“You still doing that Jewish Stuff” Play

Many people simply don’t understand how a “good” Christian can abandon the culturally accepted holidays of this world to start doing what they understand to be “Jewish” holidays?

The first year that I started pursuing the truth of Torah rather than the traditions of men, I was asked if I was Jewish by a school colleague, and I was accused of trying to be Jewish by loved ones.

I suspect that I am not the only one that has experienced this on their journey into Truth. Have you had similar situations?

If not, the upcoming 7th month (Biblical month; not Gregorian month) Feast Day, Yom Teruah, may be your first encounter with this major misconception. To help, I have created a Bible study plan that answers some basic questions about this Feast Day.

I also wrote a relatively short one-act play which addresses, a few of these misconceptions about the appointed times of YAH. Are His appointed times really for the Jews only?

I invite you to read this short one-act play that is below. Imagine that you are having this conversation yourself. Hopefully, this play will spark ideas for discussion the next time a well-meaning but uninformed person thinks that we are doing that “Jewish stuff.”

“You still doing that Jewish Stuff” Play

Character 1: Well, Hi there!

Character 2: Hello! It’s good to see you. What are you up to?

Character 1: Getting ready for the upcoming feast days.

Character 2: Feast days!!? You mean that Jewish stuff? You still doing that?

Character 1: Yes, but they’re not “Jewish Stuff.” These are YAHUAH’s feast. Look here. I have my Bible with me. Leviticus 23:1-2 says:

And YAHUAH spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of YAHUAH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. 

Character 2: See, right there. It says that those “feasts” are Jewish.

(chest sticking proudly out) I’m a Christian. Count me out of your Jewish holidays. Give me Christmas and Easter all day long.

Character 1: Wait. Wait. Hold on a minute. Let’s carefully look at the plain words of this verse. Verse One says that these are the feasts of YAHUAH (you know Him as the Lord, God). I don’t see where it says that they are the feasts of the Jews. YAHUAH told Moses that they are His feasts.

As you know, the Creator does not change. If they were His feasts when these instructions were given to Moses, they continue to be His feasts today. YAHUAH’S feast are not the feasts of the Jews.

Character 2: Okay, I admit. I do see what you’re saying. I see there that the Bible says that they are the feasts of the Lord. But… But look. It says, “speak to the Children of Israel…”

(chest sticking out again) I’m a Gentile, not Jewish!

Character 1: Oh, I’m not Jewish either.

Character 2. Oh??? You mean, you’re not trying to be a Jew or Jewish?

Character 1: No, no, no, no. I’m not.

Character 2: Then why are you doing those Jewish holidays?

Character 1: Good question. Let’s look carefully at Leviticus 23:1-2 again.

And YAHUAH spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of YAHUAH, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. 

YAHUAH told Moses to  “speak to the children of Israel.” Jacob (who was renamed Israel by YAH) had 12 sons. His sons are the progenitors (fathers) of the 12 tribes of Israel (aka the Children of Israel). One of Israel’s son’s name was Judah. At some point in history, the tribe of Judah became known as the Jews. Further on in history, the label “Jew” or “Jewish” became to be falsely associated with all 12 tribes of Israel, when originally, the term only applied to one tribe Judah.

Character 2: (chest sticking out proudly again) That’s fine and dandy. But like I said, I’m a Gentile. I’m not Jewish. I’m not of the Children of Israel.

Character 1: Hey listen. I understand where you are coming from. I, myself thought the same at one time.

(slight pause, thinking)

Let me ask you are question.

Character 2: Ohhh-kay???

Character 1: Relax. It’s easy and not a trick question. A simple yes or no answer will do.

Character 2: Ohhh-kay???

Character 1: Tell me… (smiling) You know the term stepchildren, like in a negative sense, right?

Character 2: (hesitantly) Yes???

Character 1: Well, tell me. Is there a such thing as a step olive branch?

Character 2: Huh?

Character 1: A step olive branch. You know. An olive branch that is growing somewhere on a wild olive tree in the wild is broken off by a farmer and taken to his own orchard of olive trees. He grafts the wild olive branch into one of his own olive trees.

Does the farmer see that olive branch as a step olive branch, or does he identify it with the rest of the olive tree?

Does the grafted-in branch become a part of the whole tree?

In other words, is that grafted in olive branch treated as a second-class part of the original tree?

Does the farmer feed the olive branch eggnog while giving the olive tree good clean living water?

Character 2: No.

Character 1: Does the farmer expect the olive branch to produce something like holly for boughs of holly, while at the same time looking for olives from the rest of the tree?

Character 2: No

Character 1: Does the farmer disown the original olive tree after he grafts in the olive branch?

Character 2: No

Character 1: What do you think the farmer will do if the grafted in olive branch refuses to assimilate into the olive tree to produce olives?

Character 2: He will eventually, probably cut it off.

Character 1: EX-actly! So, yes or no. Is there such a thing as a “step olive branch” that has been grafted into an olive tree?

Character 2: I would have to say no. But what does that have to do with what we are talking about?

Character 1: I used that illustration to show that you, me, and anyone else (whosoever according to John 3:16) accepts YAHUSHA Messiah is likewise engrafted into Israel by the redemptive, atoning blood of YAHUSHA, the Messiah.

YAHUAH does not have stepchildren, second class citizens called Gentiles in His kingdom that are relegated to celebrating Christmas and Easter. While He requires the Children of Israel to celebrate His feast days.

We are all one in Messiah, nurtured by one and only one root, YAHUSHA, the Messiah. We are no longer pagan, unbelievers of the nations (aka Gentiles). We are of the Israel of YAH (the Israel of God).

Character 2: That sounds like good news, but I can’t accept that if that is not plainly evident in the Bible.

Character 1: Oh, but it is.

Character 2: Show me.

Character 1: Ephesians 2:11-22 speaks of our being one in YAHUSHA Messiah. Let’s look here in Ephesians.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world:

But now in Messiah YAHUSHA ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto Elohim in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Ruach unto the Father.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, YAHUSHA Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in YAHUAH: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Elohim through the Ruach.

Epheshians 2:11-22

So you see again. YAHUAH does not have stepchildren called Gentiles. In Messiah, we are all His children of Israel according to YAH’S promise to Abraham in Genesis 13:16 that his seed would be as the dust of the earth, meaning without number. As Israel, we are required to show up for His appointed times.

Character 2: WOW!!! For the first time, I’m beginning to see differently. I didn’t even know Ephesians 2 talked about this. Pastor, never preached or taught us that. But I see right there in the Bible what you are saying!

 

Character 1: Well, I have to say that it is each of our own responsibility to read YAH’s word for ourselves. We can’t totally blame pastors of churches for not knowing and/or not teaching and preaching this truth. Although they do bear aspects of responsibility of this lack of communicating truth since they are leaders over their congregations. But again, not all of the blame rests on them.

Character 2: Yeah. You’re right. I should start reading God’s Word for myself and not just listen to Pastor’s sermon’s once a week. Do you know of other Scriptures that would help me to understand this about who are the Children of Israel?

Character 1: Sure. Let me email them to you. In the meantime, I would suggest reading for yourself YAH’s promise to Abraham in Genesis chapters 13 and 15 and all the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians has only six chapters and is full of both practical and revelatory truths. Pray and ask YAH to reveal truth before reading. Read them more than one time. Each time you read, you will see more and more truth. And pray and ask Abba for help to walk out the truth that you discover in His Word.

Hey. The next Feast of YAHUAH (remember not the feast of the Jews) is coming up next month. It’s called the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Teruah in Hebrew. I can also send you a Bible Reading Plan about that as well.

Character 2: Thank you. I appreciate that.

Character 1: Before I go, I want to leave you with one more point and one word of caution.

Which do you want to hear first: the point or the caution?

Character 2: You’ve made some good points already. I’d like to hear another one.

Character 1: Okay. The point has to do with answering the question: Who is Israel?

You see, when I accepted YAHUSHA the Messiah, the redeemer, I became a part of Israel, grafted in if you will, by the Messiah’s shed blood on my behalf. I am redeemed. I am blood bought and adopted into Israel. A good Old Testament example of adoption is found in Genesis 48:5 when Jacob adopted (engrafted if you will) Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. They were fully his from that point and fully engrafted into the Children of Israel with all the rights and benefits (requirements and responsibilities as well) of his other sons.

So, when I read Leviticus 23:1-2, I read this as one who is a part of the Israel of YAH, (Israel of God). And if I am of Israel, then I do as YAHUAH, the Creator, commanded Israel to do. And I just don’t see in Scripture where He commanded us to celebrate or observe Christmas and Easter in honor of Him.

I mean for example, if you or me, specifically requests something that belongs to us to be given back to us. But instead, the person or persons give us what they think we should have instead of the original item, would we—you or me—be happy with that person or with what they gave us?

Character 2: No

Character 1: Would we accept what they gave us?

Character 2: No

Character 1: Would we want to walk and fellowship with that person who totally disregarded our request and how we feel about our original item. But they expect us to conform to their expectation or agenda for us?

Character 2: No

Character 1: Right. We probably will not want to have anything to do with that person.

How do you think the Father feels when we offer to Him “holi”-days that are not His and totally ignore the holy days that are in fact His that He gave us instructions for observing?

Just something to think about and ponder.

Character 2: You know. I have celebrated Christmas and Easter all my life. These holidays are all that I’ve ever known to do.

But… I have never, ever thought about what they mean to God. I have only focused on what they mean to me, how I feel when I celebrate them.

(holding back tears) I never in my life even considered what they mean to the Lord—how He feels about them.

Character 1: I completely understand. I was the same way. We inherited these traditions from our forefathers and foremothers, and they were all that we knew to do because no one told us differently.

(a little moment of reflective silence)

Ready for the word of caution?

Character 2: Yes.

Character 1: Our Father in Heaven, Our Creator, greatly dislikes mixture. He utterly hates and disdains the mixing of the holy with the profane. He requires His people, the children of Israel, His called-out-of-the-world people to not mix His holy ways and days with the world’s profane-in-His-sight (which is all that matters) ways and days.

If you choose to embrace His appointed times, His feast days… Here’s the caution…For your own good, you must abandon the “holi”-days of the world. I can’t get into the true history and roots of them right now.

There is, however, a series of four short ebooks that I recently read that really gives very valid reasons as to how people can be so deceived into celebrating these profane days.

These “holi”-days are the wicked one’s territory and puts you behind enemy lines. They are open doorways for you, your children and your generations that follow you, to be attacked and pillaged by the wicked one and his minions.

Celebrating these days and also celebrating YAH’s days is mixture which He hates. He will come nowhere near you during His established feast days if you are celebrating both them and the pagan days. He is a holy Elohim. Holy means set apart.

Such mixture puts a chink in your armor that Paul talks about in Ephesians.

Just know that participating in YAH’s Feast Days is not a light thing to do.

Nor are His Feast Days an addon to current pagan practices. Yes, these “holi”-days are according to the historical record pagan in origin.

Character 2: I never thought about this in this way.

Character 1: Just something to consider.

Hey, it was so good to see you and to talk to you today. Look for my email. Check your spam or promotions folder in case it goes there.

Shalom. Peace.

Character 2: Bye. I look forward to talking again about these things.

Character 1: Sure. After you’ve read Genesis 13 and 15 and Ephesians and the Bible reading plan on the Feast of Trumpets, we can get together and talk about them. You have my number. Call me when you are ready.

Character 2: Great. I look forward to that.

Alright. Let me go get started on my “homework,” Teacher.

(Both laugh)