Worship the "Sun"? A Ft. Lauderdale Jewish woman recently asked, "How many things happen only once in 28 years?" Referring to the tradition of Birkat Hachamah, she said. "This moment is set aside to thank God for the sun. It makes you stop and think about how creation was such a miraculous event. We don't take the time to stop and think about it." Wouldn't it be nice if this woman on the eve of Passover and Resurrection Sunday weekend took time to thank, bless and worship the real SON- S-o-n, the risen and coming again Messiah Jesus Christ?
According to the Sun-Sentinel report, This "blessing" of the sun last occured in 1981 and is recited only when, according to rabbinical scholars, the sun returns to the same position in the sky on the same day of the week at the same hour as when it was first created. It takes 28 years for that to happen. This time it was just a coincidence that it fell on the eve of Passover. In strict Jewish law, it is forbidden to enjoy anything without reciting a blessing. It's part of the Birkat Hachamah tradition to say the blessing outside, where they can see the sun. Rabbi Yitzchok Naparstek said the ritual is not sun worship — a big issue in the ancient world, with its many pagan religions. Because of "everything the sun gives to us, we want to thank God for it," he said.
How ironic is it that the biggest blessing to God's chosen nation of Israel was the missed deliverance of it's Savior and Messiah- Yeshua (Jesus), 2,000 years ago? We thank God, that as per Romans 10-11, we know completed or fulfilled Jews that have been granted eyes to see and ears to hear truth and that many more will thank and worship the SON upon His return.
In the meanwhile, we observe and can even celebrate with our Jewish friends today, the precursor to Good Friday and the great gospel news of the cross- Passover, beginning this evening through tomorrow. Jews around the world will observe Passover with a meal called the Seder, which is a family gathering where they retell the story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt after four centuries of slavery, as recorded in the book of Exodus, Chapters 1 to 15. The Seder table is decorated with reminders of the Jewish plight in Egypt, including parsley dipped in salt water, symbolizing the tears shed during slavery, and charoset, a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon and wine, symbolic of the mortar slaves used to bind bricks. Join us for our special Seder and Lord's Supper observance Friday night with Dr. Gary Cohen at the Pavilion, for a unique and enriching family experience of the heart and soul of Passover and it's symbolism of the coming Christ (see "Capturing Thoughts" for details).
Purpose-Driven Compromise?
Much has been made of the Newsweek story this week -proclaiming, "The End of Christian America" and President Obama's comment in Turkey that "we are no longer a Christian nation." If indeed we are losing the savor of born-again salt in our nation, we have only ourselves and even the leadership of the American church to blame. This week Mega-church Pastor and author Rick Warren, back-tracked on his election season committment to support Prop. 8, the amendment banning same-sex marriage in California.
On Monday, Warren on 'Larry King Live,' stressed that he is neither anti-gay nor an anti-gay marriage activist and had never campaigned for Proposition 8. And more importantly, the issue of homosexuality is not even on his agenda, he said as he declined to comment on the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. While still affirming traditional marriage, Warren told CNN's King that his agenda consists of two things: "Rwanda and the spiritual climate of the nation in the midst of a recession." While thse two issues may hold international interest, are not our pulpiteers and pastors to hold to biblical truth and standards no matter how unpopular they may be? Particularly on an issue as critical to the institution of family as marriage?
Perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised, considering that when asked what church he would recommend Obamna attend, Warren said "I have a lot of pastor friends of all different styles. You tell me the style you want and I'll tell you a good church in Washington, D.C." Style? Is church nothing more than a salad bar or buffet, in which one chooses a community or family primarily based on felt-needs, style or preferences?
Joshua Harris is right when he exhorts believers in his book to "Stop Dating the Church, and to Fall in Love with the Family of God." We need to find a church that glorifies God, exalts Christ, is saturated with the Word in leadership, practice and preaching, and is Spirit-filled. Then we make church the priority it should be in our lives as it's bridegroom has.
As Harris quoted theologian John Stott, "If the church is central to God's purpose as seen in history and the gospel, it must surely be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?"
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