Time to Come Out of the Closet

Time to Come Out of the Closet

Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

For far too long many Messianics and Natsarim in an attempt to separate themselves from, and not associate with Christendom, and have taken on an Orthodox persona in an effort to connect ourselves with and show our solidarity to the Jewish Faith, while at the same time maintain our belief in Yeshua the Divine Messiah. But really where has that gotten us? To date no non-believing Jewish entity has acknowledged or accepted our Natsari identity as legitimate. Yet we have taken on many customs and traditions of the Orthodox and make ourselves  feel good about it by saying, “There’s enough allusions to Yeshua in the customs and traditions of Judaism that we really don’t need to make a point of bringing them out;” convincing ourselves that we are not denying Yeshua’s Messiahship or Divinity. This may be true in a technical sense as a matter of commission, but we transgress by omission. True, we are not committing a sin of commission like Kefa (Peter) by actually and verbally denying Yeshua in anyway (Matt. 26:69-75), we may not betray Him like Judah (Judas) did by commission (Matt. 26:14-16, Luke 22:48), but we are denying Yeshua by not speaking boldly about Him, His Messiahship and Divinity.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. – Rebbe Yeshua - Matt. 10:33

You say, I don’t want to be like those Jews for Jesus who shove Yeshua down the Orthodox throat. No one is asking you to. But it’s as if we are afraid or ashamed to do anything that may even hint to an Orthodox that we are Messianic or Natsari.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. – Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) - Rom. 1:16

Hate to break it to you, but most of them can spot a Messianic/Natsari a mile away. We are not fooling anyone! Just like the nerd in school who dresses up in football jerseys and tries to hang and be a part of the jocks and cheerleaders. Sure they may tolerate him and them make fun of him behind his back, but he will never be one of them. Same with those in the Messianic and Natsari movement that are trying to pass themselves off as Orthodox Jews and look like half-baked wanna-bes! 

Did you know you just can buy any old long black coat and a black fedora and pass yourself off as an Orthodox Jew!? Why? Because the clothes are like gang paraphernalia. Each sect of the Orthodox has their own special regulation black coats and fedoras. Each sects hat band is a different width and style, etc. Only an insider would truly know what is what. Stop pretending! You’re not fooling anyone!

In being all secretive and hush-hush about Yeshua in our practice we have unwittingly become like Kefa (Peter).

But Peter followed him afar off… Matt. 26:58

We follow Yeshua, but “afar off.” And if we do that, what is the next step in that parade?

DENIAL!!!

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. – Matt. 26:69-75

No wonder as a movement we have lost so many to the Karaites or the Orthodox, because we have wimped out and denied Messiah by omission! If the Lubavitcher’s (Chabad) can proudly and unashamedly proclaim Rabbi Schneerson as their Rebbe and Messiah and Breslov can proudly proclaim Rabbi Nachman as their Rebbe, then why are we ashamed to boast about our Rebbe and Messiah, Yeshua!É

If Yeshua is the Divine Messiah and a physical manifestation of the Written Torah (John 1), then why keep quiet about Him!?

Folks, it is time to stand or bow out!
It’s time to put Yeshua back in the center where He belongs, right next to the Written Torah, for HE IS THE LIVING TORAH!

It’s time to come out of our closet, our prayer closet, our tallits and boldly proclaim Yeshua as our Rebbe and Divine Messiah.