There are several difficulties Messianics face. Traditionalism is about the biggest obstacle… traditionalism that implores the Messianic to lean to traditional Christianity or to lean to traditional Judaism.

Traditional Christianity is fraught with pagan infiltrations and influences.

Traditional Judaism has refocused its corp purpose to be anti-Jesus. And that in the words of non-Messianic Jew Michael Medved. Citing that the purpose of Judaism ought to get back to being about being Jews rather than how not Christian “we” are.

footnote: lots of luck with that since it’s the Jew’s own Bible that those who reject Yeshua are “running” from…

In the absence of the Jewish leadership God intended in what has become “Christianity,” gentiles (who may have been sincere and did the best they could) could not help bringing some of their pagan culture and upbringings into the arena of faith in the Jewish Messiah.

Some would argue that Constantine and mum (the Trumps of the 4th century CE) set out to invent a religion… the religion of state… a crumbling state… in an attempt to shore up that state… which would make sense of all the pagan additions some to appease Roman citizens or rulers, some to appease conquered pagan civilizations…

And the Protestant Reformation did not reform nearly enough. Most Catholic traditions have found their way into the most far flung variety of Christianity.

So here stands the Messianic with Bible in one hand and prayer shawl and yarmulke in the other staring at the cross roads ahead. The answer is not in the paths ahead nor in the elements… but in the word.

Rabbi Sha’ul / Apostle Paul made a very interesting comment:

Romans 9:6 (KJV)
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

How can one be Israel and not Israel?

And this has application not only under the new covenant but under the old covenant as well (Jeremiah 31:31-37).

My point is, the thing that has most hindered the Messianic is the patterning of one’s faith after that which is NOT Yisro’el (both Jew and Gentile). That we Messianics are the pattern setters and not the other way around. And in so being we will bring the word of God unhindered and unfettered by human interpolations into the lost and dying world…

So let it be that the name Yeshua HaMoshiakh will enter this dark world and be spread throughout till he comes back.

For everyone needing spiritual food, the entire Zion Sake Shabbat service is available live on the internet every Friday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. The sermons can be heard on their website anytime. Rabbi Eric Carlson is a very dynamic speaker and quite balanced in his theology.

my mainstay of the Messianic Community consists of individuals that I have met over the Internet, and just a few real-live people that are tangible. Unfortunately, the deeper one goes in their walk with Yeshua–and in pursuit of the Truth: the Whole Truth and nothing but the Truth–the fewer people you run into who are traveling that same path. But Baruch HaShem for that small handful who are!!

As strange as this may sound, no words can express my gratitude and thankfulness for this “online community”.
It is here that we get to share our hearts and the Scriptures with one another; and share how HaShem is working in our hearts, lives and ministries. The fellowship has blossomed into regular phone calls, cards and letters also among the few. I do wish it was more tangible though.

All involved in my online fellowship community, are scattered around the country and the world, and we all listen to different Teachers and have somewhat differing perspectives. To me this is healthy, as it causes all of us to challenge one another, and question the thoughts and beliefs that are presented to each other. I think the road to finding the Truth–and weeding out error–lies in the multitude of Believers presenting their cases objectively and then looking for “loop holes” that would crash a thesis.
If there are no Scriptures that can overthrow your beliefs–then you are probably onto the right path. So we take those more solid beliefs and see who else concurs with them.

I wish Messianic congregations were as plentiful as Christian churches are, but they are not. So I think it’s time all of us forge ahead and do our best to obey Yeshua’s Commission. Perhaps if we all rose up and started a Network, a multitude of new congregations would be birthed!