Tikkun Canada Congregational Life Protocols

Endeavoring to express the truth of our status as One New Man, we believe the following principles of community service and worship are a helpful starting point towards growing together as One New Man congregations:

1. According to Ephesians 2:13-22, the Body of Messiah is comprised of both Jew and Gentile in Messiah.
2. According to Galatians 3:28, unity between Jew and Gentile preserves individual identity in the same way that unity between man and woman preserves individual identity.
3. Salvation is the wonderful good news of individual regeneration, eternal life, and the forgiveness of sin. It is also the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth through his appointed Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth. One New Man congregations look towards and support the establishment of Messiah Yeshua’s throne in Jerusalem (Psalms 2:6). Therefore, all members of God’s kingdom are connected to the land of Israel and the Jewish people under Yeshua’s headship of the Jewish people and his authority as King of Israel.
4. Yeshua’s cardinal rule for community life is that His disciples are to have love one for another. Concerning One New Man congregations, this entails mutual submission and honour between Jewish and Gentile members. Paul’s rule for communities comprised of members with different scruples is “Let not the one who [has liberty] despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who [has liberty]” (Romans 14:3). Jewish and Gentile congregants should respect the liberty or lack thereof of individual members without passing judgment or holding others in contempt. As Paul commanded, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:19)
5. The writer of Hebrews instructed believers to “strive to live in peace with everyone” (Hebrews 12:14). Paul added, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3–4). The practical application of these two principles of community life is that both Jews and Gentiles would take care not to flaunt their distinctives or demand their unique rights and reciprocally, each group would take care to accommodate and honour their counterpart.
6. Paul established a rule for all churches he established: “let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision” (1 Corinthians 7:17,18). Therefore, all members would accept that Jews are not to seek to become Gentiles and Gentiles are not to seek to become Jews.
7. In recognition of our connection to Israel and the Jewish people, One New Man churches will celebrate the biblical appointed times (This includes Purim and Chanukah). As per Paul’s instructions in Romans 14:5, Gentile observance of days is a matter of personal conscience. Therefore, public celebration of the Hebrew calendar would also take into consideration Gentile liberty to not celebrate specific days. ONM congregations will be careful not to make observance of days a mandatory requirement. Contrariwise, members should take care not to judge other members who wish to celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
8. Romans 14 provides rules of conduct regarding table fellowship. In a public setting, congregational members who have the liberty to eat without restriction should refrain from eating food that other members of the congregation do not possess the liberty to eat. Therefore, within ONM communal meals, members should avoid non-kosher food items. As per the Apostles’ directive in Acts 15:20 both Jewish and Gentile congregants will not eat blood.
9. The Apostle Paul took up collections from churches in the nations for the church in Jerusalem (including the ONM church in Corinth). He explained that this was an obligation to the Messianic community in Israel (Romans 15:25-27). Therefore, following the pattern set by the Apostle Paul, ONM congregations will set aside a portion of their finances for distribution to the leaders of the Messianic community in Israel.
10. Israel’s restoration includes the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. Isaiah 49:22 establishes Gentile responsibility for practical assisting in this mandate. Therefore, ONM churches will actively participate in assisting Jewish people to return to the land of Israel (Jewish members of ONM congregations should also assist in promoting aliyah as a demonstration of unity both with Gentile members who are specifically called to assist aliyah and with the Jewish people who have returned or are in the process of returning to the land of Israel).
11. Worship and order of service are a significant part of community life in Yeshua. One New Man congregations are not Messianic synagogues and therefore are not required to emulate the traditional synagogue order of service. However, ONM congregations acknowledge their connection to Israel and the Jewish people. The declaration of faith for Israel is the Sh’mah. To acknowledge our connection to Israel we pronounce the Sh’mah at the beginning of our services. Likewise, Yeshua commanded his disciples that when they pray, they should pray what today is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. Therefore, as a One New Man congregation, we corporately pray the Lord’s Prayer. There are no hard and fast rules regarding styles of worship other than everything should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and the gifts and operation of the Holy Spirit should not be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Therefore, individual congregations are at liberty to conduct their services in a manner that seems good to them and the Holy Spirit enriching their corporate worship with godly elements taken from both the Jewish and Christian tradition.

Copyright © 2019 by Martin Shoub