You know the type- they tell you what you must believe, they have their own ideas formed by taking verses or phrases out of context and forming an entirely different tenet based on it, and they also insult you, your beliefs, and even go as far as to tell you that you aren’t really saved or a true believer.

And what do they base all this on? A post you made on social media!

If you prefer to watch a video, click on this link: Watch the video.

I recently ran into one of these people, someone responding to one of my messages who insisted that if a person didn’t show the signs that are stated in Mark 16:17-18, then they aren’t a real believer.

It started with her questioning my tag line, “God has no religion“, and she asked me what religion I am. I replied that I don’t care for labels, but if I had to use one, Messianic Jewish man would be the one that fits, although I prefer “Believer” since I believe in God, Yeshua, and live my life as close to being Torah observant as I can.

When she asked me if I show the signs stated in Mark, I said I don’t play with snakes or drink poison, I am not an exorcist or a faith healer- I am just a teacher. I further explained that these signs are not an absolute necessity for accepting Yeshua as the Messiah, and they are not, in any way, a qualifier for the spiritual status of a person. I think I really ticked her off when I said I have never spoken in tongues, and don’t care if I ever do.

You see, over the past 1/4 century I have been a Messianic Jew/Believer, I have heard many people babble away “speaking in tongues”, or so it seems. But according to the Bible, if someone is truly speaking through the Spirit, unless there is someone else there who (by the same Spirit) interprets the message, then that person should remain silent (1 Corinthians 14:28). My experience in two different houses of worship- a Messianic synagogue and a Hebraic Roots church, is that when I hear people speaking in tongues, NO ONE HAS EVER INTERPRETED! There have been so many people so desperate to speak in tongues that I believe they do it themselves, convincing themselves that their babbling is really spirit-led, and they do so audibly.

I have to ask myself why they go against what Paul says, especially since so much of Christian teaching is that Paul is really who they should listen to, and my answer is that they speak in tongues out loud so they can receive the honor of people. And we all know (or should know) what Yeshua said about that.

So, nu? What’s my point? It’s this: do not throw pearls before swine; if you meet someone who thinks they are God, in that they can determine the true level of your spiritual being through reading something you post, block them! You will never get through to them, and all you will receive for your efforts to prove yourself truly a God-fearing man or woman will be insults and frustration, both of which lead to unrighteous anger.

Truthfully, I feel sorry for those types, because despite how holy and spiritually gifted they think they are, when they come before God, he will strip the skin of self-righteousness they have from their bodies, and his judgement of them will be like pouring lemon juice on that now raw and exposed skin.

Can anyone really judge a person’s relationship with God from a Facebook post? I don’t think so! And when someone goes as far as to judge your relationship with God, deny that you really do believe in Messiah Yeshua, and refute what you say about your level of biblical obedience, well…I’ve just gotta ask: who made them God?

Thank you for being here and remember I do welcome your comments, except not so much the nasty ones.

That’s it for this week, so l’hitraot and (an early) Shabbat Shalom!