Terminology

Sunday, as usual, was a bit lonely (as are Fridays and most other days), but I listened to some pretty good sermons on-line.

There are some who are very particular about terminology. They don't like the term "church" or "Knesia," you have to say Kehila/assembly/congregation/body of Christ. Some don't say "Jesus", and don't like it when you do either (it's Yeshua). And you can't say Christian, you have to say Meshihi, (or maybe believer) and what is inferred by or from either depends on whom you are talking with.

The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Those were Jewish Christians. Greek speakers wouldn't have called them Meshihim. I speak English, but I read the New Testament, which was first written in Greek, and the Old Testament, which was first written in Hebrew. If I call myself Notsri, I might be taken for a Roman Catholic, so I prefer to say Protestant. But then Jesus was a Notsri, so I guess it doesn't really matter, except I wasn't born in Nazareth. If I say Protestant, they say, oh, you mean like Luther? who said some really bad things about Jews.

But the Roman Church is not wrong on every single point, neither was Luther. And if I say Reformed, all Reformed are not right on every single point, either.

So I guess I will just say I am a Christian, although that is a broad term.

I will not say I am proud of my Jewish heritage (I am not Jewish), neither will I say I am proud to be a Gentile. I am happy that God chose me, and it is all for the glory of Messiah/Jesus/Yeshua that he chooses both Gentiles and Jews. The word "proud" doesn't work here. To the extent that my ancestors/descendants were/are believers, I am happy for that, and for the promise "to you and your seed." But God works how he will, and he brings many from darkness into his marvelous light, and many of them are not from believing families.