A YouTube video is making the rounds showing a man name Ralph Messer desecrating a Torah scroll at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The Torah is the holiest object of the Jewish people. There are strict limits and guidelines as to how it may be used. People have shed their blood to honor these guidelines and limits. Ralph Messer cannot be bothered with any of this: he has the scroll wrapped around disgraced Pastor Eddie Long, while he blesses him in the name of God. The Torah is never used in this manner–it is not an implement to be used to make one’s point or to serve as a handy metaphor.
Sadly, some in the media are mistakenly associating Mr. Messer an his conduct with Messianic Judaism.
Fortunately, a diligent reporter for the Associated Press spoke to Rabbi David Shiff of Congregation Beth Hallel, a Messianic Jewish synagogue in nearby Roswell, Georgia, who said.
“Ralph Messer in no way represents Messianic Judaism,” Shiff said. “He is not affiliated with any legitimate branch of Messianic Judaism. His actions in no way reflect the position of Messianic Judaism. I found the presentation to be repulsive and inappropriate.” (See the AP article here).
Messer is a self-authenticating lone wolf non-Jew who calls himself a rabbi. His conduct confirms the worst stereotypes promulgated by those who fear, or in some cases, despise Messianic Judaism.
Such people need to know that we who are leaders and congregants in the Messianic Jewish Movement despise what Ralph Messer has done.
We in the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations want to make this very clear. Ralph Messer neither speaks for us, nor does he speak as one of us.
Some things cry out to be repudiated. This is one of them.
For background information and a responsible Messianic Jewish perspective on Ralph Messer and Eddie Long from a Messianic Jewish leader in the Atlanta area see here,
check out my comments at http://drschiffman.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/a-shonda/
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Speaking as someone involved in the the Hebrew Roots and Two House communities (we aren’t all crazy), I abhor this. I was uncomfortable just watching the thing; televangelists and religious showmen shame the name of Yeshua and are an embarrassment to our faith.
@Judah Himango – Yes indeed, “televangelists and religious showmen shame the name of Yeshua and are an embarrassment to our faith.” I work out with a trainer who watches a certain Christian broadcasting network as entertainment, and every week we discuss what he sees. The man’s grandfather was a pastor, and the contrast between the values of an old time black Southern pastor and the Christian entertainment he sees is striking.
Although being a televangelist is not bad in itself (presenting the good news via television) the show-biz glitz and gullibility is deplorable.
The UMJC and MJAA just issued a joint statement on this situation, which is worth reading: http://umjc.org/home-mainmenu-1/news-mainmenu-40/1-latest/746-umjc-mjaa-respond-to-messer-video.
I have read this statement and it is worth proclaiming throughout the land. GOOD JOB!
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Like Judah wrote above, I am also associated with the Hebrew roots movement and Two House teachings. I want to share that I ALSO abhor what Messer and Long have done. I was literally dumb-founded and speechless ( and I am NEVER speechless) at Messer’s bald-faced lies, his arrogant presumption to speak for the Jews and for Israel, his blatant insensitivity toward Biblical customs, and the utter disdain he showed for the Holiness of the Most High. For pity’s sake, he treated the pure written Word as an ego-boosting, anti-Kryptonite ‘Superman’ cape for an unrepentant man who deserves all the criticism he is currently getting. Anyone who fears El Shaddai would abhor this man’s terrible actions.
I appreciate yours and Mr Himango’s disavowal of Ralph Messer’s actions. One of my pet peeves in the broader MJ movement is the frequency with which I see ignorant or presumptuous people misusing Jewish sancta, sometimes out of a sense of charismatic entitlement. It is like going into a church and taking a cross off the wall to use as a doorstop or perhaps as a pogo stick. These holy objects have a deep attributed meaning. There is no excuse for the ways in which these are misused by some people who feel entitled to do so. As I said, it is a pet peeve, and generally enrages me when it doesn’t just make me very sad.
By the way, Dr. Dauermann, I just learned today that this is not the first time Messer has done this with a Torah scroll — just the first time it made the national news. In this video, he wraps Paula White up in the same way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21_D3jDRQHQ
Thank you Julie. More pain and frustration! See my posting tomorrow which treats the root causes of such presumption and the possible costs.
Is that a new tear in the klaf as a result I saw?! God forbid!!!
Will do!
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I agree with the above comments, and I am extremely disturbed by all this. Yet, there’s something that hasn’t been said yet. BTW, I send greetings to Dr. Stuart Dauermann & Judah Himango in the name of Y’shua haMashiach.
This Messer is on a road, trying to return from pagan-influenced churchianity back to Biblical lifestyle. While we may all agree that he could be doing a much better job, the same could possibly be said of ourselves as well. Decrying his actions is a good step, but working to lovingly bring him to repentance is even better.
To do that, we need to foster the concepts of Beit Din and accountability in our communities, and if possible, someone needs to approach Messer about it.
Overall, this “Messer Mess” is an example of what to expect when we’re in the middle of a “2 sticks becoming one” process (Ezek. 37). We need more practice in dealing with such situations in such a way that the Kingdom benefits.
While it’s easy to condemn such harmful behavior, the hard work lies in seeking to bring about change in such a guy, because he may not respond so well at first. But by speaking the truth with enough LOVE, anything is possible: he may even repent.
The whole purpose of the correction process in Matthew 18:15-17 is to win back a lost lamb (Matt. 18:11-14). Who’s going to go after Messer to bring him into truth and light?
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise.”
(Prov. 11:30).
With all due respect to all concerned, I hold that the Ephraimite Two Houses movement which you are echoing Mr Chadwick, and where Mr Messer apparently operates, is erroneous in its formulations and assumptions. I will not be discussing this on this site because such discussions prove fruitless, endless, and sometimes unintentionally harmful. In addition, the movement in some cases becomes a breeding ground for fanciful and self-serving theologies and posturing as is the case with Mr Messer, and this only spreads confusion and does harm.
Finally, contrary to your reference to “churchianity,” I do not disparage the Church, but find it to be part of the great things God is doing in the world. How God’s will for Israel and the Church coordinate is the subject of much dispute, and is the theme of a monograph I have written, Christians and Jews Together and will be the theme of a book I expect to finish by next January, Converging Destinies: Jews Christians and the MIssion of God.
I allow and practice no church bashing here, and I no more believe that it is God’s will for everyone to be Jews, than I believe it is His will that everyone be Gentiles!
No church-bashing here. Neither am I the least bit interested in picking any fights in this forum.
What about my suggestion that someone reach out to Messer to try to bring correction to a brother?
A friend of mine had such contact with Mr Messer some years ago, fruitlessly. And it saddens me that his response to my letter on his Facebook page was NOT to contact me in return but to remove the posting. Unfortunately, people like Ralph Messer have a tendency to insulate themselves from those who disagree with them. In fact, all of us have this tendency to one degree or another.
Yes I also tried to reach him as a friend when he desecrated a Torah scroll he brought to my congregation. I knew he was going to be on a Christian TV station about 16 miles from my house. He did the same thing & when I tried again to reason with him he threatened me with pressing charges of assault! In the words of Stan Lee … “Nuff said.”