Before most of us were around, Genesis performed a song called “Land of Confusion.” Just a few years ago, Disturbed did a cover of that iconic 80’s song. Like any true metalhead, I think Disturbed did it a lot better. Disturbed does everything better. “Land of Confusion” talks to Messianics in a very real way. There is no land of confusion to compare to the Messianic community.
Every time I listen to it I think about how we have too many people, all making our own rules as we go along. In one Torah study or synagogue the rules are completely different from the rules in another one. In some groups there are no rules at all, just chaos. While some communities are essentially orthodox, which gives them some stability, others seem to have adopted the same attitude as most five-year-olds, that no one is the boss of them.
Too often, there’s not enough love to go around. We either poke fun at Christians, or at Orthodox Judaism, or at other Messianics. People can be ignored or attacked for the slightest offense, or perceived offense. Too often we talk behind eachother’s backs. I don’t mean that everyone or every congregation is this way, and I can’t talk about anyone without including myself in this. Along with all of this there doesn’t seem to be much of a drive to help people outside of our own little, insulated groups.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Our generation can make a change. We do not have to continue this chaotic, destructive, downward trend. One journalist argues that ours could be a new Greatest Generation[i]. It will require us to be firm. It will require us to make compromises so that we can work together. It will require us to be willing to admit when we’re wrong, and to follow some kind of structure and leadership.
It’s a new year, and it’s time for a new era. Let’s make resolutions to think for ourselves, to take initiative, and speak up when we see something wrong, or something that doesn’t make sense. This new year can be the year that we go from scattered anarchy to something that we can maintain, something we can be proud of, a group of people who stand up for truth and justice in the world, instead of waiting for the end of the world. This year, let’s start working together, instead of splintering. This year, let’s take a bold, insane, revolutionary step into orthodoxy and unity, and get back into the real world.
Let’s take the new year to take what we’ve been given and use it to improve the world around us. Let’s use the time we have in the real world to build a better world
I've never seen you this irrationally idealistic before. Shocker
ReplyDeleteYou have voiced my feelings of the Messianic community almost with the same words as I have when venting to others! It is a sad state that we are in at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly that we need to be the 'Greastest Generation'because if we are not, I fear that there will not be a next generation of believers.
Well put on all topics.