Statement of Principles: YOU CAN HELP!

The Rabbinic codification of the Oral Torah created a unique problem for the Messianic community.  The complexity of the codification meant that learners were forced to seek guidance from a non-Messianic Jewish community.  This, unfortunately, means that many Believers in seeking to learn about halacha have submitted to Rabbinic authorities, succumbed to peer pressure, and rejected Yeshua.

I believe in devising a set of comprehensive yet flexible halachic principles for the Messianic community, we can solve these problems.  In establishing our own autonomy and stability, we will reduce the risk of Believers submitting themselves to external, non-Messianic authorities.  I believe that the gentiles will identify more strongly with the movement when they realize that they are being included in halacha.  This will, in turn, promote overall cohesion and unity so that we can truly become hakahal chukah achat (a community of one law).

HERE'S WHERE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED:

The effort to devise principles for practice must be a communal effort and will ultimately require the guidance of our leadership (see the tab marked Kol Echad Initiative).  We can start now by following the methodology I've laid out here in order to flesh out the following categories of halacha:


(1) Kashrut and Shechitah;
(2) Times;
(3) Tefillin;
(4) Mezuzah;
(5) Blessings;
(6) Mikvah (e.g. ritual baths, utensils, etc);
(7) Tallit and Tzitzit;
(8) Synagogue;
(9) Judges;
(10) Knowledge (e.g. Hermeneutics, Character Traits, Idolatry);
(11) Women (e.g. Marriage, Divorce, Adultery, Niddah, Taharat HaMishpocha, Tzniut);
(12) Approaches to Civil and Criminal Law.

Have you ever come across a passage in the New Testament that addressed one of these topics and you felt as though the New Testament/Holy Spirit was providing you with a principle for approaching that particular category of mitzvot?  Then this is the place to share that insight.  We'll follow the scientific method and so feel free to share no matter how silly you think it sounds.  We'll collectively test the hypothesis to see whether the principle is sound.  And, finally, we can compile and systematize the principles.  See how easy it is?  : )    Okay, maybe not so easy and maybe it'll take a while but I know for a fact now that there are Sages out there and there are Righteous Ones to whom the Spirit has given insights.  So let's get to work!  : )

Shalom,

Peter