Nomiaphobia
Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr
I recently ran into a person who grew up in a church where a so called Christian leader MISUSED a Law they don't even believe in to control and abuse their congregants. The Law is not at fault, the so-called "Christian" who wields it is. When I began to talk about the Law immediately the spoon-fed pat answers we were all brainwashed to regurgitate as Christians began to spill out. The first reaction I was tempted to take was to role my eyes and say, “Not another one, they just don’t get it and I am too tired of beating this dead horse…” But I didn’t, This person was a true follower and pursuer of Messiah and His Holiness, so I knew that there was something deeper to this knee-jerk reaction. When I found out this person was spiritually abused by someone who used the Torah as whips and chains instead of child-proof lock on the kitchen cabinet I knew I had take a new approach in discussing the Law with this person because they linked the Torah with the Spiritual Abuse they suffered under a so-called “Christian” leader. So I explained it to them this way. I told them that their abuse was sadly like a woman being sexually abused as a child, then growing up and getting married and having intimacy issues with her husband because she has a grave misconception about sex and intimacy in the bonds of marriage due to her abuse. Similarly, I told them, they have been abused by folks who claimed to wield the Law and thus they now have a grave misconception of the Torah and thus have had intimacy problems with our “Husband” Adonai, seeing as we each are the Bride of Christ. Then I explained that many Christians do not know that Jews do not believe they have to keep the law to earn their salvation. This is what Christianity has taught them. No this is not how Jews see the Law at all. They see it as marriage vows they keep because they love their Husband. So the motivation in keeping the Law is not one of fear, but of love!
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – II Tim. 1:7
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love… For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. I John 4:8, 5:3
I also told them that it makes no sense that God would take Israel out of Egyptian bondage just to put them under another form of bondage, the bondage of something called the Law. That is what Christianity says about the Law isn't it, that it is a bondage? To me that is a sadistic and cruel God, and one I do not wish to serve. The Law is not a bondage but freedom. I then asked them, what makes American a FREE COUNTRY? ITS LAWS! The laws keeps one free from anarchy and harm, it allows us to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Similarly there is freedom in the Laws of God (Torah) that Christians misunderstand or refuse to understand. Even across the internet I say the light bulb turn on for them, I seen they had an “Aha” moment, that it all began to click for them. Praised be His Name!
So next time one reacts in a fear when you speak of the Law (Torah), though you may be tempted to roll your eyes and smack your forehead and say, “Not again.” Ask the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to give you discernment because you may be dealing with a Nomiaphobic person who has been spiritually abused. It’s not their fault, remember they are the victim.
I wrote a book for people who have serious misconceptions regarding the Torah, it is called, “Get Back to the First Century” and is available in paperback or electronic format at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/raybash
