From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Friday, May 30, 1997 6:56 AM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: The Heart of the Ministry
From: "LaSarge, Paul A" <Paul.Lasarge@HSV.Boeing.com>
To: "'heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com'"
Subject: RE:RE: Bride of Christ Book Question
Hello Eddie,
>
>Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question so
>extensively. You kinda creamed me in your response :-), but I guess I
>had it coming because, no, I haven't read the whole book yet, and maybe
>I should have waited till I had read it before I wrote you with the
>question. It came up over lunch and I said, "Hey let's write and ask
>him!!" And then (and I'm still kicking myself), I forgot that you said
>the Bride (not carnal Christians) would inherit New Jerusalem, a part
>the Kingdom, so you got me there. I had a good laugh at myself. In the
>future I will try to be more careful.
>
Paul,
I had NO INTENT to "cream" you if that means
PERSONALLY ATTACKING you in any way shape or form. I DID INTENT
to answer your question in a COMPREHENSIVE MANNER for the BENEFIT of
our MEMBERS. Therefore, sometimes, I talk in generalities about
Christianity and Christian beliefs. Do not take ANYTHING PERSONAL.
This is NOT my heart on this newsgroup. The purpose is to teach,
share, exhort and discuss Biblical issues for the benefit of ALL
MEMBERS. Therefore, I try to answer and discuss all questions and
issues from this perspective. When I asnwered you question, it was
with the intent that I was sharing and teaching ALL MEMBERS.
>
>I am still puzzled about one thing though. Let me clarify this. First
>of all, I would NOT judge someone based on their doctrine. I would have
>to judge myself and clearly not be surprised if I was judged by others
>based on doctrine. I HAVE been judged by Christian brothers based on
>the things I'm learning from you and it's not fun.
>
Hey, join the club! Of course, we all know of ministries
who present if you do not believe their way then you are a member of
the "false and deceived church". My heart in this newsgroup is
simply:
Ephesians 4:15:
"But speaking the TRUTH IN LOVE may grow up in him in all things,
which is the head even Christ"
I view ALL MEMBERS who have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as their
personal Lord and Savior as BROTHERS and SISTERS in the Lord.
Therefore, I view that when we discuss various issues that we are
having a "family discussion".
Discussion are for GROWTH and UNDERSTANDING with the heart
of speaking the TRUTH in LOVE (Ephesians 4:15)
>
>NOBODY's doctrine is 100% correct.
>
AMEN and AMEN! But there are PLENTY in Christiandom who think
that it is their God-given duty to JUDGE others and if you do not
believe their doctrine and label them as being "deceived" and members
of the "false" church.
For example, my HEART is for ALL believers to embrace their
Hebraic Roots and see that the SABBATH and Biblical Festivals are
ETERNAL and that the ORIGIN of Christmas and Easter comes from
paganism and has been "Christianized" historically by the Catholic
church which the Protestant church has followed by tradition. To me,
if you still keep Christmas and Easter you are not "deceived" and a
part of the "false" church. This can't be so if you believe that
Yeshua / Jesus is Messiah and have accepted His work on the tree /
cross for the forgiveness of your sins.
To me, it then becomes an EDUCATION issue and after that it
becomes an OBEDIENCE issue as the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit leads
and guides each believer and they become convinced from the witness
of the Holy Spirit in their hearts.
So, the heart of the ministry becomes a focus of TEACHING
and EXHORTING and ENCOURAGING other BELIEVERS to know and understand
the heart of G-d and the ways of God and His Kingdom so that they can
be MORE OBEDIENT to Him not to label them as "deceived" and part of the
"false" church.
>
>
>I agree that salvation is not based on doctrine. It seems you thought I
>was saying that salvation IS based on doctrine.
>
At no time did I think this thought.
>
>Oh well, I guess I didn't frame my question very well.
>
I understood your question and I answered it for the
benefit of ALL members. Many unlike yourself have not ordered the
book and do not have the priviledge of studying this VERY IMPORTANT
teaching with 476 pages of in-depth Bible scriptural references.
Therefore, I needed to answer your question and a BASIC OVERVIEW for
the benefit of the members in the newsgroup.
>
>What I meant was
>Scripture clearly states that idolaters, liars, adulterers, etc shall
>not inherit the kingdom of heaven. I know an ex-pastor who got involved
>with another woman, his wife divorced him, and he is currently living in
>another state with this other woman. He has not repented, so it seems
>to me he is an adulterer. He has turned his back on God. I'm applying
>the definition of the word to the actions of the man. I'm not judging
>him, though I think Paul would, at the very least, have some very strong
>words for him. I Corinthians 5 comes to mind. My question to you was,
>how does this kind of situation measure up against once saved always
>saved? Or do I STILL need to finish the book first? :-)
>
I do not directly answer this question in the book
because the focus of the book is to show the SPIRITUAL
CHARACTERISTICS of the Bride of Christ without making ANY ATTEMPT to
judge any individual member of the body of Christ. It is G-d who is
the judge of all living things and His judgments are true and just.
You still need to finish reading the entire book to get
a better perspective on what the book teaches and the scripture that
are discussed.
>Oh, I understand that Christianity needs to quit looking at things from the
>"once saved always saved" point of view and apply a Bride of Christ
>outlook to our lives. I am learning so much and my doctrine has seen
>many changes in the last eight or nine months. I thirst for the
>knowledge of God.
>
THIS is the heart that G-d promised WILL be filled --- those who
HUNGER and THIRST after righteousness. The Ruach HaKodesh
(Holy Spirit) WILL lead you and guide you in your ENTIRE walk if you
keep this attitude. In Matthew 5:6 it is written:
"Blessed are they which do HUNGER and THIRST after righteousness: for
they SHALL be filled"
In Psalm 24:3-6 it is written:
"Who shall ASCEND (grow into spiritual maturity) into the hill of the
Lord? or who shall stand in his HOLY PLACE? He that has clean hands
and a PURE HEART ... He SHALL receive the BLESSING from the Lord ...
This is the generation of them that SEEK HIM, that SEEK thy FACE ..."
Psalm 24:3-6 is NOT talking about "salvation" but talking
about living our LIFE and the REWARDS for living a LIFE pleasing to
God. This is the focus of the book. I FULLY agree with your
statement:
" ... Christianity needs to quit looking at things from the once saved always
saved" point of view and apply a Bride of Christ outlook to our lives
..."
I heard a preacher say one time, "Do you believe in 'once
saved always saved' ?? His reply was: "To ME it is not issue, I
don't want out".
*I* am not seeking to find out the least that I can do and
still go to heaven. I have seeking to make Yeshua/Jesus LORD over
EVERY AREA of my life and the HEART of the book is to ENCOURAGE
believers to do the same thing while pointing out the G-d promises
GREAT REWARDS for those who seek to fulfill the GREATEST COMMANDMENT
which is:
"LOVE God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength ..."
(Deut 6:4-5, Mark 12:28-30)
LOVING G-d with ALL our HEART is a LORDSHIP ISSUE not a
salvation issue. This is the focus of my life and my ministry.
If a brother/sister who has accepted Yeshua/Jesus is not serving
G-d with His entire heart and is living in sin (for whatever reason),
I am content to let G-d judge the person because I KNOW that HIS
judgment is RIGHTEOUS.
But, *I* am seeking to love God with all my heart, mind,
soul and strength and encouraging other believers to do so also.
>
>Eddie, I truly appreciate your ministry and the way you patiently exhort
>us, teach us, and answer our questions, no matter how badly framed they
>are. Thank you, my Brother.
>
>Shalom,
>Paul LaSarge
>
Your question was not badly framed.
Eddie Chumney
*************************************************************************
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From: "Jose J. Bernal" <jbernal@carroll.com>
Subject: Re: Should HaGoyim eat Biblicly Kosher?
Dear Eddie,
Shalom. Thank you for your reply to my e-mail on grace and Torah
observance the other day. I read it enthusiastically, and although I
believe you misunderstood some of my statements, your reply was very
informative. I have not had the time to write a reply because of my
itinerary, but Ha Shem willing, I will hopefully do it this weekend
(if I have the time). Still, thank you so much for taking the time
out of your busy schedule to write to me. The fact that you did,
displays the dedication and love that you have for the work of G-d. I
praise Ha Shem for that and again, I thank you for it. Your ministry
fills a void in the body of the Messiah that is crucial at this
juncture in history. It is crucial for the Jewish believer, because
he no longer has to feel compelled to abandon who he/she is in order
to know the Hope of Israel. It is crucial for the Gentil believer,
because he/she, by studying the Holy Scriptures in the light of its
cultural and historic context will gain a much deeper understanding of
his/her faith and the true worship of G-d. Keep up the good work.
Oh, by the way, can I mention your ministry in the book I am currently
writing on Hebrew Christian/Messianic Jewish History?
Shalom.
JOSE J.BERNAL
From Eddie:
***************
Yes, you may mention my ministry in the book that you are
writing. THANK YOU for your kind words and for showing such a good
heart in doing so.
As I mentioned above, I answer the questions on this
newsgroup for the benefit of our members from 49 states in the USA
and over 30 foreign countries. All these members are at various
levels of spiritual growth.
I appreciate your question, your comments and your kind
words.
My heart is to be a "mini-shepherd" to God's people being
entrusted with a ministry to teach the "sheep of God" the richness of
the roots of our faith knowing the Yeshua/Jesus is the GREAT SHEPHERD
(John 10:11).
I do what I do because I LOVE G-d and I am HIS SERVANT and I
consider it a JOY to serve HIM !!! The L-rd is GOOD and GREATLY to
be PRAISED! HIS MERCY endures FOREVER !!! We serve
an AWESOME G-d !!
Eddie Chumney