What can horseradish teach us about restoring relationships?
Among the elements on the Seder plate are a collection of herbs. One—horseradish—is a bitter root. As we taste it, we’re reminded of the weeping slavery brought to Abraham’s descendants. However, that anguish hasn’t been reserved for one race or religion. It’s been reflected in the lives of billions over the centuries of human existence.
However, the bitterest roots often anchor themselves within religious communities. Consider Jews and Christians. Animosity between the two groups has existed for less time than most people think. It took over 300 years for Christianity to disconnect from Judaism. However, once the disconnect was complete, Rome’s hatred of all things Jewish became the ‘Christian’ church’s hatred of all things Jewish.
What began as a sect within Judaism became a pagan institution. The teaching that the church replaced Israel and that the Jews killed God fueled anti-Semitism. It was as Daniel, Paul and John predicted. There was a falling away from genuine worship of Adonai.
Yet, this wasn’t seen among faithful Jews, which led to persecution. As Jesus said, darkness doesn’t want light to reveal its depravity.
Bitterness between Jews and Christians
Are you a Jew who wonders why some Christians hold Seders and worship on Shabbat instead of Sunday? Does it seem disingenuous or dishonest for Christians to worship Adonai as though they were Jews? Considering the brutal ordeal Christianity has put Jews through over the past 2,000 years, it’s understandable that you would suspect the motives of Christians who embrace the Jewish culture. After all, it’s been a bitter experience dealing with Christianity.
However, if Christianity is to return to its foundation, then it’s possible that embracing Torah is essential. How can worship be genuine unless it is founded upon God’s instructions?
Are you a Christian who has experienced isolation because you see value in God’s holidays? It can be a bitter test! People you’ve thought were your friends no longer want to associate with you. They don’t understand why you’d want to “do” that “Jewish” stuff.
Bitterness among Christians
In both our communities, it’s easy for bitter roots to destroy relationships. However, when a Christian returns to the foundation laid by Jesus and his disciples, the potential for bitterness is heightened. Now, he or she faces rejection by two communities—Christian and Jewish.
Some Christians step back from their convictions. They can’t take the pressure. Standing alone is too much. However, others stand staunchly in their convictions, while developing deep-seated resentment.
Neither is positive! We must be like Daniel, standing in the conviction that Torah is the foundation upon which our daily choices are based. However, we must also be like Daniel, who didn’t resent his Babylonian captors. He served Nebuchadnezzar and succeeding kings so faithfully at least two came to worship Adonai.
So how should we deal with bitter roots?
First, let’s recognize there is a difference between the gospel and righteous living. The good news proclaimed by the followers of Jesus in the first century C.E. was that “in Christ” (Greek for Messhiach/Messiah) God reconciled the whole world to Himself. They called Jew and gentile alike to embrace restoration. As Paul says:
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God! God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
In other words, we each have a choice. Who do we believe the Messiah has reconciled? Only those who respond. Or the whole world?
When a relationship is sour—for whatever reason—we have a choice. Either we believe God loves the godless people in our lives, or we allow bitterness toward the ungodly a place within our hearts.
The gospel is that Adonai loves the godless. He doesn’t withhold sunshine or rain from a rebellious world. In fact, He often treats the wicked so well, His people wonder what’s going on. Consider Psalm 73:
Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked…They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them…They say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth…When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight
Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works.Psalm 73:1-3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 16–28, NASB
Not only is bitterness toward the wicked unproductive. It renders us senseless and ignorant. Yet, even when we’re in this condition, Asaph says, “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.”
Adonai wants all His children to come into unity of heart. His Ruach H’Kodesh (Holy Spirit) strives with every heart to:
… convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
John 16:8–11, NASB
Christians have failed to recognize that the New Testament is inadequate for identifying what sin and righteousness are. The Torah is the anchor upon which all definitions are secured. It is also in the Torah where we learn what judgment must look like.
Thus, Jewish-Adventists congregations like Beit Shalom Balevav seek to reconcile Christians to the foundation laid by the “Angel of the Lord.” At the same time, we recognize that Torah is our guide to what sin and righteousness and judgment looks like, not a means by which we receive acceptance with God.
All scripture is a secure guide for living, for knowing what harmonizes with the kingdom to be established by the King of the Universe in the last day. Let us ask Him to place within us the willingness to be fully conformed to His kingdom’s principles. And then as we interact with others, let us consider God’s attitude toward them.
Do we truly believe that He loves them with an everlasting love? Then, let us deny ourselves the ‘right’ to ‘happiness.’ Instead, let us believe God is giving us His Ruach H’Kodesh to deal with whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.
We may not feel like loving those who make our lives miserable. Yet, we haven’t been asked to do something God isn’t doing Himself. Thus, we can join Paul in saying:
And I am sure of this: that the One who began a good work among you will keep it growing until it is completed on the Day of the Messiah Yeshua.
Philippians 1:6, CJB
We may go through lonely times. Let us not blame God. Rather let us choose to believe God is with us. Has not the Angel of the Lᴏʀᴅ said:
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6, NASB