(This article reflects the viewpoints of another and does not necessarily reflect the understanding of Qumran Bet Community or AmYHWH. Perhaps truth would be better served if you also added your contribution to this piece.)
THE LABELS THAT DIVIDE
Ken Graydon
Every
thing we do, in our work, play or worship, attracts a label. We define ourselves
in ways that often restrict or divide us. Even supporting a particular team puts
you ‘in’ with one group and ‘out’ with many others.
On
this walk we meet many labels, some factual, some objective and some wishful
thinking. How important are these labels?
Think
of words like Jew, Moslem, Catholic, Protestant, Terrorist, Freedom Fighter.
Every one of these words is a label that someone chooses and every one of those
words brings an emotional response. We find that we begin to see the label and
not the person.
This
is not to say that all labels are wrong but that labels are not the person. A
person we label as Jew also has other labels, such as, Parent, Customer, Friend,
Member, Supporter, Employee, Boss and so on – as does every other label
wearer.
In
the more specific situations that we face on this walk there is some imperative
to find a label. Are we Hebrews, or the Lost Tribes of Israel, or Danites or
some other legendary group?
The
ETERNAL is way ahead of us! Of course. The things we think up are no surprise to
the CREATOR of the Universe. The answers to all the questions we come up with,
are already written down and available to us in the Tanakh.
We
have to study the book to find them. In a time of ‘instant’ everything from
coffee to meals to relationships; we have to take time out to study the Tanakh
and thus to be rewarded beyond our expectations by words of love and wisdom that
fit your life, here and now.
The
ETERNAL knew that YOU would be called to this walk – HE probably wonders why
it took you so long to get here! – and that you would face that part of the
ancient philosophical question ‘WHO AM I?’
The
answer to that question is – it doesn’t matter who you are. See Exodus 12:49
There shall be one law for the native
and for the stranger who resides in your midst
See
2nd Chronicles 6:32-33 And
also to the stranger, who is not of Your people Israel, but will come from a
distant land because of Your great name, Your strong hand and Your outstretched
arm, and they will come and pray toward this House. You
shall hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and you shall do whatever the
stranger calls upon you, that all peoples on earth may know Your name, to fear
You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that Your name is called
upon this House.
The
ETERNAL only has one label to use and that is OBEDIENT. If you can wear that
label you are equal to any other obedient person no matter what your heritage.
There is only one law and it applies to everyone! See Isaiah 66:20-24 And
out of all the nations, said the ETERNAL, they shall bring all your brothers on
horses, in chariots and drays, on mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem My holy
mountain as an offering to the ETERNAL – just as the Israelites bring an
offering in a pure vessel to the House of the ETERNAL. And from them likewise I
will take some to be Levitical priests, said the ETERNAL.
For
as the new heaven and the new earth, which I will make, shall endure by My will
declares the ETERNAL so shall your seed and name endure. And new moon after new
moon, and Sabbath after Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship Me said the
ETERNAL.
They
shall go out and gaze on the corpses of the men who rebelled against Me.
The
ETERNAL is calling you to obedience – the only label worth having – and from
those of us who respond, He can use us in the Wonderful World to Come.
Do
not be put down by other people who claim some label and act as if they are
superior to you. Know the truth – it’s in the Tanakh. Of course, for any of
us to achieve the label OBEDIENT TO THE ETERNAL we have to go through a lot of
other steps like Repentant, Trying Hard, Really Sorry, Please Help Me.
Do
not allow a label to divide – or to keep you from the truth. The ETERNAL wants
you to be obedient to HIM. Be included with the only label that means anything.