True Biblical Doctrine (PART4)

Shalom!

I have been gone for a while and just returned.

My apologies for anyone who reads this blog, and there was nothing there for over a month.

In the teaching, “True Biblical Doctrine” PARTS 1-3, I have been talking about three (3) Hebrew words that have been translated as doctrine;

Shemua,

Leqakh, and

Mussar.

I have explained the first two (2) meanings; shemua and leqakh and I will now proceed to the third: MUSSAR.

Mussar

People put a lot of emphasis on what they CAN NOT be told to do and none on what they SHOULD BE told to do. There is not one BODY (corporate) that doesn’t need a set of guidelines, rules or laws and sometimes by-laws. To think that you can achieve anything by not having a set of precepts is just beyond comprehension.

There are rules and laws that should be enforced, however, they should be administered with mercy, justice and compassion. They should also be comprehensive and easy to understand. This is where mussar comes in.

What Laws of the  Bible can and should be administered and implemented?

Mussar!

Mussar is the “ethics” extracted from Torah law.

Mussar is what can be read and explains itself when read;

• …You shall not commit adultery
• …Do not covet
• …You shall not oppress a stranger
• …Remember and keep the Sabbath
• …Do not have a different weigh for measuring; one when you are buying and one when you are selling.
• …You shall not eat pork.

No one can claim that they cannot comprehend these simple words.

When you read these words they are no different than the ones I am typing.

Uncomplicated, clear, and understandable.

It is when you attempt to debate the MEANING of words is where you get divisions.

There are some Torah instructions that don’t have a clear interpretation, however, they are comprehensible and they are easily followed, such as;

1. …You shall make for yourself tassels and put them on the forur corners of your garments, and
2. …you shall not boil a baby goat in its mothers’ milk.

Just because WE don’t have an understanding or interpretation of WHY we should do this, we are not to question the “sensibility” of these commands, but take an action to do them.

This is not to say we shouldn’t discuss them to gain meaning or a personal answer or even to get a communal “Leqakh” of them,  but these are mussar and must be obeyed.

Does keeping these commands save you? NO!

Does speaking with one another about them contribute to a closer relationship in community?

Yes!

Mussar and a peoples desire to have a understanding of YAHWEH’s Law is what should be sought out for, not just for Israel, but for all who associate themselves with its HOUSE.

Shemua , Leqakh and Mussar are all interpreted “doctrine”.

We want and NEED doctrine that causes cohesion and unity; rather than dispute and division.

Once you set your mind to interpreting doctrine in this manner,  you will be able to see how much more you can agree on.

Leqakh can be sought to strengthen ties within The Body of Messiah,  but these can never be expressed as commandment law to someone outside your community.  This is what the P’rushim (Pharisees) did and was condemned by Yahshua.

We will always have shemua, but this isn’t Capital T TRUTH, just speculation at best.

SUMMARY 

Mussar is The Law that

• … cannot be refuted or disguised,
• …must be obeyed,
• …causes unity,
• …is merciful, and
• …develops faith (and The Faith); not only in YAHWEH and Yahshua,

but WITHIN The Body of Messiah.

Leqakh is an individual or congregational interpretation of the Law, that may become a ;

1. …a traditional understanding,
2. …a general tradition, or
3. …custom for any or all congregations or communities, however, (one cannot be forced to believe and one should not try to force one to believe this type of doctrine),

• …without consent of the leadership,
• …assent from the community,
• …and from the individual persons in the congregation.

Shemua are things that are “heard” (true or false) about the Bible.

They may be mentioned so as to get clarification, but are usually of the things that cannot be proven with any definite answers, but only by speculation.

Shemua should not be DEBATED or ARGUED by the leadership, individual, community, or The Body of Messiah.

Shemua should never be accepted as a custom or tradition or in the general belief system of the Body of Messiah.

We at New Maccabees Ministries should take the stance that we are assembled to:

• …promote unity,
• …develop new relationships with other, and to
• …discover our purpose in The Body o Messiah.

Thank you for your time.

In Yahshua’s name,

Shalom

Stay tuned ! 

.

Your brother in Messiah Yahshua,

Kenath