Be Not Called Rabbi

There was an interesting discussion on why in Messianic Judaism, leaders are often referred to as “Rabbis” on the SeekGod Forum.  It pretty much says it like it is, so I thought I would share it 🙂

http://www.seekgod.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=137

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sheep wrecked:

Does anyone know why Messianics call their leaders, “Rabbis”? Why do they think getting an ordination in the teachings of messianic Judaism gives them the right to be called “Rabbi” when they have not studied in a true Yeshiva?

Inquiring minds want to know ……..

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Rose of Shushan:

Sheep that is one of my pet peeves.For many reasons.

First Jesus specifically said

Mat 23:8 But you be not called Rabbi: for one is your Teacher, even Christ; and all you are brothers.

That should be reason enough alone.Those who call themselves rabbis and preach Jesus ,(with authority since most will then set themselves up as teachers of Christians or believers) are being hypocrites with a capital H.
Then another reason.It is deceptive and depreciating to the real rabbis of Judaism.
In Judaism one earns the title of Rabbi by attending certain schools and abiding by certain protocols.
The only reason why a messianic would wish to assume the title of Rabbi is to deceive in my opinion.I know this sounds harsh but let’s face it, Jesus said don’t call anyone Rabbi and real Rabbis do not preach Jesus they preach Judaism.
What other reason could here be, its assuming the title of something that you are not.

And also the same goes for when people call Paul Rav Shaul. I can imagine Paul being horrified at this and responding with the above scripture

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Vic:

Rose. Pet peeve of mine also.

And you know the most hypocritical part, out of those same mouths advocating being called rabbi in the Hebrew roots and messianic world—is the statement we have to keep the commandments and do what Jesus said. Else we are antinomians , lawless, and all sorts of slurs.

Just as they mess up a whole bunch of Scriptures–they mess up their favorite one:

Matthew 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus also said:

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Funny how such a simple commandment as not being called Rabbi or Teacher is so hard to keep for these self appointed ‘leaders’.

Wonder why?

This is how Paul presented himself or was presented in the Scriptures, quite often just as Paul, or:

Act 13:9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,)
Act 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they

Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated

1Co 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you

Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds.

1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Phm 1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

John > Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

3Jn 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

James>Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Jas 1:2 My brethren,

Peter> 1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: …1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Jude> Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Nowhere do we see them focusing on themselves, having inflated egos, demanding to be esteemed, or referring to themselves or anyone else as “rabbi”.

On the contrary, they invariably called themselves servants of Christ, and constantly pointed to Him, even in their salutations. They used the words apostles, disciples, brethren, brother or sister, elders–always lower case. They were the apostles who walked with and bore witness of Jesus Christ, and yet they showed not pride in that, but the servant quality that Jesus showed them. They were not respecters of persons, nor did they expect special treatment, special rules, special excuses, special labels. They cared about the things and people Jesus did.

Jesus said, by their fruit you shall know them. And having rabbi plastered all over a persons website or “teaching” material, or levite or whatever other label is used to reel in followers–shows they lack knowledge at the very least, of the Word of God. There is one Teacher, and One Good Shepherd, and that is Jesus Christ.

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Yeshivas

EDITED WITH MORE INFORMATION

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My connections in Hebrew Roots give me lots of exposure to issues within that whole venue that disturb me. I get emails sent to me by people that make me shake my head in amazement at how far people will go to follow their particular “teacher”, completely assured that there is no malice intended.

Yesterday, an email was forwarded to me promoting a “Netzarim Yeshiva”. As I am real familiar with this particular teacher, who also calls himself a Rabbi [no smicha which is an “ordination” in Judaism], it did not surprise me that he is still trying to peddle himself off as a “scholar”. The pathetic thing is that this man has no credentials to offer a “Rabbinate” [Masters and Doctorate] in anything. He has no doctorate himself, other than one from a diploma mill, and not a BS or MA as a prerequisite. This information is well known fact and documented publically as a false degree. Yet, several years later, his Yeshiva still pops back up again on the internet, year after year, [under different names] to unsuspecting victims.

Not only does this man not have any degrees, he has no education in the Semitic languages that he proposes to “teach”. He is self-taught, but cannot hold a conversation in either Hebrew or Aramaic. He is quite simply, a fraud.

This online Yeshiva will cost you $125 per month and at the end, you will have nothing but a worthless piece of paper. I wonder, with that much money at stake, how one will feel when they produce this document to further a “real education” and get laughed out of the admissions office. It’s pretty tragic, huh?

I am curious why people don’t research a person like this before they put down their hard earned cash. Today, scams are a zillion a minute on the internet [especially Messianic Yeshivas > think fraud]. It puzzles me that people trust a man, but with a click of the mouse on google, they would discover exactly what kind of charlatan is picking their pocket.

Caveat emptor ………

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“A Yeshiva [Talmudic Academe]  is an institution unique to classical Judaism for Torah study, the study of Talmud, Rabbinic literature and Responsa [Rabbinic literature in a different form].  Yeshivot are usually associated with Orthodox Judaism, and generally cater to boys or men, although many modern Orthodox yeshivot also educate girls, though often in separate classrooms and sometimes with somewhat different curricula. A roughly equivalent women’s institution is the midrasha.

The term yeshiva gedola (“senior/great yeshiva”) usually refers to post-high school institutions, and yeshiva ketana (“junior/small yeshiva”) can refer to institutions catering to boys of elementary as well as of high school age. The term “yeshiva” is also used sometimes as a generic name for any school that teaches Torah, Mishnah and Talmud, to any age group.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshiva

Obviously,  Messianic “Yeshivas” have lifted the name of a Jewish institution that has been around for centuries having to do with Judaism.  The Talmudic umbrella under which Yeshivas were created is a separate and distinct religion from New Testament adherence.

Why do Messianics call an institution to teach their errant theologies a Yeshiva, which by it’s very foundation is anti- Jesus Christ, and think it’s applicable to them?

Why do Messianics continue to offend the very ones they think they need to make “jealous” for the gospel?

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I have had inquiries as to whom I am referring in the commentary portion.  Although my intent is to expose the teaching and agendas of those in Hebrew Roots so that people can be aware of what is being promoted within that venue, I believe it is also important to expose individuals that are schilling their brand of  “truth”.  The commentary is based on an email that was forwarded to me was originally from James Trimm.

Whether or not you are familiar with him, he is a blemish on Hebrew Roots that needs to be exposed.  Here are some links to give you a full picture of his unBiblical behavior and doctrines:

Follow the links at the end of this article for more info – there are 27 articles in all – Vicky has done an extensive documented presentation:

http://www.seekgod.ca/trimmdoc.htm

more indepth information:

http://home.flash.net/~purnhrt/truth/

the plagiaism issue with proof in textual comparisons:

http://www.lebtahor.com/truth/trimm/plagiarisms/hrvpage.htm

the scam involving his adultery [he openly admitted by email to his followers] and the break up of Trimm’s beit din:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Messianic_Apologetic/message/14317

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