I was asked recently how I made the transition from Southern Baptist preacher to a proponent of Biblical thought from a Messianic, Hebrew perspective. The journey has crossed a little over forty years...too many years for this little article, or to answer the above question for my friend.
The simple answer I gave addresses a subject that has plagued men since the day of Adam. It is that proverbial mindset that originally set the feet of all men on the path of sin, but can also reverse that path to freedom in YHVH. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in Adonai with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
The writer goes on to say in v. 7, “Be not wise in your own eyes; Fear YHVH and depart from evil”. More than once in recent years of trying to share my acquired perspective of our Hebrew heritage, I was pridefully made aware of seminary degrees of the persons with whom I was sharing—with an attitude intended to trump my perspectives...wise in their own eyes.
The written Word of YHVH is more simple to understand than one might think. It's as simple as reading His Word, understanding it from a Hebraic perspective, and believing it. It's as the one-liner I once heard. “God said it; I believe it; and, that settles it.” For the record, I'm not the only proponent of Hebraic thought that has made the “humble” transition I speak of. Both my current Torah teachers are among that number...each a spiritual giant.
The simple answer given to my friend regarded a personal choice to align myself with the unchanging purity of His Word. Jeremiah wrote in 31: 34, "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law (Torah) in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
From the time I sat at my father's desk in the late 1960's and poured over his Bible commentaries, I found myself looking for the deepest of meaning within Holy Scriptures. I went from Baptist doctrine taught in those early years to seeking truth through original Hebrew word meanings in the 1970's.
Through the progression of years until this day, and forward from here, YHVH is fulfilling His promise to me through Jeremiah. Although I didn't understand it until recent years, He has been writing His Torah upon my heart. He has been faithful in His response to my frustrated accusation of silence many years ago. He said, “My son, I have been speaking to you. I've been speaking to you from My Word. Read it”.
Although the path is fraught with trials of various degrees, the transition from man's wisdom to YAH's Wisdom is rather simple...just make the sincere change of mindset. Father will take care of the rest. As with me, He will be faithful to honor your earnest and sincere choice to heed His commandments and humbly learn of Him.
Throughout the process of Him transitioning me from Baptist to “Bapticost” (a jubilantly happy Baptist) to a Torah pursuant follower of Yeshua, He has shown me the “living” nature of His Torah. With each studied portion, He addresses a real life situation.
For me, He has truly been a “Friend that sticks closer than an brother”...and many times with a very pleasant sense of humor. I pray likewise for you...that the richness of His favor comes to rest fully upon you and yours. Have a terrific Son-shine day in Messiah!
