Some are Quick to Judge

By Richard Sison | 2013

It is sad that  some people have NOT completely researched the whole messianic movement and  after meeting some, have concluded that all of us are the same. I would  certainly love to present to you some groups that DO NOT fall into the category of some questionable theologies. When  people started to call messianic groups as "Cults", they already painted black many legitimate messianic groups. Obviously, they seem to have encountered those  with bad theologies but what about others who dont fall into that category? There are many messianic groups in Israel and North America that adhere to the Jewish customs and Biblical practices at the same time and yet have the right theologies and same beliefs with mainstream evangelicals but they dont call themselves "christians". There are also a lot of so-called evangelicals who  do not adhere to the Biblical theologies and what do you call them? 

If you  further examine the early believers especially those in Judea and Asia Minor  during the 1st and 2nd centuries, you will find them very different from those christians in Rome, Alexandria and other places. No wonder pope or bishop Victor of Rome towards the end of 2nd century called them heretics and yet if you examine deeper, they actually adhere to the teachings and practices of apostles John, Phillip and other heavy weights of the early faith. ​

Quoting from the History of the Christian Church by Phillip Scahff vol 2:

Much more  important and vehement was the third stage of the controversy between 
190 and 194, which extended over the whole church, and occasioned many synods and 
synodical letters. The Roman bishop Victor, a very different man from his 
predecessor Anicetus, required the Asiatics, in an imperious tone, to abandon 
their Quartadecimanian practice. Against this Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, 
solemnly protested in the name of a synod held by him, and appealed to an 
imposing array of authorities for their primitive custom. Eusebius has preserved 
his letter, which is quite characteristic.
 
"We," wrote the Ephesian bishop to the Roman pope and his church, "We observe 
the genuine day; neither adding thereto nor taking therefrom. For in Asia great 
lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again in the day of the Lord’s 
appearing, in which he will come with glory from heaven, and will raise up all 
the saints: Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who sleeps in Hierapolis, and 
his two aged virgin daughters; his other daughter, also, who having lived under 
the influence of the Holy Spirit, now likewise rests in Ephesus; moreover, John, 
who rested upon the bosom of our Lord, who was also a priest, and bore the 
sacerdotal plate, both a martyr and teacher; he is buried in Ephesus. Also 
Polycarp of Smyrna, both bishop and martyr, and Thraseas, both bishop and martyr 
of Eumenia, who sleeps in Smyrna. Why should I mention Sagaris, bishop and 
martyr, who sleeps in Laodicea; moreover, the blessed Papirius, and Melito, the 
eunuch [celibate], who lived altogether under the influence of the Holy Spirit, 
who now rests in Sardis, awaiting the episcopate from heaven, in which he shall 
rise from the dead. All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover 
according to the gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of 
faith.

 "Moreover, I, Polycrates, who am the least of you, according to the tradition 
of my relatives, some of whom I have followed. For seven of my relatives were 
bishops, and I am the eighth; and my relatives always observed the day when the 
people of the Jews threw away the leaven. I, therefore, brethren, am now 
sixty-five years in the Lord, who having conferred with the brethren throughout 
the world, and having studied the whole of the Sacred Scriptures, am not at all 
alarmed at those things with which I am threatened, to intimidate me. For they 
who are greater than I have said, ‘we ought to obey God rather than men.’ … I 
could also mention the bishops that were present, whom you requested me to 
summon, and whom I did call; whose names would present a great number, but who 
seeing my slender body consented to my epistle, well knowing that I did not wear 
my gray hairs for nought, but that I did at all times regulate my life in the 
Lord Jesus." (pages 216-217)

"Did we ever wonder why is it that the letters of Jesus in  Revelation where only sent to the seven congregations in Asia Minor and not to bigger "churches" like Rome, Antioch, Syria and Alexandria?"

We also have to ask  why did apostle John preferred to stay in Ephesus after his exile in Island of Patmos until his death. We also have to ask why the practices John's disciples like Polycarp and many others in Asia Minor were different from the rest of Christendom during that time? Why was it that John being the last apostle and outlived many were not considered as the "pope" or the highest ranking bishop during that time? Did we ever wonder why some people have the guts to go against the only living apostle at that time (3 John 1:9). Why is it that John kept on repeating in the gospel and the epistles that he wrote to keep the commandments of God? 

Sometimes it is better to understand fully before we do name calling. Summing it all, practices are not  salvation issue and come to think of it, even some "minor" deviations in beliefs does not disqualify a person from being saved. If you read and study the beliefs and writings of many apostolic fathers (e.g., the converts of the apostles) and  anti-nicene fathers (2nd-3rd centuries) you will find that they too have major flaws in theology and have different beliefs and practices from modern evangelicals yet we know that many of them (if not  all) were true believers and were saved because they gave and lost their lives for Jesus. Many of them were martyred in the most inhumane way and they stood their ground till death.
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 After all said and done, we cannot deny that salvation comes only from Jesus of Nazareth as there is no other name under heaven that we can be saved. If you want to discuss this further (or if anyone are interested to know more), you can reach us at elders@lightofmessiah.ca and I believe it is important to distinguish who are  real and who are not, at least among the messianic community. God bless and shalom!