By now, most of you have seen the horrifying desecration of a Sefer Torah (a scroll hand-copied by a Jewish scribe with meticulous care) by Ralph Messer at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia (only about ten miles from my home in Snellville). Dozens of people have been sending me emails, Facebook messages, etc., asking for my view. In my opinion, this event was far less the fault of Bishop Eddie Long than of Ralph Messer. I have been told that the video at the 9:57 mark shows the Bishop’s discomfort with the ceremony. Furthermore, I pin the blame on Ralph Messer who claims to be a rabbi and claims to be Messianic Jewish.
Ralph Messer is not a rabbi affiliated with the UMJC, the MJAA, or the IMJA. He does not represent Messianic Judaism. Anyone may claim to be a priest, rabbi, or pastor. A friend constantly tells me that there are mail-order and internet “Ordination Certificates” available as cheaply as $5. I have heard of Ralph Messer and from time to time people have sent me material by him. I have regarded it with the same lack of seriousness as a Chick tract (google Jack Chick) or a video of Robert Tilton.
The fact that talented showmen who have no legitimate message, who are self-authorized, who contradict the sound values of religion repeatedly, can gather crowds and make names for themselves should not surprise anyone. I run across the kind of gullible people who believe the Ralph Messers of the world all the time. Many of them are good people. And many see the light eventually and move past their hypnotic fascination with the showy spectacles. The ones who should be ashamed are the wolves in sheep’s clothing like Ralph Messer. The message of people like Ralph Messer is not Judaism (the historic faith which is thousands of years old and which has a rich, multi-layered tradition that has continued developing ever since) nor Christianity (ditto).
Many of us (leaders in Messianic Judaism) have been talking informally. I know a number of us — I’m speaking only informally and not as a representative of any organization — would like to see Bishop Eddie Long apologize, return the Torah Scroll either to Ralph Messer or whomever its previous owner was, and make a public statement that it was never his intention to have someone claiming to be a rabbi cause an offense in the Jewish community. I believe the Jewish community would be very forgiving of a pastor who was the victim of a rogue clergyman making grandiose claims.
As for Ralph Messer, I for one do not believe someone who has gone this far into harmful error and sensationalism has any role to play in religious leadership of any kind at any time in the future. Repentance by Messer would not satisfy me. An apology and early retirement would impress me. Of course, the U.S. Constitution gives Messer the freedom to be as foolish and wrong as he desires as long as he abides by the laws of our country. As for the people who have listened to Messer’s teachings and who have been fooled by the showmanship, there are many churches and synagogues where a meaningful faith and practice can be found. I hope Messer’s followers will learn from this and find true Judaism and/or true Christianity. If there are any Jewish followers of Yeshua (Jesus) in Messer’s congregation (I doubt it), I encourage them to find a UMJC, MJAA, or IMJA congregation and move on.
Other Messianic Jewish Bloggers Speak Out
Rabbi Joshua Brumbach, Ahavat Zion Synagogue, Beverly Hills.
Rosh Pinah Project, Messianic Jews in the U.K.
Jonathan Lasko at Gathering Sparks.
Rabbi Michael Schiffman of Cape Coral, FL, writes “A Shonda!”
Rabbi Stuart Dauermann, “leaders and congregants in the Messianic Jewish Movement despise what Ralph Messer has done.”
Judah Himango, “Ralph Messer does not represent Hebrew Roots or the Two House sub-movement.”
FYI, Bishop Eddie Long is also a Wolf-In-Sheeps clothing! He recently paid off victims who accused him of sexual abuse while in his youth group. There were many picture of him half naked posing in the mirror. He’s one of the leading televangelist of The for-profit Prosperity Gospel. If he doesn’t apologize for crimes against his own(Gentiles), how will he apologize for crimes against others(Jews). That will only happen if his for-profit ministry is threatened.
Moshiach please come NOW!!!!
Shalom Derek…two thoughts here, 1)not belonging to any of the above mentioned Messianic groups, does not equate to illegitimacy as a Messianic Rabbi/leader..2)having said that this guy Messer is a real schmuck…desecrating the Torah to legitimize Eddy Long…??
Could you go into a little bit more detail about what happened? I shudder to think of what “desecration” means in this case. Damn it, I’m going to say it: the crazy Messianics are Two-House, the sane ones are like you, and the in-between ones are One Law. This sucker needs to wake up and smell the coffee. What is it with these “shouting televangelist” types and their loud shiny colored getup? Attention-whoring, Babylonian style.
My slightly-younger sister, like the good little unwitting baby of postmodernity/nihilism that she is, is now considering becoming a state-recognized minister just for the lulz of it. Trust me, it’s not difficult. You pay $25, do a little somethin’ somethin’ at the local UU (*bleh*), and you too can be certified clergy.
UU: any kind of left-of-center politics, stopping just short of Marx, is our religion. And maybe god exists. Maybe. If he does, his name is Big Permissive Guy in the Sky That Lets Us Do Whatever We Want.
TBN: we suck and you have to be below 100 IQ to like us.
Andrew T, it would be very wise to be careful what you say on this blog.
Real Messianic Jews are not Two House/Ephramite. A Torah Scroll is the most treasured object that Israel can have. It is a hand-written copy of the 1st five books of the Bible in the original language. Jewish people take utmost care to be respectful in the presense of one of these copies. Real Jews (even ones who are not religious) would NEVER treat a Torah in this manner. It would never be brought into a church or handled so carelessly. It is handled reverently & in such a manner that it is laid down on a reader’s platform & read to the people every week. After it is read it is ceremoniously returned to a cabinet where it stays when not being read to the congregation in the synagogue. Not everyone who says they are Jewish…Messianic or otherwise really is.
I’ve read most of the comments and am a congregant at Beth Yeshua Macon, GA. I would say to you, Andrew T. – Not all messianics are Two House. As a matter of fact you can read an excellent piece What We Do Not Believe on Beth Yeshua – Macon, Georgia’s site which deals with the doctrinal errors of Two House. The article is written by Tim Hegg. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read. As for what transpired at New Birth–it is abominable!
I’m completely heartbroken over this! I’m literally bawling my eyes out now. May he very soon turn away from this path he’s traveling & learn to honor the Eternal One properly for the remainder of his days…
I am appalled at what has taken place by ralph messer ,for us Jews who live in America and have done nothing but pray to live in eretz Israel this is a blow ,We so day and night daven for our people to come to know H’mashiach, and then someone whom we don’t hardly know if at all ,who say’s he’s Jewish does this and desecrates our Torah after admitting it was thrown out by the Nazi’s . He Ralph Messer could not even pronounce the name of that horrid death camp correctly he called it birkendad, Hey even the least of us Jews know its name unfortunately.So you mean you took the sefer torah one from Auschwitz-berkenau and did this with it ? Mr. Messer ?
Andrew T, it would be very wise to be careful what you say on this blog.
Real Messianic Jews are not Two House/Ephramite. A Torah Scroll is the most treasured object that Israel can have. It is a hand-written copy of the 1st five books of the Bible in the original language. Jewish people take utmost care to be respectful in the presense of one of these copies. Real Jews (even ones who are not religious) would NEVER treat a Torah in this manner. It would never be brought into a church or handled so carelessly. It is handled reverently & in such a manner that it is laid down on a reader’s platform & read to the people every week. After it is read it is ceremoniously returned to a cabinet where it stays when not being read to the congregation in the synagogue. Not everyone who says they are Jewish…Messianic or otherwise really is.
I know and understand everything you wrote. But most Messianics are not Jews, all the more so the Two House people, and most would consider Two House part of the Messianic movement (albeit on the uneducated, immature margins of it). If I had to guess, I would say that Two House congregations with nary a Chaim or Rivkah to be found well outnumber Messianic Synagogues with 50%+ Jewish members. And Dan Benzvi thinks even THIS state of affairs is bad.
Derek,
It seems like you give Bishop Eddie Long a free pass in this blog…why dont you expect him to step down like this Rabi Messer guy? Messer is a swindler, a sham, and a showman like you said. However, Bishop Eddie Long is worse…he is a pedophile sex offender. You seem to give a pedophile more grace and give the swindler a harder time.
Sean:
I was a non-fan of “Bishop” Eddie Long long before the Ralph Messer incident. I know people who used to belong to his church. It is true in my article I seem to be giving Long a pass. I will not say that Long is a pedophile because no criminal charges were filed against him. He has not been convicted in any court as a sex-offender. You might want to check your information. The matter was a civil suit brought by four young men. Why were no charges filed? I had heard — someone correct me — that the boys were of age.
My problem with someone like Eddie Long is not primarily about sexual sins. If he had kept his sexual attentions within marriage and fidelity to one woman, I would still have a problem with him. The self-important title “Bishop,” the prosperity preaching, the deluding of good people simply seeking a faith experience — these things steam me far more than sexual escapades.
Clergy often get into affairs. There is always a matter of abuse of spiritual power when clergy do this. If the victims of clergy sexual advances are young (even if they are of age) this is reprehensible because the one in a position of power is using that psychological power coercively. And if clergy preach against homosexuality repeatedly and then are discovered to practice same-sex relationships, the hypocrisy is all the greater.
Perhaps my article should have been harder on Long. But my focus was and is on Ralph Messer because my own movement, Messianic Judaism, will be unfairly associated with Messer because of this news item (Messeranic Judaism?).
Derek,
I actually appreciated you NOT going to town on Long in this post, because Long isn’t the point. His issues don’t make this more of a desecration, affront, offense, travesty….This is about Messer, plain and simple.
Good on ya.
Thanks, Roush-meister. I did not blog on the Eddie Long news items when they came out precisely for that reason: my focus is on the Jewish and Messianic Jewish world and theology and items from Judaism and Christianity that bear on the Messianic Jewish world. Clergy scandals not involving items of interest to Jews and Messianic Jews are simply not what this blog is about. Besides, if I blogged on all clergy scandals, I wouldn’t have time to study Torah!
Derek, you’re giving this jerk too much credit by calling him a “talented showman”. This only talent is in fooling the gullible.
James:
Well, he has a lot more followers than I do. If he is not talented, what am I?
You are the real rabbi…that’s what you are! Thank you for taking a stand on this very difficult subject. Looking forward to seeing you at the end of March. Have a great Shabbat. My best to your family & your entire congregation.
Derek,
Deut. 7:6-8.
God does not look at Numbers. I think we should ignore this clown. the more we discuss it and spell his na,e right, isn’t that what he wants?
Dan,
For everything there is a season,
a right time for every intention under heaven- … a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
Kohelet/Ecclesiastes 3.1 & 7b
Keeping silent would be the wrong choice in this case.
“Who can protest & does not is an accomplice in the act.” ~Talmud Bavli Shabbat 5b
We are told numerous times in the New Covenant to also publicly speak out against those whose teachings & influence are dangerous. Also please do not simply quote Scripture references in isolated segments. That only leads to enable someone else to counter you with another quote from the Bible & other sources in refutations & does not solve anything. Be well!
Christo,
Two examples,
1) When rabbinic say that meat bought from a Gentile is unclean, does it really make it so?
2) When Mormons Baptize the dead (Some holocaust victim) Does it really make it so?
When this shmuck Messer say that the Torah scroll is 318 years old, does it really make it so?
If i am not mistaken in the infamous picture there is apicture on the scroll. When was the last time you have seen a Torah scroll with pictures?
Sorry I messed up a reference. It should be Shabbat 54b & not just 5b. Sincere apologies!
“When rabbinic say that meat bought from a Gentile is unclean, does it really make it so?”
No if that Gentile was supervised by a Rabbinic authority on kashrut while preparing the meat!
I assume you’re kidding, Derek. It’s easy to attract a large crowd. You just give them the garbage they want. That’s why McDonalds has billions of customers and millions of people watch American Idol each week. Surely you’ve been reminded of this:
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.. -2 Timothy 4:3
Long is just a good “ear tickler”. Anyone can give the crowd what they want. Only a true person of God can give people what they need.
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Derek,
Wow! I wish MLK, Jr. was still around, he would have completely taken Eddie Long to task. I am calling it like I see it, Eddie Long is a Cult-Leader.
Speaking as someone involved in the the Hebrew Roots and Two House communities, I abhor this. I was uncomfortable just watching the thing; televangelists and religious showmen are a shame to the name of Messiah and embarrassment to our faith.
Judah,
I’m not surprised you felt this way. I’d love to read a response on your blog if you get the time.
Yahnatan
Judah:
Craziness like this helps you and I to see we have more in common than we have apart, doesn’t it?
It does rather put our differences in the background compared to the “Mess”.
We have a lot of things in common, just different visions for the future.
“We have a lot of things in common, just different visions for the future.”
As well as different versions of Israel of the past, present and the future. However, kudos for repudiating despicable behavior of Messer.
“And Dan Benzvi thinks even THIS state of affairs is bad.”
Be careful Andrew….If you choose to slander you need to have truth on your side. Can you quote me anywhere supporting 2 house?
I’m glad that you mentioned what you did about Messer, Brother Derek. Seeing how many were so focused on Long, I was more concerned about how the man (Messer) has been around for YEARS and giving the impression to others that what he stands for is what is Biblical MJism….and for those who are Two-House, it gives them a bad name. For me, my mindset has been that there are many variations of Two House ideology, with some being very healthy (if looking up folks like John K. McKee, of TNN Online, which simply has the perspective that many within Gentile culture have Hebraic backgrounds hidden due to cultural assimilation )–and I myself support certain aspects of Two House, as shared here , here , here /here since I find two house interesting, but not in the MIA way of making everyone who ever is saved and not genetically Jewish = of the two houses (basically WWCOG theology lite) – for I believe that the people are out there, and will be found, or are out there and have been re-absorbed into the general Jewish population at large.
But with Two House, Messer has long been apart of the dangerous variations. And it’s frustrating to see how many have NOT said anything.
This is very sad. The Jewish people protect that Scroll for 300 years with their lives to preserve the word of God and now a tele-maniac is making a show. I feel that our days are counted on this earth.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
I believe I would be a lot more impressed if Eddie Long were to actually study the Torah and apply the principles to his life! That would take a lot more time and effort than that “quick fix” exhibition did, however!
I am only three years in Messiah….not much time to learn a great deal yet; however, I watched Messer about 3 times and pegged him as a phony. It is so obvious to anyone who has the gift of discernment that he is not what he pretends to be. I never watched him again and was not aware of this desecration of the idea of a Torah Scroll. I personally don’t believe any of these that he “bestows” are real. I think they are just as counterfeit as he is.
Thank you for a very well written article. My mother was Jewish, my father was not. I am saved by the blood of Christ, and consider myself to be a Messianic Jew. What I saw on the video of Ralph Messer made me sick to my stomach. To me, he was mocking God. It made me think of brainwashing listening to the audience blindly following. Mr. Messer comes across as a self-absorbed, pompous showman who is as shallow as a puddle. My prayer is that the eyes of the people who are fooled by him will be opened.
I just saw this response about Ralphie, check it out.
I’ve read most of the comments and am a congregant at Beth Yeshua Macon, GA. I would say to Andrew T. – Not all messianics are Two House. As a matter of fact you can read an excellent piece What We Do Not Believe on Beth Yeshua – Macon, Georgia’s site which deals with the doctrinal errors of Two House. The article is written by Tim Hegg. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read.
I am also associated with the Hebrew roots movement and Two House teachings, and I want to share that I ALSO abhor what Messer and Long have done. I was literally dumb-founded and speechless ( and I am NEVER speechless) at Messer’s bald-faced lies, his arrogant presumption to speak for the Jews and for Israel, his blatant insensitivity toward Biblical customs, and the utter disdain he showed for the Holiness of the Most High. For pity’s sake, he treated the pure written Word as an ego-boosting, anti-Kryptonite ‘Superman’ cape for an unrepentant man who deserves all the criticism he is currently getting. Anyone who fears the Holy One would abhor this man’s despicable actions.
http://e.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/shiur.asp?id=207 (From the Minor Talmudic Tractate Avodah Zera 18a) “They took him out and wrapped him in the Torah scroll, encircled him with bundles of twigs, and lit them on fire. Then they brought cotton sponges and soaked them in water and placed them on his heart in orer than his soul not leave his body too quickly. His daughter said, ‘Father, am I to believe my eyes? He said to her, ‘If I were burned by myself it would be difficult for me to bear. Now that I am being burned with the Torah scroll, the one who avenges the desecration of the Torah will avenge my desecration as well”! Just for though, Shalom Aleichem!
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I’m not of Jewish descent, I am an African American Christian. I watched this horrible spectacle and I was horrified. I felt a sense of great disrespect for Jewish culture and for the sacredness of the Torah Scroll. I felt sad that an item that people gave their lives protecting was mistreated and disregarded in such a way. I was also ashamed of Eddie Long even accepting that kind of treatment, seeing as Jesus did not even have a stable home during His ministry, how could he accept being made a “king.” And the people who follow, they are deceived and deluded; they are screaming for a king instead of God, and it is sad. I think they both owe the Jewish/Messianic Jewish community an apology, and Eddie Long should return the scroll, but probably not to Messer, he doesn’t respect it.
[Comment slightly edited by blog owner] . . . He officially queened televangelist Paula White at a time when a photo of her and Benny Hinn was raising speculation about an alleged affair.
Wow, Sidney, that’s the first time I had seen the video with Paula White. Before you commented, I had only heard about this. [I edited your comment a bit because I'd rather not have hearsay about anyone, including Paula White, stated as fact -- and I made your wording a bit more polite].
Shalom Aleichem! Derek, thank you for your wise comment to Sidney about being careful not to repeat “hearsay”. The sages tell us that hearsay is equivalent to murder in that, once said, it cannot be undone and will continue unhindered toward the most chaotic and vile end. Don’t let any demons loose by repeating hearsay, they usually comeback to haunt not only the repeater but every one else involved! Shalom Aleichem!
Shalom To All,
One thing I can promise is that I hold my former job(Police/Investigator) skills very serious. I’ve subscribed to this blog so when I get an alert via IPhone I couldnt post the supporting video until I got home.
However, I wished those who called the brethren “Paganoids” would remember their outburst of emotions and quick rebukes concerning this practice. Of we use the same exactness-rule; nowhere does Scripture forbid wrapping Torah scrolls around people. But I agree that the obvious implication is there.