ZEALOUS THE MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE
MAGAZINE
FIELD REPORT the
LEMBA of ZIMBABWE
REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY— the new supersessionism
HIS REMNANT SMT: THE STORYTELLERS OF HISTORY REKINDLE: ...CONTINUED! SPRING BANQUETS
SUMMER 2014
for zion’s sake
“Certainly we go out with joy because the Lord of the Harvest sends and sustains us.”
Chag Sameach! We are in the season of Shavuot, which falls on the Jewish calendar 50 days after Passover Sabbath. It is the second of three major feasts unto the Lord and holds both agricultural and historical significance. Sandwiched between Pesach and Sukkot, the holiday of Shavuot is also called Pentecost in Greek which means “fifty,” reflecting its date 50 days after the Passover Sabbath. It was on Shavuot, 50 days after the death and resurrection of Yeshua, that the Holy Spirit fell upon those who waited on God in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. This is considered to be the birth of the Church (Acts 2). According to Jewish tradition, the Torah in Hebrew (the first five books of the Bible), also
ZEALOUS Magazine
Dr. Wayne Wilks, Jr. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDI TORI AL
ART & DES I G N
Bonnie Saul Wilks
Giuseppe Rispoli
SENIOR EDITOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Carol Adams
Jacob Wallace
EDITOR
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GRAPHIC DESIGNER
called the Pentateuch in Greek, was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai during Shavuot. During this holiday season, you will enjoy an inspiring article, “The Remnant,” about how God has entrusted mere mortals with the task of preserving His written Word through the ages, by Laura Byrne. She and her husband, Dr. Greg Byrne, are longtime MJBI friends and Ascend Partners. You will also find a testimony by Pastor Alan Latta of Generations Church in Granbury, Texas. Pastor Latta completed both Jewish History and Culture I and II classes through the MJBI’s online School of Messianic Theology and eagerly shares his experience. There will be an academic article by Dr. Raymond Gannon, an update fresh from the MJBI in Zimbabwe where Valentin and Tatyana Sviontek recently visited, and a recap on our spring banquets held in Tyler, Abilene, and Amarillo, Texas. I believe you will be encouraged as I am by all the good things God is doing, the open doors and favor we see, and the sense of His smile as we labor in the Jewish fields around the world. Certainly we go out with joy because the Lord of the Harvest sends and sustains us. Thank you for your significant partnership in this endeavor. For Zion’s sake,
Wayne Wilks, Jr., Ph.D.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Tara Kieschnick
MANAGING EDITOR
C O V E R A RT The Lion. Designed by: Jacob Wallace
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Contents P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261 (Ph.) 817.864.9300 USAOffice@MJBI.org • www.MJBI.org
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KOREA
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For Zion’s Sake
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His Remnant
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FIELD REPORT: The Lemba of Zimbabwe
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The New Supersessionism
Wayne Wilks
Laura Vice Byrne
Tatyana Sviontek
Raymond L. Gannon
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SMT: The Storytellers of History
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REKINDLE: ...Continued!
Alan Latta
Alisa Stephenson
MEXICO
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ETHIOPIA
DATE S T O R E ME MB E R
Ethiopia@MJBI.org
HUNGARY
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• Shav uot (Fe as t of We eks ) - June 4 • Pentecos t Sunday - June 8 • Inde pe ndenc e D ay (U.S.) - July 4 • Lemba Gr aduation (Har ar e , Zimbab w e) J uly 12 • Labor D ay (U.S.) - September 1
VIE W T H IS ISSU E O NLINE Go to w w w.Zealous Mag.or g
THE ZEAL OF THE LORD OF HOSTS W I L L D O T H I S . . . (2 KINGS 19:31)
Introduction Traditionally the giving of Torah is remembered and celebrated by the Jewish people during Shavuot; and because it was graciously given, we continually receive God’s Word by applying it line by line, precept by precept into our lives. How blessed we are to have numerous copies of those words of life that change and equip us, and we are indebted to so many for this blessing that we often overlook. Perusing the ancient story of the giving of the Law and the preserving of the entire Bible through the years, it is nothing short of miraculous. It remains the best-selling book of all time. As Gentile believers, we owe a great debt of gratitude to the Jewish people for receiving God’s Word; it changed the course of history for all mankind. After the ascension of Yeshua, the Bible has been cherished and kept safe through much peril and sacrifice by both Jew and Gentile. There are beautiful stories of those who dedicated their lives to copy, preserve, and protect God’s Word. Their generosity of spirit and heart have made a way for generation after generation to cherish and apply the truth of the Holy Writ. A Bible is a treasure to own and share, a guide for hungry hearts that leads through life’s journey and ultimately heavenward. Enjoy this beautifully expressed experience written by Laura Byrne, an MJBI Ascend Partner, about a time in Ireland when she delightfully discovered one such moving story about Irish monks who preserved the Word of God for the generations that followed. —Bonnie Saul Wilks, Senior Writer, MJBI
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His Remnant LAURA VICE BYRNE
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s my husband and I sat in the Aer Lingus plane on the tarmac of Dublin International Airport one summer afternoon in 2012, Greg checked his iPhone for news from the States. Back home in Texas, the June temperatures fried our flower beds. Two days before, we had ended our stay at Ashford Castle in the West of Ireland. The Castle, dating from 1228 A.D., is a massive pile of ancient gray limestone that rises out of verdant fields near the village of Cong. Since the 13th Century, Ashford Castle has existed on the edge of Lough Corrib, a 68 square mile lake, which eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean as it transforms itself from lake waters into the Corrib River at Galway. Rising out of Lough Corrib are 365 islands, ten of which are still inhabited. One of those islands, Inchagoill Island, is the most famous and often visited by tourists who desire to touch the ruins of an ancient Christian monastery. The beauty in the West of Ireland proved a revelation. But a greater revelation seized my spirit on the island. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, spoke to my unceasing sorrow over the spiritual conditions long developing in my country. On our last day at Ashford Castle we booked a day-trip by boat to the legendary island. Our boat captain docked in the shallows of the lake, allowing his passengers a crossing to a place where primordial, pagan civilization ended and Christian faith took root 1500 years ago. There the world seemed to tilt and shift under my feet as we walked along the primitive stone path from the pier. Days later, while sitting in the London-bound plane, our spirits felt refreshed as did our hearts which had fallen in love with the Irish. But national news from home snapped us back to the reality of life there. The iPhone connected us with reports of the most recent Supreme Court decisions. We read ZealousMag.org
of new laws which appeared to open doors to officially authorize changes that even more undermined the Judeo-Christian principles upon which our nation was founded. Once again, my heart grieved for my country and my church. As we awaited take-off, the Holy Spirit reminded me that when He had met me on the rocky path traversing Inchagoill Island only days before, He had prepared me for this latest disheartening news of my country’s spiritual struggle. The Spirit resurrected my joy from that day when He spoke into my spirit the power of the Word Incarnate: “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5 NKJV). During the era we call the Dark Ages, learning and transcription of the written word vanished from Western Europe with the collapse of the Roman Empire. Barbarian invaders overran the weakened Empire looting Roman cities, and turning entire libraries into ash. But monks in Ireland preserved the Word of God. They transcribed the Testaments by candlelight as they wrote and survived in a twelve by twenty-foot limestone structure on Inchagoill Island. By the middle of the seventh century, Irish and English missionaries carried transcriptions of the Bible back into European Christianity. Today the Bible has gone “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). On that drizzling day as we walked towards the ruins, I thought of the labor of love and the act of faith which the Irish monks accomplished all those years ago. In great hardship they relentlessly reproduced MJBI.org
their Redeemer’s Book. Exiled but protected by the Lord God, they believed the Word they copied. They served faithfully, anonymously. The monks’ names are lost to history but the name of Jesus Christ is proclaimed today, two thousand years later, not only to the West of Ireland, but across oceans and continents. When we reached the clearing and saw the remains of the monastery there on the periphery of Ireland, the Holy Spirit said to me: The Lord God always preserves His remnant. Regardless of the darkness in your nation, Laura, He will always preserve His Word and His Church will forever live no matter what comes against it. Faithful believers exiled to a tiny island on the edge of a wild, beautiful country could not
“THE LORD G O D A LWAY S P R E S E RV E S H IS R E MN A N T . ” imagine the existence of a vast continent across the ocean to the west. But a millennium and a half later the work of those believers lives on in this American woman because their work was the Bible, the Living Word of God. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV). The Word Incarnate always preserves His remnant. Z Laura and her husband Greg live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and attend Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Her articles have been published in Focus on the Family magazine, Billy Graham Association’s Decision Magazine, and Studio G, Gateway Church’s women’s magazine.
LAURA BYRNE
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THE LEMBA: A PASSIONATE PEOPLE B y TAT YAN A SVION TEK - MJBI Uk raine
HARARE, ZIMBABWE MJBI SCHOOL
To p : G r a d u a t i n g c l a s s . O p p o s i t e t o p - l e f t : Wo m e n re j o i c i n g a f t e r M J B I t e a c h i n g s . O p p o s i t e t o p - r i g h t : Yo u n g m e n i n c l a s s .
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F I E L D R E P O R T: T H E L E M B A O F Z I M B A B W E
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heir journey starts from various Lemba tribal locations across Zimbabwe. Whether by bus, bike, or foot, these deeply-committed Jewish believers sacrifice much to share their faith all over their country. As new MJBI students, they are unified by a passionate purpose: to grow deeper in their Jewish roots, and then share more effectively among the Lemba who have not yet heard the Good News about their Messiah Yeshua. Arriving in the city of Harare, Valentin and I were privileged to meet and teach 39 of these precious students. They were hungry for their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was also a great blessing to see other students who, after completing their own MJBI course work, are now on the field doing practical ministry in various parts of Zimbabwe. We shared from the book of Nahum, which gave students a great perspective on their faith and calling in Yeshua. Afterwards, one student stood up and addressed the others with this statement: “We must fear the Lord as long as we live. We must
keep His commandments as long as we live.” The class received this word with great applause, shouts of excitement, and joy in the Lord! The heart of the Jewish Lemba is to fear the God of Israel and obey Him. There are big challenges, but also big opportunities. While the religious Jewish community actively tries to convert the Lemba people to Judaism by standing against the Messianic movement and the work done by MJBI students, God is opening many doors. For instance, an opportunity has developed to meet with Lemba tribal leaders in South Africa. Pray these meetings will result in outreach to the South African Lemba tribes. These on-fire students need our prayer covering as they walk through opposition as well as open doors of ministry. They have so embraced the Messianic vision, and carry it deep within their hearts. Speak God’s favor and blessing over all of those who will boldly stop at nothing as they share their Messiah with the Lemba of Africa! Z
A TESTIMONY
Lemba Pastor
A Protestant Lemba pastor heard what God was doing among his people and felt an immediate call in his heart to learn more and return to reach his tribe. The church elders blessed him, released him to pursue God’s call on his life, and he became a MJBI student. Sadly two months ago his daughter died in childbirth, leaving him and his wife to raise their grandchild. Despite this heartbreak, they remain strong in faith, trusting God to carry them through the struggle. He is still very excited to be part of the Messianic movement in Zimbabwe.
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REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY— the new supersessionism
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upersessionism (a.k.a., replacement theology) is a second-century and post-apostolic, theological invention based upon a Platonist (Greek) philosophical reading of Scripture. Christian elitists over the next three centuries would manipulate biblical revelation by extensive allegorical method to claim that the Church had replaced Israel in God’s divine economy. This method of “interpretation” was void of sound biblical hermeneutic, reading into the text ideas not contained in Scripture (e.g., eisogesis), and pagan in its source. Supersessionism became the “mother of all heresies” as it laid the foundation for an extensive range of heretical notions and historical catastrophes for the next the two millennia. Innovative terms were employed such as “new,” “true,” or “spiritual Israel,” which had no basis or precedent in either the Hebrew Bible or Greek New Testament. Newly invented terms were theologically pooled to create the illusion that biblical Israel had been divinely repudiated and discarded in favor of faithful Gentiles, the NEW Israel. The Hebraic-oriented texts of the full Bible and classical Jewish themes were discounted in favor of viewing God’s revelation through a Greek philosophical lens. In spite of the absence of “replacement theology” from either the Gospels or first-century apostolic teaching, Supersessionism has continued to be the majority opinion within Christendom particularly since the fourth-century. There were hopeful challenges among the 16th-century Reformers, 17th-century Puritans, and 19th-century advocates of Dispensationalism. In more recent generations following the Holocaust, there have been theological thunderings against classical Christian anti-Semitism in several circles. 8
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by Raymond L. Gannon, Ph.D. mjbi vice president for academic affairs
Many have entertained new theological paradigms that would allow for the biblicallypromised Israel-Church Kingdom partnership ultimately to coordinate in space and time. This relationship is to be much preferred to the perpetuated antagonism that has characterized much of classical Christian poor thinking and traditional misbehavior toward “All Israel.” Against the onslaught of today’s new anti-Semitism (stemming from radical Islam, the Far Left, world political entities, and misguided university systems) a sound theology of Israel needs to be formulated that will not feed but rather repudiate classical Christian anti-Semitism. The need exists to confront modern Supersessionism to avoid simply perpetuating the theological blunders of the past that have led to the endangerment of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. These ideas have caused Christians to suffer colossal distortion of the meaning of both Hebrew and Greek testaments and resulted in both Israel and the Church to posture in militant resistance to the advance of the Kingdom of God and the very missio Dei (mission of God). Theological predisposition to Israel’s irrelevance was theological fodder for political propaganda and abuses of the Jewish people particularly in the West. The second-century philosophically-based social agenda was motivated by Christian desire to distance itself from Israel and the Jewish people. Gradually this morphed into theological treatise
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and then actualized political anti-Semitism over the centuries. It ignored God’s own Word of eternal commitment to the central and ongoing involvement of Israel in the missio Dei: international redemption and reconciliation to the Creator. Paul makes it clear the Church is to partner with, not replace, Israel in salvation history (Romans 9-11). Evangelical enthusiasm for the restoration of Israel as the Zionist enterprise is in keeping with biblical prophecy in spite of frequent and strong opposition from contemporary theologians, clergy and para-Church groups. Sound exegesis of the word “Israel” in the New Testament refers alone to the ethnic nation of Israel. Particularly noteworthy here is Romans 11:26, “All Israel will be saved.” We do well to abandon Plato-inspired allegorical interpretations and replacement theologies and return to the Jewish-styled hermeneutic of Jesus and the apostles’ own day.
Christian communities. The inbuilt Christian dread or suspicion of everything Jewish prevents the Messianic claims of Jesus from consideration in the Jewish world. Israel’s national embrace of Jesus is the apostolic conviction (Romans 11:25-26). This can only be done by “provoking” Israel to spiritual jealousy, not by negating the Jewish right to exist. There can be little doubt that national Israel has still to submit to God’s appointed Anointed One, Jesus, the One who will lead “All Israel” into her national destiny and effective international ministry of reconciliation. But how tragic it is that conventional Christian Supersessionists promote the biblically unsupportable posture that Israel has been fully replaced by the Church and that the Jewish people therefore have no claim to ongoing Covenant relationship to God or to Eretz-Israel (Land of Israel). In this manner, misguided Christian
the need exists to confront modern supersessionism
This would not only allow for a better understanding of biblical truth but recognize Israel’s ongoing and central role in the eschaton (end times) and Israel’s perpetual importance to salvation history. We could also combat the current widespread Christian tendency to delegitimize Messianic Jewish identity which militates against the success of Gospel proclamation within the Jewish world. The present Messianic Jewish Movement (Jewish people embracing Jesus) is the brightest illustration we have today of the fully removed and cross-annihilated wall of partition that separated those who are now to aspire to function in harmonious unity. Any existing rabbinic and Christian socially fortified or theological walls today between Israel and the Church are impure human fabrications. Anti-Jewishness is so woven into the fabric of Christian society that Messianic Jews suffer ongoing slander from both Jewish and local
MJBI.org
spokesmen mislead Christians, misrepresent the teachings of Scripture, and perhaps unintentionally but simultaneously encourage Islamic terrorism against the Jewish people and State of Israel. Equally dreadful are related theologies that espouse “two covenant” notions that conclude Jewish people do not need Jesus to find personal or national salvation. But Israel will only continue to stall on her biblical mission track until Israel is prepared to follow Yeshua, God’s Engineering Power, for Israel’s ultimate success. Z
Dr. Ray Gannon has been a front-line pioneer in Messianic outreach and education for over 40 years. Ray and wife, Kassiani, have three children and twelve grandchildren, and he enjoys motorcycle riding, hiking, and pool exercising.
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SMT
The Storytellers of History by Pastor Alan Latta
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fter taking the Jewish History and Culture I and II courses from the MJBI’s online School of Messianic Theology, I highly recommend these classes. They are appropriate for Jewish or Gentile believers. The teaching was excellent and the instructor, Jamie Cowen, is very gifted and interesting. He is a good storyteller and man of God, and I really grew to appreciate him through his teaching and perspective. These unique classes, with specific Messianic emphasis, will help each student receive a more rounded biblical worldview about the significance of God’s chosen people, historically and prophetically, and how they influence the Church. The storyline of history is at the mercy of the storytellers, and the journey and calling of God’s ancient people needs to be told and understood in the Church. The material was filled with amazing information and presented in a systematic way that one could recall and apply to life. By learning an overview of Jewish history, I have developed more empathy for them as a people group and nation. I
finished both courses also with a deeper appreciation of Jewish culture. Again, I highly recommend these courses for anyone who wants to grow in the understanding of God’s chosen people and the Church. Hal Holloway, a member of my Generations Church congregation, commented to Dr. Wilks recently that he loves the SMT class he is taking. “The SMT courses are so interesting it is hard to put them down. Yet they are so easy to pick up again when I have a free moment in which to engage.” That’s the joy of online learning! The Messianic Jewish Bible Institute’s online School of Messianic Theology (SMT) can be found easily on the web. Currently there are students enrolled from 37 countries, and more are coming. Connect with SMT at SMTEnglish.org or call the office for details (817-864-9300). Enjoy some of the best storytellers and teachers of Jewish history and framers of modern-day Messianic theology. Your life will be greatly enriched. Z
Pastor Alan Latta has pastored Generations Church in Granbury, Texas, since 1991. He and wife, Yvette, a Jewish believer originally from Zimbabwe, have a special love for the nations. They are Ascend Partners and their church has supported MJBI since the beginning of their missions program.
E n ro l l i n a n e w c o u r s e t o d a y ! For mo r e infor ma tio n, visit SMT E NG LIS H.ORG
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SMTEnglish.org
REKINDLE: ...CONTINUED! by ALISA STEPHENSON Director of Events & Partner Relations
“…He Rekindles burned out lives with fresh hope…” (1 Sam 2:6-10).
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ur theme from 1 Samuel, which began with “Rekindle” Dallas last fall and continued through the Texas spring banquets this year in Tyler, Abilene, and Amarillo, points to an extraordinary God who can rekindle hope in ordinary lives. Over 1000 people attended the Dallas event and over 550 people came to this year’s regional events. Looking back at these last six months and witnessing what God has done causes me to imagine what He will do in the coming year! Our main goal with regional banquets is to bring greater understanding about Messianic Jewish ministry to the Church, with a secondary goal of raising funds for the ongoing ministry of MJBI. To God’s glory, both of these goals were met in mighty ways. Responses continue to pour in and some who attended are saying these banquets are events that “just keep on giving.” The Tyler and Abilene banquets both featured keynote speaker Dr. Michael Brown. He is a gifted visionary whose insights and contributions to Messianic theology serve as beacons to those who want a deeper understanding of God’s Word. Always popular with audiences, many want to hear him again and again. In fact, Abilene partners requested an encore, which led to us asking Dr. Brown to return for a second time. In Amarillo, MJBI President Dr. Wayne Wilks and Pastor Olen Griffing, along with emcee Nic Lesmeister, held a panel discussion that brought
Dr. Michael Brown speaking at the Abilene banquet.
vision and clarity regarding the Messianic movement. In addition, world-renowned violinist Maurice Sklar delighted the audience with his worshipful music. Someone once said that sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love more. These regional events can take place because God speaks to the hearts of ordinary people, and they do extraordinary things. They sacrifice their time and talents to create an atmosphere where God’s truth is spoken, revelation imparted, and He is glorified. We cherish and value our relationships with those individuals in Amarillo, Abilene, and Tyler who coordinated, volunteered, or attended the regional events. Your efforts truly helped us impact the Kingdom of God. And while we are thankful for what has taken place this year, we are at the same time thankful for what is yet to come! Z
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