Following The Ancient Paths
Posted in Working Out My Salvation With Fear and Trembling
In recent weeks I've been becoming more and more frustrated with a lot of people. Some of these are friends some are people I don't know well enough to consider friends, yet.  It isn't the people specifically that have frustrated me, it is the differing theology and hermeneutics. While wrestling with certain events and situations within our congregation, DH and I have found ourselves increasingly frustrated which makes us easily frustrated all the more by new circumstances that should be more easily tolerated.This past week while I was looking through a forum that I frequent, I noticed a conversation about how to deal with those within a congregation who might be percieved as heritics. That caught my attention so I thought I'd read what these wise men (most of them are men and I consider most all of them there very wise) had to say on the subject. One man spoke of how it is okay within a body of believers to address the behavior of another believer but their theology is off limits. Their theology is between them and HaShem but their behavior while within the congregation is subject to correction by others (I prefer the leaders) in the congregation. Another man followed that up with a comparison between the handed down and inherited theology (or in some cases, the theology they are new to) and an ancient boundary stone. His point was that it is not for us, as fellow believers, to move their ancient boundary stones (theology). These were very wise and needed comments for me last week! What I have gleaned from these wise men in their conversation was that while there are some within our congregation and in our lives who do not agree with our hermeneutics, that is okay. We need to be loving and patient with others who do not share the same views as we do. Where the correction needs to come is when their behavior is inappropriate. For example, if a believer stands up within the congregation and shares their understanding of a particular passage or subject, that is perfectly okay even if it does not line up with the majority of the hearers. To express your belief and understanding should never be disallowed within a body of believers. How else are we to learn and grow? We need opposing views in order to assess our own position. But when a believer begins to condemn another because they do not share the same interpretation of a passage or a subject, that is behavior that needs to be addressed. Or when a believer is having 'covert' conversations with others about the understanding of another believer, that needs to be addressed. These things need not be done in secret. I don't know if there are any others out there who deal with these kinds of subjects in their lives but this has been a constant source of headache and frustration in our home for months now. And of course, as each week goes by more straw is heaped upon the back of the camel and last week (2 Shabbats ago) was the last straw. I lost my patience and needed some serious "cooling off" time. The constant prayer that day was, "Father, am I upset because they don't believe like I do and I am proud enough to think that I am right and they are wrong? All of these issues are really bothering me and there doesn't seem to be very many here who see things like we do. What am I to do? Do I say something? Do I let it go? I need help not to be so irritated with these people because I know that one who conceals an offence promotes love and that love forgives a multitude of sins. You are Love and I want to wear Your Name properly, so please help me." So finding this gem of an understanding within this message was a true blessing this past week. I thought I'd share it, just because. It might be helpful to someone else. Blessings! |
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