Where is the emphasis on?

24Oct08

Since a few weeks I read the blog “Messianic Jewish Musings“. It’s a very interesting blog where a Jew who believes in the Messiah writes about all kinds of things from the perspective of a Messianic Jew.

The past week was Sukkot followed by Simkhat Torah. Derek Leman, the writer of the blog, describes what happens during these feasts using the story of Nehemia. The thing that struck me in the blog was the emphasis that is laid on communal worship and learning. I’m not sure whether I agree with everything Derek says, but I think the point he’s making is absolutely valid. He says: “

There is something hear we must never forget. God’s people are a community. The Bible doesn’t know anything about solitary faith. The idea that we can be with God simply by ourselves is false and harmful. God emphasizes again and again the need for communal worship and communal learning and growth. God’s people are a community. We are “as one person.” “

In our evangelical tradition much emphasis is laid on the fact that we should have “quiet times”, times when we read our Bibles and pray. How many times did we hear sermons where the preacher told us we should do this, and do it daily? If it were as important as mentioned in the sermons, why isn’t the Bible stuffed with stories of people privately reading the Torah, or other Jewish scriptures and praying? I must admit that there are a few stories, like Jesus going up the mountain to pray, and Peter praying on the roof and receiving a vision. But like Derek I see an emphasis on communal reading and worshipping. The most famous example I think is Acts 2 where is described that the early church met daily . Although the times were different then, I think there wasn’t much time for these people to also read and pray in private. These people also had a job and a family, let alone the fact that many people couldn’t read in those times!

The emphasis on personal reading and praying is (I think mainly) caused by our society getting more individualistic as time goes by, whereas in ancient times the society was more focussed on having community with each other.

So, I think the emphasis in evangelicalism should be on communal reading of the Bible, worshipping God and communal prayer. But we should also be encouraged to continue that practice at home.

Filed under: Bible, Reading   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Ezra, Nehemia, Simkhat Torah, Sukkot