As followers of Yeshua we must apply the Law of Moses to our lives in light of New Covenant realities. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to inform our observance. In traditional Judaism it is our sages (through their writing in the Talmud) who determine how we observance. As Messianics, we have better promises (according to Hebrews 8:6).

Rabbi Trail: Last week (2021) I was on a conference call with the two Tikkun regions (central and western) under the leadership of Frank Susler. Rich Cleary, who leads our sister congregation, Kingdom Living, in Kansas City, did a short teaching. He called the teaching "Shema Discipleship." Without sharing the entire teaching, Rich proposed that when we read the "great commission" ...

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

... we should understand that "teaching them to observe all I have commanded you" should be understood as teaching people to listen to the Holy Spirit. We can try to teach the details, but there are so many details. And the details change, depending on who you're following. Better we follow Yeshua by learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow God to inform our observance. End RT.

As Michael Rudolph spoke (2019), the presentation turned to Jewish and non-Jewish roles in regard to the Law of God. This led to my outburst yesterday (2019 & 2021) after I read Romans 7. Now, back to the thought that started my day today ... I remembered Michael said this, "Unless you have standards that apply equally to the entire community, you don't really have a community."

We don't all have to agree on every detail. So we "major in the majors" with agreement on the major issues. Also, there is freedom for us as individuals to live as we are lead by the Holy Spirit. The more we are in agreement with our community standards, the stronger our community will be. Paul frequently has to rebuke the communities to which he is writing for not being unified with regard to the standards he passed on to them.

Rabbi Trail: In 1993 I lived in a small Texas town, Corsicana. There was no local Messianic expression, but there was a local synagogue. Through my friend, Rob Glass, I met with the local rabbi and the synagogue president (yes, they had one). I told them I'm Messianic and would like to be a part of their congregation. After they deliberated, they called me back into the meeting and announced, "We've decided, when you're with us, you're one of us. What you believe on your own time is up to you and a matter of your own private conviction. End RT.

Our unity is in hearing from the Holy Spirit. With all respect to Jewish and Gentile distinctions, when you are with us, you are one of us. In the Spirit, we are one community, with one set of righteous standards (His) for everyone who is part of it.