up the biggest part of the service. It doesn't even have to be rock, any over-amplified, ear-splitting, window-rattling, hear-it-three-blocks-away music that takes up at least half of the service is a deal-killer.

Apparently, it's complicated whether it's a race or religion or both. https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/142041 https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/are-jews-a-race/ https://bestmitzvahs.com/are-jews-a-race-or-religion/

Do you also think it's wrong to have other ethnic churches, where they speak their native tongue, study from a Bible that's in there native tongue, practice non-theistic customs of their culture? That's pretty much what a Messianic Jewish Synagogue does. Take a look at this website, it will tell you more about Messianic Jews. First Fruits of Zion: https://ffoz.org/

I was expecting something more like the Orthodox Shabbats I've seen on Youtube, with the shawls and dancing. The worship of Yeshua was there, but not the traditional customs I was expecting. Perhaps it varies from one synagogue to the next, just like regular Christian churches.

One of the things I'm looking for is REVERENCE! I'm sick of all the "good time rock-n-roll" garbage in a lot of churches. It's almost a given.

Thanks. This particular one doesn't have a statement of faith, at least not on their website. The Rabbi only has a Bachelor's Degree, but he has written a book titled "Jesus Never Said Anything New". I'll be going to the Shabbat tomorrow (Saturday), I'll find out more then. P.S. What is the "off doctrine" you speak of?

I just recently found out that there's one not far from me. From what I've seen online and heard about it, it sounds interesting. There are both Jews and gentiles attending. I'm wondering about what other gentiles have experienced.

No, but I looked it up. It was back in the 1920s. I don't mean to sound cynical, but it's ancient history about a fallen charismatic pastor. https://tedhaggardblog.com/2014/06/06/smith-wigglesworth-disqualified/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Wigglesworth

https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/pine-county-minnesota-sex-offender-victor-barnard.html https://www.fox9.com/news/victor-barnard-the-history-of-a-cult-leader There's lots more if you do a search.