Two House teacher and self-proclaimed 'rabbi,' Ralph Messer, finds himself caught-up in a national scandal.
Another fraud. Yesterday on Facebook I encountered a video of Ralph Messer grossly mistreating a Torah scroll while staging a “coronation” service for megachurch pastor Eddie Long. The video has drawn criticism from numerous Jewish and Christian groups, and was even the center of a response in several major media outlets, including the Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Huffington Post, and many others.
In the Huffington Post article, Reverend Dr. Wil Gafney writes:
The unidentified man who, (in the YouTube video to which I had access he is identified subsequently as Ralph Messer), represents himself as a Jew. He may well be some sort of Messianic Jew, a person who claims Jewish heritage and recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, but who is not part of one of the major Jewish movements: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, Renewal. He does not, however, represent recognizable Jewish thought or practice in his (mis-) representations of the Torah and other Jewish sancta — or for that matter, New Testament and Christian biblical interpretation and theology.
There are numerous problems with Ralph Messer’s actions and claims – many of which Dr. Gafney does a great job in addressing, particularly the two primary issues of Messer’s mishandling and misappropriating a Torah scroll as well as his “coronating as king” mega-church pastor Eddie Long, who was recently accused by five young men of sexual misconduct. After initially denying the allegations, Long is now in undisclosed settlement talks with them and his wife has filed for divorce.
It blows my mind how throughout the video Messer cannot even get the correct name right for the most famous concentration camp in history! – Auschwitz-Birkenau, which Messer keeps pronouncing as ‘Berkendahl.’ No one who is really Jewish ever gets that one wrong … especially someone who claims to be a ‘rabbi.’ However, since Dr. Gafney so eloquently addresses many of the other matters, I want to address another serious matter. In the YouTube video, Messer claims to speak “on behalf of the Jewish People, the Land of Israel, and the G-d of Israel.” Because so many people are identifying Messer with Messianic Judaism, I want to make very clear that Ralph Messer is not affiliated with the mainstream Messianic Jewish movement, nor is he a legitimately ordained rabbi. This was confirmed in a recent statement by Messer’s son, Russell Messer, to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his father “has no formal rabbinical training.” And when pressed hard enough, Messer himself has confessed that he has never been formally ordained as a rabbi, as reported by the Florida Courier. Furthermore, Messer does not actually have the authority to speak on behalf of Israel, world-Jewry, or G-d.
Ralph Messer is the leader of a large congregation in Colorado and has quite a vast media ministry. I have been aware of his poor teaching, misuse of Jewish sancta, and his affiliation with the Two House movement for some time. However this recent video finally pushed me over the line.
Earlier today I confirmed with Rabbi Russ Resnik (UMJC Executive Director) and Dr. Dan Juster (one of the founders of the UMJC, and its first President) that Ralph Messer has never been affiliated with the UMJC nor has ever spoken at a UMJC conference. I also confirmed with Ari Hauben, with the MJAA, that Ralph Messer is not affiliated nor ordained through them. In my asking around today, I also was not able to confirm whether he is even really Jewish.
I cannot speak out more strongly against Ralph Messer, his teachings, nor his affiliations with the likes of Eddie Long. Ralph Messer should be ashamed of himself. If it were within my power he would be stripped of his congregation and ministry, defrocked of his self-appointed title, and publicly forced to offer an apology for mishandling a Torah scroll, defaming Messianic Jews, and coronating as king an accused pedophile.
Other Messianic Jewish Bloggers to Speak Out:
Gathering Sparks (Yahnatan Lasko & Jonathan Roush)
Messianic Jewish Musings (Rabbi Derek Leman)
The Messianic Agenda (Rabbi Dr. Stuart Dauermann)
DrSchiffman’sBlog (Rabbi Dr. Michael Schiffman)
Messiah’s Mandate (has some nice corrections to some of Messer’s erroneous claims)
UPDATE, 2/3: A joint statement has now been released by the UMJC and the MJAA which can be read HERE.
UPDATE, 2/4: An update on Messer from the Florida Courier.
UPDATE, 2/6: Joint UMJC/MJAA statement gets national press.
UPDATE, 2/6: CNN news clip featuring “apologies” from Long and Messer and a discussion.
UPDATE, 2/7: The UMJC/MJAA press release featured in national Jewish press (JTA).
Thank you for this much needed response R’Brumbach.
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I’m entirely heartbroken over this! May Ralph Messer very soon turn away from this path he is following & learn to revere the Eternal One properly for the rest of his days…
I watched about 6 minutes of that video and could watch no more. It was one of the most disgusting things I have seen in a long while. I want to say that I am a Torah observant believer in Yeshua. I can’t identify myself with the Messianic movement because of the likes of some of this stuff going on. I knew I did not care for Ralph Messer in the past, but this seals it. I believe he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Well said, Rabbi Brumbach. Thank you for being an answer to prayer that someone in leadership within the Messianic Jewish Movement would speak on behalf of our movement. I watched the video and I was horrified to see this man extolling a personage such as Mr. Long, and as king, no less. This was too much to bear and more than sickening. I was grieved to my very soul that he could take a Torah scroll and, while saying that it has the dust of Auschwitz still on it, use it in such a defiling way. He has no respect for Torah and no respect for the Jewish people who died while loving and respecting these scrolls; willing to die for their preservation. I wish you had the power to do as you said, but, of course, since he doesn’t stand accountable to any recognized biblical or Jewish authority, there is nothing that can be done except to renounce any association or recognition for him or his actions. I thank you for doing so with all of my heart. May the G_d of Israel render a righteous judgement against this defamer and may He vindicate the Messianic Jewish movement of any connection or association with such disgusting displays. Since this happened at an Economic Summit hosted by Eddie Long, one wonders about his motivation to do such a thing.
Thank you for confirming my opinion of the video. It was hard to watch the entire thing and as a Catholic, I found it highly unlikely that this represented any sort of Jewish tradition, Messianic or otherwise. Another site suggested that this is not an actual Torah scroll and was even held together with scotch tape. I hope that’s true. The thought of such a false preacher being in possession of any sacred object offends me.
Strongly worded, but rightly so.
This impostor will bring a curse down on himself and on Mr. Long. Let God deal with him. I wrote about this on my blog as well.
be well my friend.
Thanks for taking the time to address this situation so well.
I remain utterly heartsick, and cannot even bring myself to watch the video. It would only nauseate and enrage me Just the photograph of Eddie Long wrapped in the Torah and Messer blessing him is enough for me.
My heart cries out. As does yours.
Speaking as someone involved in the the Hebrew Roots and Two House communities, I abhor this. I was uncomfortable just watching the thing; televangelists and religious showmen are an embarrassment to faith in Messiah.
I was very disturbed in my spirit while watching the video about how Mr. Messer handled the Torah and proclaimed Bishop Eddie Long a king. I know to respect the Torah and what it stands for because as a Gentile believer, my wife – (a Messianic Jewish beleiver) and I were involved in starting and establishing Messianic congregations in New Orleans and you don’t handle and abuse the Torah as shown in this video. I don’t think Mr. Messer really knows what he is doing and I think he just wants to draw attention to himself and his ministry.
When I saw this video, I couldn`t believe what I was seeing or hearing. The “rabbi`s” treatment of the scroll was jaw-droppingly disrespectful, and his invocation of the holocaust deeply disturbing, as he is appropriating the pain, suffering, and deaths of millions for himself. His intellectual and spiritual dishonesty was astounding, and was an insult to those faithful Jews who lived and died according to their traditions. Disgusting.
I’m going to say what was given to me to say without QUESTION, without FEAR, & without DOUBT to FALSE people like you Eddie Long and to you also Ralph Messer (Who is NOT) a Rabbi..
Within the church GOD has placed some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelist, some Pastors and some Teachers……, ALL who are subject to HIS authority. ALL MUST BE WILLING to do what He has commanded, seeking ONLY to please HIM and not man. BUT we have some “VASHTI’S” within the group of the f…ive-fold Ministry who have rebelled against the commandments of the Lord and have chosen to do things their way. You have brought into the church FALSE doctrines, and have diminished the power of TRUE repentance & you have taught others it is alright to continue to live in sin, saying that the Lord has paid the price for our sins past, present and future and according to YOUR doctrine, repentance is not necessary to receive salvation….LIES…You’re teaching them NOT to repent, but to utter a weak and insincere “I’m sorry” from the mouth, but not the heart and to believe instantly they are forgiven..DID YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE NO CONSEQUENCE? You’re living your life like this and the lost souls are copying after you (FALSE TEACHER) and for this, you shall be “TERMINATED OF YOUR POSITION!”
You have arrogantly clung to YOUR FALSE DOCTRINE, proudly boasted and bragged about YOUR FALSE DOCTRINE through your conduct, your speech, YOUR FALSE DOCTRINE, many have followed and many have been kept from entering into the kingdom of God. The Lord said to Peter before he ascended into heaven “FEED MY SHEEP”, and HE has asked you to do the same. BUT you have given the sheep food that has entered in, and instantly out again as NO meat of TRUTH has been given that the sheep may digest it well and GROW. They are crying out for meat, and you’ve given them milk, and a WATERED DOWN version at that. What you’ve given them is not healthy to spiritually digest, this is why they become hungry again (AFTER NIBBLING AT YOUR TABLE)…Look at all of the FAILED marriages…BROKENESS…DEPRESSION….HOMOSEXUALITY…MOLESTATIONS. …FINANCIAL STRUGGLES…and all of this while under your covering and believing what comes out of your mouth.
Heed my words..You WILL be held accountable for every sheep that has gone astray because of your conduct and doctrine (FAKENESS). THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING… HEAR this and REPENT and be RESTORED BACK to the position God had called you into…THE PROPHETS OF CORRECTION coming to knock on your door VERY SOON….Rev. Reuben.
How did and where did he get the Torah scroll?
No idea.
Further investigation by the media determined that it is, in fact, not a real Torah scroll, but a photocopied one. And whether or not the original scroll is truly a Holocaust scroll could also not be verified.
I TOO 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 leader. Anyone who truly fears the Holy One would abhor this man’s despicable actions.
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
AMEN!
My, my, my – the truth sounds so good to discerning ears. I also expressed my feelings concerning this blasphemous charade. If you care to take a look, here is the link:
http://ssofdv.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/eddie-long-it-is-not-his-fault/
I enjoyed reading your post, especially the truth. Thank you!
Peace
Here is a video showing Ralph Messer Wrapping a Torah Scroll Around Evangelist Paula White.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=21_D3jDRQHQ
I agree with the above comments, and yet I feel there is something more I’d like to contribute to the conversation. In the name of Y’shua haMashiach I send greetings to Rabbi Joshua, Dr. Stuart Dauermann, Judah Himango, and the Ahavat Zion community.
What we have here is a guy who needs counsel about how to proceed. This is why we need to bolster the concepts of Beit Din which relates to accountability – also a somewhat “foreign” concept in churchianity.
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).
Teddy,
I appreciate your desire to see peace and reconciliation (as we all do). However, please understand that this is not the first time we are all becoming aware of Ralph Messer. His recent fiasco which was picked up by the media and responded to by the wider Jewish community only forced us to respond. In the past people have tried to reach out to him. He has refused. And as far as a Beit Din, you cannot force someone to be accountable to a Beit Din they refuse to recognize . He has refused any correction in the past and has been unwilling to admit any wrong. For example, watch his supposed “apologies” even regarding the recent events. He just does not get it.
So we have decided after years of this mess to finally “call a spade a spade.”
Shalom Rabbi Joshua,
Obviously there’s alot of water under the bridge, history that I’ve not been privy to, or even aware of.
But if this situation has reached the point of “calling a spade a spade,” then that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all.
It is in fact consistent with step 3 of the Matthew 18 procedure, contained in verse 17.
I’d love to see more congregations/communities following the procedure:
First, approach the wayward person alone (v.15). Do not berate him publicly, do not talk behind his back in any way. Do not gossip by way of seeking counsel about it. Rather, make every effort to lovingly bring him to correction while preserving his dignity. Hopefully, it will be a win/win situation.
If not, then gradually increase the heat (v.16). With 2 or 3 others, the shame increases slightly, that shame which may motivate the person to repent. Hoping to win the brother/sister.
If not, then “calling a spade a spade” before the whole congregation/community is the final step. Since we have more global connectedness through technology, there’s nothing wrong with using the internet as a forum for such a step, if and only if the previous two steps have been already taken.
If any individual, congregation or community publicly shames a person for wrongdoing without carefully going thru the first two steps, then that is a massive failure for which they must stand before YHWH. That failure may lead the sinner to despair of ever being able to repent.
However, if the first two steps have been faithfully executed, then step three is necessary in order to protect the rest of the flock. We try as hard as we can to bring back a lost sheep (vs.11-14) but if he insists on joining the wolves, let him go.
I do not mean to preach to the choir; I do not mean to insinuate that any specific congregation does not follow this policy; I only intend to use all this as and example, to exhort us all to right behavior.
With a bit of study and a lot of Messiah’s grace, lots and lots of congregations (of various streams) can learn to properly execute this procedure, and develop a Beit Din. The culture will change. Soon, disciples everywhere will insist on only being part of a community that operates on such principles of accountability.
And those who show no interest in accountability will become more and more obvious as the “outsiders” they are, through their own behavior and choices. Maybe then they will repent and return. But at least the flock will be safe sticking together meanwhile.
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