Don’t let others ruin your relationship with God!

Been perusing Facebook today, and, as always, I end up saddened for those who either return to Christianity, become atheists, or look toward traditional Judaism to fill their need for God, just because they are turned off by all the fights and various clashing teachings in the realms of Hebrew Roots/Messianic Judaism. Yes, these "movements" are a total mess - but is that YHWH's fault?

I once saw a great bumper sticker that said: "If you allow a hypocrite to come between you and God, then he is closer to God than you are!" So, if you've stopped being Torah observant, or decided to deny Yeshua because YOU chose to hang with the "wrong crowd" who were teaching falsehoods, then you need to look inward and ask yourself why you would turn your back on YHWH/Yeshua just because certain people have turned you off.

Instead of fleeing to find yourself a new group you can fit into, get into SCRIPTURE with all your might, so you can know what it says and doesn't say. That will allow you to become knowledgeable enough to be able to discern "good" from "bad" teachings, and the next time someone attempts to shove their "exalted knowledge" down your throat, you'll be able to recognize whether or not it's sound, and then act accordingly.

"Acting accordingly" does NOT mean you turn your back on God or return to "religion" and "religiosity" or - God forbid, you decide to become an atheist. It means you dig into Scripture and read it through the lens of the Ruach, so you can get ever closer to Him and stand on the whole Word when you encounter some loud-mouth with skewed theology.

You must be willing to constantly learn and grow so you can stand your ground while telling the Truth ... and if people aren't willing to hear THE Truth, then you simply smile and turn around and "shake the dust from your feet" (Matthew 10:14). Your job is NOT to convert anybody; your job is to explain your faith (via personal informed and diligent study) and let YHWH deal with those who insist on adhering to their ideology.. We are not to waste our time arguing (Titus 1:13-16 and Matthew 7:6).

Titus 3: 9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile. 10 Warn a divisive person once, then a second time; and after that, have nothing more to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a person has been perverted and is sinning: he stands self-condemned.(CJB)

And, in the meantime, don't forget that YOU don't have the market cornered on Truth, either. Nobody does! We must always be willing to learn and grow - from SCRIPTURE, not from random people on Facebook or wherever.... But whatever you do, do NOT turn your back on God! If you do, you might as well get used to the "smoking section" of Eternity.