The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 14, Closing
Tradition, especially for those who share the Word, is a hard one to break, as it breaks our pride of being right. No matter the tradition of man, I encourage you to pray for the boldness of the most humble One of all, Yahoshuah, to give you enough love to say, “Something I have been preaching for the last few years is wrong. Many of you adhere to a doctrine as I once did, but allow me to share with you reason why we should no longer be an obstacle of confusion.” I admit that I once believed in, and shared, many wrong doctrines. Even this letter to you has had to have revisions as the Word revealed the Truth of walking as He walks. How many? I have long since lost count. How bad? Let’s just say I used to encourage the wearing of W.W.J.D. bracelets. Anymore I ask, more properly, “What does Yahoshuah do?” But I suppose that wasn’t a bad place to start, as, after all, I asked that question, and found that He wore tzitzit, a beard, welcomed children, and was never called Jesus, but rather Yahoshuah. These were not easy answers at first, mind you, but they were the truth, and we can only worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
Many Christians look at the Pharisees’ outward holiness with neglect for the inward, but, to avoid the same mistake, they then make the opposite mistake: they strive for inward holiness and neglect any outward sign, such as tzitzit and subjection to their husband, dad, or Saviour. One must have the right heart to wear on the outside what is in the inside: His Word. However, one must be wise in not falling for the traditions of man.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24). We are not to be foolhardy, allowing the warning signs of wickedness to escape our attention. Let us first guide ourselves to Biblically acceptable attire, as we pay heed to how those of our household dress, without condemnation, but with wisdom.
In all these things it took years to grow into such a faith that I would desire to walk in these footsteps. First, it was the tzitzit, and then the beard, and then my clothing. By my strength? No. That would be nakedness. I simply looked to my Head Covering. While each step was slower than I would now have liked them to be, I am glad I kept going. If you do not take all these treasures and run with them right away, that is fine, but do not shun them either. To be more and more like the Messiah ought be the goal of every Christian, of every seeker.
I look forward to the continuing journey, and I hope you do, too. At one point in my youth, I thought the journey was ended. I was saved and He loved me and that was that. I felt cold. Like there was nothing left for me to do. I felt useless. Now I know there is more. More of His Son and less of whom I thought was me! We can love Him back as He has shown us how. This indeed is the source of everlasting joy. We know the keeping of Yahoweh’s Commandments is an act of showing Him love. This indeed takes faith powerful enough for action, just like the woman who grabbed hold of the hem of the Messiah. What of you? What of you? Will you be clothed even while naked? Will you be rich even when poor? Will you be like Him, or the church?
What would please the Father: To wear good deeds or provocative clothing, to wear love or to wear a hat, to bear the hidden marks of persecution or to bear the open wounds of adultery? Shall we wear what Yahoweh has asked us to, what the Word Himself wears? Will we bear in mind His Torah as we remember Ephesians 6:10-24, or will we neglect His Commandments of Love in disobedience? For what will you wear? For what will you be known by?
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
Exodus 19:5-6, Isaiah 7:20, 15:2, Jeremiah 9:26-10:2, 41:4-8, 49:32, Psalms 17:8, 63:7, 133:1-4, 1 Corinthians 11:11, 1 Peter 3:5, Hebrews 10:9, Proverbs 11:22, Isaiah 40:6-8
