Choose Orthopraxy–Right Heart Avoid Orthodoxy –Right Behavior

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were putt and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:41-44).

Can you picture re the scene described above? Most Nicolaitan faith communities would esteem someone who popped substantial funds in to t he collection plate. But o r Lord commends the motive of the heart (see 2 Corinthians 9:7).

We realize t hat t he word “orthodox” is weigh ted wit h powerful emotions in many areas of Christendom. The word itself refers to sound religious doctrine. There’s nothing wrong with a desire to up h old truth.

But sadly, orthodoxy has devolved in to a mentality t hat is only concerned with being right. For these people, right behavior is valued regardless of the condition of t he hear t. As a result orthodoxy focuses inordinately o n right rules, right creed, right behavior.

A certain degree of orthodoxy is necessary in order to apply Scriptural commands and principles to you r life. But, as wit h many of t he Pharisees, people get caught up with knowing about t heir religion, and judge others based on preconceived standards of “correct behavior”.

To truly follow Jesus, we need to focus on the biblical importance of “orthopraxy.”  Orthopraxy maybe defined as the way our love for Jesus is expressed in the enactment of our lives.

 

Orthopraxy causes us to regard life and people m ore and m ore from the perspective of The Fathers loving kindness and moves us to act in accordance with His love.

Keep in mind that the Hebrew language emphasizes the verb or action, while English emphasizes the noun or subject. Because of t his difference, English lends itself more to the “w hat” of orthodox y than to “why” of orthopraxy.

Co m pare Two Hebrew Farmers

The Torah testifies to His heart’s concern for t he poor an d for t he strangers who own n o property. That loving kindness prompted Him to present precise instructions for those w ho were blessed with crops:

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gat the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the YHVH your God (Leviticus 23:22).

Suppose you were living in 200 BC and you met a Torah Observant farmer who viewed his life from an orthodoxy perspective. You notice his harvested fields and see that he didn’t go back a second time to glean them. You ask him why he didn’t, and he replies, “Because Go d commands me not to.”

Then you go a little further down the road and meet an orthopractic farmer who hasn’t gleaned his fields either. In answer to your question he gladly responds, “My Father loves the poor and the unfortunate. Out of love for Him and for them I don’t go back over my fields.”

Can you see the   difference?  Same behavior yet an entirely different motive. And motive is everything with our Father, because it answers the “why” of an action according to His hear t.

Two examples from James clarify t his distinction:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (1:27).

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if i t is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do (2:15-18).

Is James emphasizing orthodoxy or orthopraxy?

If you’ve grown in the character of The Messiah, you’re motivated to love and care for others as He would. For the very reasons He did what He did!

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” John 8:29

Why would one ‘want to’ observe Torah? 

Because said He so?  That’s orthodoxy.  Living according to His Word from the outside in?   (Can you say religion?  Denominationalism?  Dogma?  Man-made Doctrine?

Or because you Love The Messiah?  ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (Instructions).  John 14:15.

Need more Orthopractic Motivation?

 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.   If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  John 15 8-11

Inspiration and 99% of this article goes to Mike & Sue Dowgiewicz, send him an e mail of encouragement, a 3 tour of duty Viet Nam Vet and battle tested Soldier in The Creator’s Army along with his wife sue.   Mikedowg@aol.com

www.Restorationministries.org

'Father of The Bride'....Where is She?

I have to share an event that happened to me recently that profoundly impacted me and shed lots on understanding my Faith Walk with Our Father. 

Are you familiar with the movie ‘Father of the Bride’ (1991) that featured Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, yet it was originally released in 1950 that had Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor.   It’s based on a comedy play of the same name by Edwin Streeter.

The gist of the story is that Mr. Banks, the father of the bride, seems to be out of sorts and out of steps in trying to arrange the plans for his precious daughter’s wedding.  It seems that everyone in the story knew what was going on, except Mr. Banks.  I had the privilege of playing that role in the local Community Theater, so I’m well acquainted with the hoopla that surrounds the father.  In the end, all goes well, however, getting there the comedy swirled around the father and the audience was privileged to see is all unfold around him.

In Steve Martins version, we see the father; love his daughter very much, wanting only the best for her as he wrestles between the joy of the moment and the memories of his daughter growing up too fast.  At the wedding day, all is arranged; all goes perfectly with the ceremony, and the reception, with the exception that the father of the bride seems to be out of sync the whole day to various events, that keep him one step behind and missing out on everything: including the wedding, their vows, the reception, the father-daughter dance and the couple leaving for the honeymoon. While it is humorous, it is also sad and frustrating for not only the character but you the viewer.

In April of the this year, my youngest daughter, was very excited to come home and visit us for a week.  She moved off a year ago and is living in Seattle.  It happens to all, life goes on.  You raise a family, they all move off.  I did.  It’s the circle of life.

Yet, she came home for one week, and it was nice to have her home.  We didn't do anything fancy, yet, as a father, I was happy to know she was home, and she was in her bed as I left the house each morning as I went off to work.  Like it always was for the 1^st 20 years of her life.  Sweet memories.

Madelyne’s flight was for Friday, (Good Friday) in the afternoon.  Here’s where the misunderstanding begins.   I knew she was leaving out at or around 5, I didn't know if perhaps we would take her out to eat prior.  ‘I thought’ I would get a call or text from my wife or daughter saying they were on their way to the airport or restaurant, and I would meet them.  We live 40 minutes from the airport and I work only 10 away, so I’ll hang out at work till I get the word and meet up with them.

So the day goes by, and I’m piddling here and there, Good Friday afternoon, nothing happening important in the business world, so I piddle with this and that, doing ‘make work’ watching the clock and waiting for ‘the call’.  

4:00 nothing.   

4:15 nothing.  

4:30 nothing… 

I knew her flight was around 5, so I texted my wife wondering where they were.  I waited 10 minutes, no response.  Then I texted my daughter the same message, she texts back, ‘Where are you?’   I reply ‘At work, where are you?’    ‘The airport.  I’m about to board the plane!’ 

Right then all my emotions drained, I call her and say, ‘Oh Madelyne, where are you?  I’ll be right there.  She said, I am boarding the plane you won’t make it.  What happened?  

That’s when I told her I was expecting a call from Mom or her letting me know you had left the house and were on the way.   Needless to say, it was a mis-communication and a misunderstanding on all parties.

She got on the plane and left for Seattle.  I got in my car and drove home, alone in a funk.  How could I have missed it!  I didn't get to say good bye, I didn't get to hug her, I didn't get to tell her I loved her again.  I drove home, crying to myself.  Got home and still pondered the moments, the hollow feeling, the ache of missing someone you love.

Yes I talked with Abba about it.  I wasn't mad, I just was reflecting, deeply.  I know that ‘things happen for a reason’ and that ‘there are no coincidences’.  That’s when it hit me:

‘Father of the Bride’

I felt like Steve Martin and it wasn't funny.  He missed it.  Then I could almost hear Our Father say, ‘Rick, My Bride misses me almost in the same way every year’.

It was then I had a slight glimpse into the heart of The Creator, OUR Father, when He said: ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them, to fear Me and to guard all My commands always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”  (Deut 5:28)

You see Our Father, ‘The Creator’ has His appointed times He wants to meet with His Children, you can read about them in Leviticus 23.  These are His appointed times, yet we were taught they are ‘Jewish’ feasts, ‘Jewish’ Sabbaths.  They’re not!

(Lev 23:1-2)  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of יהוה, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these:”

(Lev 23:4)  ‘These are the appointed times of יהוה, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.”

(Lev 23:44)  Thus did Mosheh speak of the appointed times of יהוה to the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Can you hear Our Father longing for us to meet with Him on His appointed times?  We have been mislead over the eons to miss the dates.

His Son didn't change them or do away with them.  Father didn't make a mistake when He said these are ‘Perpetual-Forever’ Appointed times. (v 14.21, 32, 41)

Removing errors sharpens our game….  All we have to lose are the      errors we hold and then we gain the Truth.  There is nothing but shame to be gained by willfully holding on to false opinions.  

(1Jn 2:28)  ‘And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.’

Are you a Walking Shadow?

Ever wonder why it was that many signs and wonders were taking place among the people at the hands of those sent by The Messiah in Acts 15?   So much so, that none of the rest of ‘them’ dared to associate with them, however, the people held them in high esteem? V-13   Yet, multitudes of men and women were constantly being added to their number.  Today multitudes of men and women are constantly either fleeing the ‘church system’ or ‘steeple chasing’, leaving one building to try another, and another etc.    Today we have sick people, weak in their faith, not sure of what they believe in, in contrast to Acts 15 where ‘something was manifested’ to the extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them!

What!?   Why!?

Because the people who were sick, or afflicted with unclean spirits were ALL being healed!  Acts 15:16.   Now that’s what I call an affordable universal health care system!   Notice what happened when folks get healed and set free apart from the Government health care law!   V-18:  “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”  (I’d say that’s a different take on having hands laid upon someone!)

Are we seeing any of this in today’s religious culture?  Why not?   What’s with Peter’s shadow?  What’s your shadow doing to the people you walk by?   Are you prepared to be arrested for healing people because of your shadow?  It happened to them, why don’t you think it won’t happen to those who follow? 

What is ‘the shadow’?

Colossians 2:17 tells us that there are 4 things that are a ‘shadow’ of what is to come but the body of Messiah.  Question you need to stop and ask yourself, Are you in ‘the Body of Messiah’?    If so, then there are 4 things that are a ‘shadow’ of your life according to verse 16.  (Read them both for yourself and check me on this)

1)       What you eat and drink.   Your diet.  Who tells you what food is?  The USDA?  Or The Creator?

2)      What Festivals and Holidays do you honor?   Men?  Your religion?  Hallmark?  Or The Creator?

3)      What calendar are you on?  Pope Gregory’s?  Julius Ceasers?   Or The Creators?

4)      What day do you stop and rest and honor His 4^th Commandment?  Sunday?   Or The Creators?

Didn’t ‘Paul ‘tell us that these 4 things are the ‘shadow’ of what is to come?   The Body of Messiah?  If not, then tell me what is the ‘shadow’ he’s talking about?   I’m looking for the same shadow Peter had!  One that helps people and not a shadow that keeps people in the dark!  Like mushrooms that are kept in the dark and fed crap and to grow, that’s religious B.S.   That system produces spores and not fruit! 

So what is ‘this shadow’ that produces health and wholenesss and  send unclean spirits packing?  According to ‘Paul’ it’s obedience to The Creator dietary instructions, His Appointed Feasts (Lev 23),  His reckoning of time (months), and His Sabbath, not yours!   Do these and you’ll cast a ‘shadow’ of good things to come!   You want that?  Or do you want to keep the same rut you got with the same results you get?

A better question is, Who is this Shadow?  May I ask these questions?

1)       Is the Messiah the Rose of Sharon?  (Song of Solomon 2:1)

2)      Is He the Lilly of the Valley?  (IBID)

3)      Is He a Lily among thorns?  (IBID)

4)      Is He ‘My Beloved’  (Your Beloved?)  V-3

5)      Is His fruit sweet to your taste? V-3

Then He is your Shadow!  In whom you take great delight!  V-3!   (Go read it now and enjoy!)

Lamentations is not a ‘pleasant or happy’ book.  When is the last time you read it?  Let’s get real who wants to read about mothers eating their own babies?  (Lam 2:20)  Which by the way is what is going on in North Korea this very day, google that to see for yourself.  Likewise, Lamentations has this verse as well:  ‘We had to pay for our drinking water,’ (Lam 5:4)    Think about that next time you open up a plastic bottle of water!

Back to The Shadow you will be!   Lamentations 4:20 says this:  “The breath of our nostrils, The Creators Messiah, was captured in their pits, of whom we said, "Under His shadow we shall live among the nations."

Are you under His Shadow?  Are we producing the fruit of Peter’s shadow?   Are we walking as Peter walked in obedience to the 4 items of the ‘shadow’ of good things to come: Body of Messiah?

I know you can and want to claim this verse in Psalm 91.  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”  We can’t claim it if we are not doing the 4 things that are ‘the shadow’ of the Body of Messiah, right Body?   (Not to be saved!  Because we ARE saved and we Love Him! John 14:15)

Why is this important and timely to know about ‘Your Shadow’?  

Read Isaiah 4, slowly sometime, it’s an end time prophecy about what’s coming.  When?  No dates, just dots.    So if it’s not for you and me in this hour we need to be telling our children so they can prepare their children, hmmmmm Psalm 78 come to mind right about now?

After you read about all the stuff that’s going to happen in Isaiah 4 1-5, and yes you will be here for that!  Aren’t you glad about verse 6!? “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.”

Are you beginning to see the importance of walking in The Light?  (I John 1:7), because the light you walk in will determine the shadow you cast.  It’s about the importance of keeping His Sabbath, His Appointed times, His diet, His calendar?  Walk His way and don’t let anyone judge you and say get off that stuff and do it our way, Sunday, Christmas/Easter, Ham sandwiches, and pagan god named month calendar.

Keep in mind there is one who masquerades as an ‘angel of light’ that will have his shadow!   His shadow won’t heal, it will make sick, it won’t bring Life, it will kill, and it won’t restore, it will destroy!   Hmmm, Steal, Kill and destroy, who is that?  Joh_10:10;   “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Don’t believe me?   

Read Isaiah 30 very slowly sometime and see the shadow of the restrainer, the evil one, the one who restrains.   Isa 30:1-3  Woe to the rebellious children, says YHVH, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!  Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.”  Be sure to read the whole chapter of Isaiah 30 and see how important The Creators feasts and His instructions are vs. the one who has counseled us to rebel!!!! 

As the Prophet Scooby Doo once said, “ Rut Ro!”

Finally; did you know The Creator cried when He cast Lucifer from His presence?  He also commanded the entire heavenly host to mourn at His loss?   Read Ezekiel 31 and pay attention to verse 15.  So Our Father understands the loss of a loved one that He trusted! 

I say this to point out that ‘other’ shadow, that you don’t want to find yourself in.  Verse 17 of Ezekiel 31;  ‘ They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in  the midst of the heathen.”

I find this fascinating, how about you?   What shadow do you want to cast?  One that heals and helps and restores or one that hurts and restrains and keeps folks bound up in the dark?

We were privileged to receive this message on His Sabbath 3/1/14 from a dear Torah teacher, who happens to be a widow, it you are so led and want to help her, then mark your gift, widow.   I assure you 100% will go to her.

Questions or comments always welcomed, Rick@Godleyworks.com

Only the Shadow Knows......

 

The Shadow of things to come???? 

'That which was is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done!!! there is nothing new under the sun' (Ecc 1:9)

Walk after your own device at your own risk!!!

Jer 18:12  And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

Insipid 'Christianity'?

A cafe owner, famous for his soup, was told by his accountant that he could boost his profit significantly if he would add just 5 percent more water to the recipe. The accountant was right. The water was added and no one noticed. Months later, the cafe added 5 percent more water and still no one noticed. Later, more water was added. And then a little more, but never more than 5 percent because they had now "proven" that customers cannot detect just 5 percent more added water.

As you suspected, the cafe owner didn't lose his customers incrementally, but all at once."The soup here just isn't as good as it used to be."

Tired of the same old watered-down sermons?

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it” 

(Deuteronomy 4:2, also Deuteronomy 12:32,  Rev 22  18-19)

Someone messed with the recipe!   The teachers learned it wrong and now teach it wrong!  That's why we get what we got!

'Throw that old stuff out!   The Creator did away with that.', says the Teacher who was taught wrong!

Say what?

(inspired from The Monday Morning Memo by Roy H. Williams, The Wizard of Ads)