~ An Editorial ~
Can you imagine the month of June without a day to reflect upon the special men in our lives? Have you ever wondered if Father's Day is kosher?
I have 5 children and you can imagine how much I cherish Father's Day. I love the home-made cards with drawings of stick figures and crayon smudge marks. So just considering not being banqueted with love and allowed to sleep in doesn't set very well.
It's true that to not gather and show gratitude would be an insult to the men that mean so much to us. We have Veteran's, President's Day, and Mother's Day. But what about Father's Day? Should we wish people a "Happy Father's Day?"
Did you know that there are some Bible believers that want Father's Day banned?
A genuine group of truth seekers say that there should be NO Father's Day. In fact, these folks want us to remove from our dictionary certain words including "daddy" or "pops" or "father." What? You've heard of this before? Sure you have!
Such silliness is in essence propagated by those who say that we should not use the term "rabbi" or teacher. According to these folks, we are to take one sentence spoken by the Messiah and establish a doctrine that forbids the term "rabbi" and "father." This popular misunderstanding among Hebrew Roots seekers is at best error and at worst anti-Semitic.
The verse in question can be found in the book of Mathew, chapter 23. Read it hear from the King James Version. "8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Messiah; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Messiah. 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Some claim that this verse should be taken out of context and officially ban the office and title of the "teacher." Of course to do so, would also officially ban the term "father." Can you imagine a world without fathers? Can you imagine Judaism without rabbis? Just the idea of such is totally absurd.
Logic and reason establish that if we can't say "rabbi" then we can't say "father" as well. Such an idea would contradict other scriptures and produce error in the Newer Testament. Was James in sin when he called Abraham "our father" in James 2:21? And was the Apostle Paul wrong when he said in Romans 4:16, "that which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all?" Should we establish a belief from one passage of Scripture? Are we to really ban the phrases "rabbi" and "father?"
The truth is that those who claim the "call no man rabbi" idea usually do so out of rebellion to leadership. They teach this in spite of the fact that they use the term "daddy" with their earthly parent. These folks are argumentative against "rabbi" but call others "doctor" and "sir." Is this what the Messiah really wanted? Hardly. Why would the King of the Jews suggest such an ant-Jewish idea?
When the Savior spoke the words in question He was simply warning those who would rush to take a place of authority and leadership. Pick up your Bible and read the 23rd chapter of Matthew to really grasp this issue. There is NOTHING wrong with calling your spiritual teacher "rabbi" or your physical father "daddy."
The word "rabbi" is from the Hebrew phrase "rav" which means "great, numerous or much." To say that a person is a Rabbi is a way of saying that they have "much understanding and great knowledge." A rabbi is a teacher of the great knowledge found in the Torah. Some in the Messianic movement use the phrase "moreh" as a way to skirt this issue. Both terms are similar and set apart a person as a leader. We must allow Scripture to interpret scripture on every issue of study. We can clearly see the definition of this word in John 1:38 which shows two disciples questioning the Savior. It read, "Rabbi, (which means, when translated, Teacher,) where are you staying?" The parentheses are part of the text and weren't added by me!
Clearly, we are to find and submit to a teacher who guards the commandments of Torah and has the testimony of Y'shua. This rabbi should be able to speak truth into our lives. The title describes the person's ministry and huge responsibility to know and teach the Word.
We are to honor our father and we are to honor our spiritual father. The Sages of Judaism declare that our "father deserves honor but our spiritual father deserves more honor. For our physical father brought us into this world. Our spiritual father brings us into the world to come." 1 Timothy 5:17 agrees; "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching."
In Matthew 23 Y'shua was warning us not to exalt people too highly. We should be careful not make the teacher the recipient of our worship. Most people would never worship a mere man, BUT we bow before our leaders when we place them on pedestals and consider them perfect and blameless. We should not have unrealistic expectations of those who minister to us. We should not seek to judge or examine their every move. Instead, we are to submit to leadership and assist leadership in the work of the ministry.
It is amazing that here in Matthew 23 Y'shua was actually speaking prophetically to a future sin of the Jewish people. This is an area of folly that man face today. Several Jewish groups, like the Chasidic and Orthodox, exalt their "rebbe" to a place of divinity. A farmed portrait of the rabbi hangs in the home and his words are memorized. This type of idolatry is not acceptable. This is exactly what Y'shua warned against. We have ONE rabbi that is worthy of worship - Y'shua Himself.
In the local assembly there is certainly a leadership chain of command. The rabbi is the congregational leader and servant. The rabbi is to lead, love, serve, discipline, delegate, encourage, and teach. One person has written that the true rabbi mostly feels "inadequate, unworthy, and trembling at the task." The local or Internet rabbi is to present the truth of the Torah in an easy to understand manner. The rabbi should be strong to lead and humble to respond to those seeking truth. Each part of the body has a responsibility to fulfill. Ephesians 4:11; "And He gave some, shlichim (Sent ones/Apostles); and some, neviim (prophets); and some, proclaimers; and some, roehim (shepherds) and morim (teachers); For the perfecting of the Yisraelite kidushim (saints), for the mitzvoth (love deeds) of service, for the rebuilding of the body of Moshiach."
So, please allow me to say "thank you" to all of the fathers throughout the world. May you have a happy Father's Day and may you be blessed of YHWH.
To those who malign the scriptures and prohibit the word "rabbi" I wish you clarity on this subject and a blessed understanding. I can't wish you Happy Father's Day as I do not want to offend.
A year without Father's Day? A synagogue without a Rabbi? I think not.
By Rabbi Dani'el Rendelman ravemet@comcast.net
of Emet Ministries www.emetministries.com
BNAI YAHSHUA SYNAGOGUE OF PROSPERITY, SC
