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Mishpachah Yeshua Newsletter A Newsletter To The Family Of Jesus From Restoration Ministries The Hebraic family is not simply an individual or private matter. [click here for a printable copy]
Dear Friends,
These past few weeks the Lord has been
inspiring us with revelation about the Hebraic Restor-ation:
When the men of today who are still lacking years of wisdom and
maturity become qualified in God’s sight to serve as
elders in His faith communities, they
will reflect Jesus by confronting injustice.
The Lord impressed upon Sue and me to
write a series of newsletters about the issue of justice. We hope to
show that in order to fulfill God’s purposes, we must
confront the injustices we see—to bring light into
darkness.
When I read the Bible for the first time,
I had been in the Navy for 8 years. I remember thinking, “Jesus Christ must have written Navy
regulations.” During my 10
years in the Navy I witnessed the Bible being lived out more than
in any church system of which I’ve ever been a part.
As the truth of the Restoration has gone
out, I marvel at how many retired military personnel find it
easy to embrace. I hadn’t realized until the Lord began
revealing it to us that the military personnel regulations were
established to promote justice and to swiftly deal with
injustice. Justice undergirded the atmosphere of camaraderie
and cooperation needed to fight effectively. We belonged to and
felt part of other people in ways I’d never witnessed
during my 11 years of counseling church leaders.
JAG — Justice Simulation
Sue, Matt, and I are avid watchers of JAG
reruns. JAG is a weekly TV show about the Navy’s Judge
Advocate General’s Office. Even though Matt has never
been in the military, he is able to glean many biblical
concepts through “simulation.” A Hebraic principle
of effective learning supports that if you can’t use
direct experience, then simulation is your next choice. Many of
Jesus’s parables are simulations through story telling.
The hearer is left to ponder, “What
would I do in the same situation?”
Matt and I are able to discuss the Bible,
JAG, and life experiences so that he can take Christ into his
workplace. In essence, Matt is God’s instrument for
bringing about justice where he works. Kind of a different
reason for showing up for work, isn’t it?! I believe that
the Hebraic restoration may have its greatest influence in the
marketplace rather than in any church system. The marketplace,
like the military, requires you to be “for real” if
you are going to represent Jesus.
More “Court” Justice
The Lord has been flooding my mind with
examples of how justice has become so much a part of my life.
The first anecdote He reminded me of took place during my last
Navy assignment aboard a helicopter aircraft carrier where I was
in charge of divisions which launched, recovered, and refueled
aircraft. During my time off I enjoyed playing pickup
basketball. A group of ‘regulars’ showed up, and
each time we picked sides, the black players didn’t want
any white guys on their team. That’s how it went for
several weeks, and became known as “chocolate and
vanilla” basketball.
Each of the black players was talented and
could beat any one of the white players one-on-one. Yet, as a team they never
won a game against us. Jackson guarded me each time we played.
He worked in the fuels division and had me in size by 40 pounds
and 4 inches. I liked him a lot and there was mutual respect
between us — I didn’t elbow him and he didn’t
trip me. I wanted to meet his parents some day and compliment
them on the wonderful son they had raised.
One day Jackson came into my office to get
some papers signed. As he stood in front of my desk I looked up
and asked, “Jackson, aren’t you tired of us white
guys beating you every time we play?” With a deep sigh he
answered, “Yes sir, it just kills me. But I can’t
figure out how you do it.”
“Jackson, you black guys don’t
care for each other. You never pass the ball until you’re
forced to. We have three guys guarding the man with the ball
and you still hate to pass it to the open man. You enjoy the
individual limelight, but you don’t
care for each other.”
Now, Jackson’s size and demeanor
demanded respect from everyone. About 30 minutes after he left
my office he returned with all of the black players.
“Sir, would you mind telling these brothers what you told
me?”
During the next few weeks things on the
court changed quickly—”vanilla” never won
another game. More important, “vanilla” and
“chocolate” dissolved. I found myself playing with Jackson
instead of opposite him. Several months later our ship won the
fleet basketball championship. The guys were grateful for the
conversation we’d had in my office that day. They won
because of the selfless regard they had toward each other. They
acted justly.
Repentance Produces Justice
Many people think of “justice”
in its judicial sense—something pertaining to the courts.
God defines justice first and foremost as the righteous and
equitable way one person treats another.
As you know from our teachings, repentance is the
beginning of our salvation pilgrimage. For too long people have
viewed penitent people through the Greek pietistic lens—a
pedestal for the holy few. Some people regarded Mother Theresa
this way. Not so! Sue and I know people who have worked with
her. She, like many others who live repentantly, extended
justice to the underprivileged through humane care and
fulfilled Paul’s words: “Godly
sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no
regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly
sorrow has produced in you: what
earnestness, what eagerness to
clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing,
what concern, what readiness to see
justice done...” (2 Cor. 7:10,11).
Justice is founded on a Divine
presupposition: “So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). The image of
God carries an inherent dignity
within mankind that far surpasses animal life. It also brings a
responsibility to uphold the dignity of others because they are made in His image. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of God’s children to bring about justice
for those who can’t obtain it themselves.
Because of this dignity, Jesus insists
that our treatment of others be no less than the way we
ourselves wish to be treated: “So
in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,
for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). Everything in God’s
commands and the words of the prophets is summed up in our just
treatment of others.
These words from the Book of Hebrews often
go unnoticed by our pleasure-bent society: “Re-member those in prison as if you were their
fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you
yourselves were suffering” (Heb.
13:3). Doesn’t this passage emphasize our interpersonal responsibility to care for others even in their most dire need? Why?
Because they are made in
God’s image.
Injustice in the Home:
A House Without Peace
About 10 years ago I came across an
exhaustive study on men and women and the issue of justice. The
study found that men have a significantly greater disposition
toward justice than women do. Women tend to weigh a situation
by whether it is fair. Let me state: Justice
and fairness are not synonymous.
Justice is
doing the right thing regardless of the consequences. Fairness evaluates
the benefit or pain an action will cause, but doesn’t
take into consideration whether it is truly right. Thus, people
seeking fairness may use any means in order to achieve a
desired outcome.
In homes in which the father is passive in
regard to justice and the mother controls or manipulates, the
children are likely to seek a path of fairness in life.
Pleasure and personal gratification will be the filter by which
all pursuits are measured, and a tit-for-tat response will be
their expectation. If the family is religious, they may seek
out churches that teach (erroneously) that God promises His
people only happiness. The path of justice will be appraised as
too costly—only the “narrow-minded” follow
it. Fair-ness feeds on the ego of a man. It is always concerned
with, “How will this benefit me?”, or worries,
“What will people think?”
When I meet a couple for the first time, I
like to determine as soon as possible if the man is just. A just man has a home filled with peace. One of the early signs that a home lacks
justice is when a wife starts defining her husband’s
character or behavior negatively to me while the man is
standing right there. Oh, I don’t blame her; he could be a
man and speak up for himself! But if I befriended this
type of man, it would most likely prove a shallow relationship.
From past experience I know that Sue would begin to lose
respect for me. And her respect isn’t worth forfeiting
for anyone!
When Paul writes that “the wife must respect her husband” (Eph. 5:33b), this command pivots on the
husband being a man of justice. Think about it: When you meet a
just man, you don’t have to agree with him, but you find
yourself respecting him. A man of justice can articulate his
position without resorting to intimidation, manipulation or
persuasion. To seek what is right is his sole motivation.
Caution:
Many men’s ministries that have
sprung up in the past few years have created a phenomenon of
“Christian male groupies.” They go to the big
conferences—buy the cups, hats, and T-shirts—they
can talk-the-talk, but can’t walk-the-walk. Too many
uphold little or no justice at home, which is why they enjoy
interacting with men apart from
their wives. The pushiness of their
wives embarrasses them in front of other men.
Do you really want to know a man? Face him in front of his
wife in his own home! Don’t entrust your friendship with
a man until you meet his wife. A wise recommendation:
“Judge a man by his wife’s eyes.” If he is a
man who is loving and just, you’ll see it in the peaceful delight of
his wife’s face. The wife of a just man trusts God to
make any needed changes in him without manipulative
interference.
“Love and faithfulness meet
together; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psa. 85:10).
If I were to describe my relationship with
men who cherish justice, it would be found in the above verse.
A specialness develops in the relationship, much like that of
David and Jonathan. Just like them, each man of justice knows
the cost he has had to pay to exercise justice. It is similar
to the feeling backpackers have when they meet others miles
into the mountains on a strenuous trail.
As I disciple younger men I sometimes take
them to 1 Chronicles 11 and the list of David’s men of
valor. The chapter recounts David’s yearning for
water from the well at Bethlehem: “So the Three broke through the Philis-tine
lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and
carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead,
he poured it out before the Lord. ‘God forbid that I
should do this!’ he said. ‘Should I drink the blood
of these men who went at the risk of their lives?’
Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would
not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty
men” (vs. 18,19). Then I
ask, “Why did David pour out the water?” Think
about it...
To be a truly just man, you must be dead
to yourself. Jesus speaks of a just person when He says, “For whoever wants to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel
will save it” (Mark 8:35).
Jesus was already dead to Himself in order
to fulfill His Father’s will. In this light He confronted
the injustice of the religious establishment. They were making
God’s people “twice the
sons of hell.” Injustice
always needs to be confronted.
Our Just Heritage
Kindness is special form of justice. Some
personal examples might prompt ideas for you to make the
concept of justice a reality in your own family. While Sue and
I were at the retreat center, we accepted people regardless of
whether they could pay. During some memorable retreats
inner-city churches brought a number of destitute people. One
church from Providence couldn’t tell us exactly how many
would be coming because they were still locating them under the
bridges and in alleys. I asked Sue recently, “At the
retreat center you always spent more on food for the
underprivileged than for those who could pay. Why was
that?” Sue responded, “I learned from my mother
that we who have much should share with those who have less. If
this is our only opportunity to bless these people, then
let’s do it right!” I am proudly married to a
Proverbs 31 woman!! She "speaks
up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of
all who are destitute” (v.8).
A few years back my Mom and her brother
were discussing an event that took place with their father. My
grandfather was a farmer and some of the nearby farmers were
black. When my grandmother died in 1932, they had the wake at
home. The black families helped in many ways. When the priest
came to the house for the wake, he told my grandfather,
“I don’t want those black people coming to the
funeral.” As soon as I heard this I blurted, “My
grandfather took them to the funeral himself and probably had
them sit in the front pew with him!”
My uncle responded, “You’ve
heard this story before!” No, I hadn’t, but I knew
in my heart the right thing to do. My grandfather faced
excommunication in order to do what was right. He knew that the
love between his wife and the people who loved her was greater
than any church regulations.
In high school I worked for a wonderful
Jewish man, Henry Abuza. He had two daughters but no sons, and
I filled a niche in his life. He was a profoundly just man and
taught me many ethical lessons. I fondly remember one of his
daughters asking me, “Mike, when you sin, are you fearful
of punishment, or sad that you hurt your relationship with
God?” I told her that I feared punishment. She responded,
“When you feel the pain your sin brings to your
relationship with God, then you will know Him.” Years
later, after reading the Bible and putting my trust in Jesus,
her words took on great meaning.
At the first opportunity I took my son to
meet Henry Abuza. I wanted to honor a man who had influenced my
life so much. Is there anyone from your past you should contact to bless for their
impact on your life?
Justice In Christiandom
When I left the Navy I took a position as
the Con-troller of a small Christian college. After a few days
on the job, I reviewed the salary structure with my payroll
clerk. I could see her increasing pain as we reviewed the
enormous injustice: 150 people on payroll, but five whose salaries
comprised over 20% of the payroll budget. Also evident was favoritism in
the salaries—knowing the right people got you higher pay.
I pointed out this inequity to my boss, who happened to be one
of the five (and whose boss was also one of the five). I got
nowhere.
A few days later the Chairman of the Board
of Trustees invited me to lunch. He asked about my satisfaction
with my job, and I responded that I was about to submit my
resignation. I told him that I felt like a German guard at the
gas chamber telling the people they were going to take a
shower.
He was a man of justice, and within a day
or two he hired a Christian payroll consultant to develop a
just pay scale. Needless to say, I made some enemies. Most
accounts of people who stand for justice, whether in or out of
the Bible, warn that you will bless some and be hated by
others. By the way, I didn’t resign.
One of the other members of the Board
wrote a book at that time, “A
Turtle on a Fence Post.” The
gist of the book, as I remember, is that if you see a turtle on
a fence post, it’s obvious that someone placed it there.
The application is that each of us is placed in situations in
which God wants something remedied according to His Word. If
you will open your eyes and represent Jesus, you will see your
home, neighborhood, workplace, or school as opportunities to
right injustices. In some cases it may be as simple as extending
courtesy to another person. In others, you may need to confront
situations of oppression, slander and gossip. You may even risk
loss of job or even your life.
Each day we face choices in which our Lord
is asking us to act justly on His behalf. When we choose to
reflect Him, watch what He does!
The Righteous Seek Justice.
The Just Live Righteously.
The simplest form of justice is found in
the etiquette we depend on in our relationships. Let me quote
from the introduction to our series entitled:
Christian Etiquette For God’s People
“In the
same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
When you see the word
“etiquette”, you probably think of things you have to do to be
socially acceptable. You might suppose “good
manners” to be the rules of the game of life — the
do’s and don’t’s you have to observe in your
daily walk. But for God’s people good manners are much
more than holding a fork correctly or knowing how to introduce
someone.
Good manners also mean kindness and
consideration for others, respect for the feelings of other
people, a sincere acknowledgement of right and wrong, a genuine
awareness of someone you meet on a street, at work, or in
school. Good manners mean the consideration and honor you grant someone as a person, not because of
their position or popularity, but because they are human beings “made in the image of
God.”
“It is not having bad manners or
good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but
having the same manner for all human souls.” George
Bernard Shaw
Each follower of Jesus is, in reality, a
public compliment or public rebuke for Him. Each Christian is
Jesus “in the flesh” to everyone they meet.
The rebelliousness and injustice of
today’s society has in many ways crept into God’s
people. Studies have shown how little difference exists between
Christians and worldly people. Christian
Etiquette For God’s People is
a series of lessons on behavior which represents a loving,
trust-filled relationship with our Father. In essence,
“the world will know we are Christians by seeing our
loving enactment.”
“For our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).
Justice for Israel???
After Sue and I returned from Israel I
went to my old mentor, Henry Abuza, to share what we had
learned. He showed me letters he had been writing to Jewish
authorities both in Israel and the US, confronting them about
their injustice. He told them it was wrong to use Arab labor to
build wonderful dwellings for Jews in Israel while the Arabs
continued to live in squalor. In his Jewish way he reminded
them of Matthew 7:12 and recommended they build sound
apartments for the Israeli Arabs as well. He knew that God
backed kindness more than force.
God is bringing the Jewish people back to
Israel as He promised in His Word, and He calls for Gentiles to
help them return—but not to take sides. Our Lord knew
that Arabs would be there when He brought this about.
Isn’t it amazing that the biological descendants of
Abraham are fighting each other? Don’t you think our God
is looking for us spiritual
descendants of Abraham, Gentiles
who put their trust in Jesus, to bring about justice between
the biological descendants?
God wants Israel as well as the US to
learn to trust Him and to realize the wonder of that
relationship. Both countries need hearts of stone to be
excised. Neither a new president nor military might will save
either of us; only repentance can stir up justice.
Justice for the Unborn???
I am “for life”, and the 35+
million babies aborted in this country grieves me. But I am not
an “anti-abortionist.” God’s justice calls us
to stand “for something”, not “against someone.” When you stand with Him for something, He
gives wisdom and power to succeed. For
life calls us to serve the needy
women, bring abstinence materials to classrooms, elect those
who will repeal death legislation—but not to pass
judgement by hating the wrongdoers.
Justice for Minorities???
The same injustice my friend Henry is
attempting to correct in Israel is right here in Arizona where
Hispanics and Native Americans are dominated by the affluent.
Many rich people retire here from all parts of the US; most
have no idea how their quest for pleasure rips off the
underprivileged. Who will speak up for them...the Church? Some
of the biggest congregations with the biggest names are right
here in Arizona. Yet, more money goes into their worship team
than in remedying injustice in the surrounding community. Why?
Who do you think is chosen to be on the Board of these
churches— humble laborers, or bankers and realtors? If
you could survey the church leadership of this nation, I
believe you will find a propensity toward
“fairness” and self-interest. After all, the most
prosperous have the greatest influence and the most assets to
share. But they also may be the most blind to the injustice in
their community.
"There is no one righteous, not even
one; there is
no one who understands, no one who seeks
God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless; there
is no one
who does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10-12).
Let me be bold: The above passage was
written to the Church in the US. Christian pollster George
Barna’s recent survey reports: “In a large scale
survey of adults, we asked people to identify the most
important goal of their life. NOT A SINGLE PERSON SAID IT WAS
TO BE A COMMITTED FOLLOWER OF JESUS...Less than one out of
every five born-again adults has any specific and measurable
goals related to their personal spiritual development.”
“Like a muddied spring or a polluted
well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked” (Pro. 25:26).
We hope in the next few months through our
newsletters to help sensitize God’s people to the
injustice they face around them each day. Each of these is a
chance to reflect Jesus. Our just choices will leave fruit that
will last. It is imperative, especially if we claim the name
“Christian”, that we do not leave a legacy of
unconcern in the face of injustice. I’d like to leave you
with something I saw at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in
Jerusalem:
“They came for the Communists, and I
didn’t object — For I wasn’t a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I
didn’t object — For I wasn’t a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I
didn’t object — For I wasn’t a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn’t
object — For I wasn’t a Jew;
They came for me — And there was no
one left to object.”
Martin Niemoller, a German Protestant
pastor.
“I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me.”
I know this letter goes out to many who
are struggling as you obey the call of Jesus on your lives.
These letters are written for those of you who have forsaken
the pleasures of “religion” and are willing to
endure the hardship of relationship with our Lord. I join Paul
in “[Encouraging] each of you
with these words: we will be with the Lord forever!!!” As the hymn says, “It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!”
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