Saturday, January 15, 2011

Hypocrisy

By now, you all know who this Delek character in my previous blog is. So let's call him by his name, Derek Leman. The "notorious" Derek Leman, as Judah likes to say.

Since birds of feather stick together, Derek usually likes to do the dirty work for another so-called "convert," Boaz Michael. Case in point, Derek's attack on Tim Hegg in his blog. You see, when FFOZ came out with their "divine invitation" doctrine, Hegg sought out to refute this bizarre teaching and wrote an article in which he just slam-dunks this doctrine. Since FFOZ could not refute Hegg's article theologically, exegetic ally or historically, they elected to so-called "remain above the fray," they announce that they will not discuss this anymore. But beneat this "holier than thou" facade, it is OK for them to use hired assassins, and Derek of course just wallows in that.

So this Derek, the "Jew," writes that he wanted to sit in the front row at Tim's seminar wearing a T-shirt that says: "Noah ate pork." Which amounts to the same thing as: "Jesus is a superstar." Both phrases can have a different interpretation, but Derek sticks to Noah and pork because with all the Judaism he acquired, his mindset is still of a Gentile Christian. But go tell him that....

Our lovable Derek is miffed at Hegg for "refuting the competition," as if on his own blogs (and he has about 38 of them, he has a lot of Jews to teach...) he embraces the competition every-single-time...Never mind of-course that the main theme of Hegg's conference was "identity, "Duhh," and was advertised as such, but Derek in his smartness wants to convince us that 200 people are just idiots for not understanding what they have spent their hard earned money for.

Derek writes about Hegg self serving, being completely blind to his own doing. I guess having 38 blogs is not at all self serving...Oh, well... Derek says that one-law gives people "pseudo-Jewish" identity. I wonder what kind of "pseudo" identity cutting his shwantzel gives him. (hey Derek, you are Jewish now, you must of course understand Yiddish, don't you? If not, then e-mail me, for a price I will help you).

More Derek:
"what is my complaint? well, it is that with all that is wrong in the world, with all that God wants us to do, be and know, when I speak to groups of people i don;t waste any of that precious time deconstructing others in order to built myself up."

Say what? you could have fooled me, and many others, self -righteous derek. all we need is to read your 38 something blogs to see how self promoting you are, so please stop playing Jacquelin Kennedy and come down to earth.

More?
"I should point out, the attendance at Hegg's seminar gives an idea how small his constituency is."

one wonder how many "constituance" the first MJ seminar attrated, 13? 14? I gues Jesus had a large group behind him, right derek? All the theologians and scholars of the day where His supporters, right?

"If you have a viewpoint like Hegg's" you are isolated from the Jewish world becuae you don't have a meaningful definition of Jewish identity but instead replace Jews with Hebrew Root Christian in a new kind of supersasseionism the Church fathers never dreamed of."

Coming from one that would be kicked out down the steps from any Jewish Denomination he will try to be a member of, all because he of course has the right meaningful definition of what Jewish identity is. The Goy wants to tell us Jews how it is done, how do you likw them apples? Never mind that Derek did not take the time to try and really explore what Hegg is really teaching. But, then why work so hard? Everyone else in his circle is bashing Tim Hegg, why not jump on the bandwagon? But that is Derek's motto. He noisily defends BE when it is obvious he really did not study it.

Much air and no substance, this is Derek for you--עבד כי ימלוך -the slave becomes a king. ENOUGH ALREADY!

Disclaimer: Tim does not know that I am doing this. In a matter of fact, I asked him in an e-mail if he had seen derek's blog, I have never received a reply.

12 comments:

  1. >> "What is my complaint? Well, it is that with all that is wrong in the world, with all that God wants us to do, be and know, when I speak to groups of people I don't waste any of that precious time deconstructing others in order to built myself up."

    I was trying to find a way to respectfully respond to that hypocritical statement. I gave up.

    Derek tears people apart, tears down ministries and communities of Messianics. And when we respond, we're demonized. It is painful, but we must be longsuffering in our endurance, and stubborn in our persistence in standing up for our beliefs, standing up for what's right.

    In the end, it is us, the practical people of the Messianic communities, who will win out over the airy intellectualized theologies, ivory tower condemnations, and the leaders who, being preoccupied with religion building, show little compassion for the sheep.

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  2. In the end, it is us, the practical people of the Messianic communities, who will win out over the airy intellectualized theologies, ivory tower condemnations, and the leaders who, being preoccupied with religion building, show little compassion for the sheep.

    @Judah, it is really a sad thing, what apparently Chris Detwiler learned while driving the country for a year several years back: that he really didn't like Messianics. Many that looked up to him as a leader, were left stunned when he body slammed them.

    Contrast that with Tim Hegg's quiet, unassuming position. That speaks volumes. He follows Yeshua's admonition, "feed My lambs." We need more men like Tim Hegg, and fewer like Chris, Gene, and dragon-boy < grin >.

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  3. Dan,
    I am choosing to post my comments on Derek's latest "straw man" post on your site rather than reply directly in his comments section. I submit the following to the public record: Derek wrote "I think that Hegg’s “scholarship” needs to be held up to the light. His negative campaign needs to be exposed." I read Derek's name calling post and don't see him giving me anything of Mr Hegg's scholarship - just Derek's characterization of it. Further he writes "Well, it is that with all that is wrong in the world, with all that God wants us to do, be, and know, when I speak to groups of people I don’t waste any of that precious time deconstructing others in order to build myself up." Wow! Take a step back and read his post and let Derek's own words describe who he is - you don't have to build a straw man at all! Finally Derek further posts, "My point is that something is amiss when the basis of an organization is opposition and when a negative is more important in an organization than a positive." Mr Hegg does not have a blog. He is not trying to build up or defend an organization. I know this because I am part of his family. For those who know Mr Hegg Derek's straw-man portrayal of him is slander at best.
    G Springer

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  4. I should correct one item in my last comment. It is libel at best. Slander refers to spoken words. Libel is written. I have not heard Derek speak concerning Mr Hegg. I only have what he has written. Also, Mr Hegg's newsletter, conference, teachings, ect... intend to seek out what is true not tear down other organizations. Derek should really get to know someone before he publishes statements about them. The Mr Hegg I know is always open to discussion of the scriptures.
    G Springer

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  5. I remember Tim Hegg's theological paper years ago in which he named Russ Resnik. He never ascribed motives. He challenged Resnick's theological postition. He didn't call names. Contrast that to the nastiness that claims to be "scholarship" in the BE movement. The real winner in all of this is Tim Hegg. He looks like the wise, honorable man that we know that he is.

    B"H

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  6. Thanks for the reminder Rick. Tim has dignity, unlike me...LOL!

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  7. Dan,

    I thought you were out of the blogging business! :)

    Good post. I am saddened that Derek is developing a reputation as the BE bulldog. He was actually my own inspiration to start blogging. Now, he can only denigrate and attack those who hold the same views I do.

    Just for the record, I tried to make it to Tim's seminar, but experienced some difficulties. I would have been the one with the t-shirt saying, "Once I was afar off... but now I am brought near!" I LOVE the message of Ephesians, the "Handbook for Gentile Integration into Messianic Judaism".

    Welcome back to the blogosphere, chaver!

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  8. Thanks Mishkan,

    It is worth to go back to bloging in order to expose a fool.

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  9. One other thing worthy of thought by all of us -- This is from N.T. Wright's book, "Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision" -- Seems like the challenge of ethical blogging also is seen in the scholarly worlds of the likes of Piper and Wright...

    N. T. Wright says,"Test this out. Go to the blogsitcs, if you dare. It really is high time we developed a Christian ethic of blogging. Bad temper is bad temper even in the apparent privacy of your own hard drive, and harsh and unjust words, when released into the wild, rampage around and do real damage. And as for the practice of saying mean and untrue things while hiding behind a pseudonym—well, if I get a letter like that it goes straight in the bin. But the cyberspace equivalents of road rage don't happen by accident. People who type vicious, angry, slanderous and inaccurate accusations do so because they feel their worldview to be under attack. Yes, I have a pastoral concern for such people. (And, for that matter, a pastoral concern for anyone who spends more than a few minutes a day taking part in blogsite discussions, especially when they all use code names: was it for this that the creator God made human beings?) But sometimes worldviews have to be shaken. They may become idolatrous and self-serving. And I fear that that has happened, and continues to happen, even in well-regulated, shiny Christian contexts—including, of course, my own. John Piper writes, he tells us, as a pastor. So do I. "

    Just thought I'd like to add that to public record as well.
    Shalom
    G. Springer

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  10. Dan,
    I've been following your blog for a little while, and I absolutely love your tone and sense of humor. Somehow you succeed with straight talk in a medium where things get twisted and escalated so fast; don't EVER go PC!!! You remind me of a friend's Jewish father who can just take it down to brass tacks (in a Brooklyn accent) and yet everyone still feels the warmth, like it's all still in the family. I second Rick Spurlock's comment on the the matter!

    Enjoyed the post, and as one who made it to the One Torah conference in Atlanta, I can vouch that Derek is way out there in his characterization. The focus of the conference, the consistent message was "In Messiah," who He is and who we are in Him. Not once did he mention FFOZ or any of their staff by name or resort to petty tactics. He used his signature historical-grammatical hermeneutic with the occasional syllogism to engage the Divine Invitation model and make the discussion clear.

    The event was conceived as being informal, an extra teaching session coinciding with the ETS/SBL meeting, therefore the logistics meant cutting off registration at 250 though many more would have attended with more solicitation and a bigger venue. That is to say, the attempted marginalization of the One Torah movement based on attendance at one event is founded in ignorance and is condescending in the extreme.

    This is not a trivial fringe, there are thousands and thousands who are in agreement and they are willing to put it all out there for the truth. They don't make a lot of noise, because most work full-time and study as a sacrifice and luxury and (to quote Dan) they don't spend their days running 38 blogs. If one goes looking outside the metropolis, One Torah is alive and well.

    My biggest question: why DIDN'T Derek Leman make it to the conference? He said he WANTED to, but it's kind of an anemic thing to say when it's right there in town, no conference fee or anything. If he can't see to get across town to investigate, he'd better save that discussion topic for his buddies over beer and not publish it.

    Tim Hegg stands vindicated. This is an important topic, and how it turns out will determine whether we have a viable movement in two generations and form the one new man or whether we subside into the staid soup of organizational Christianity and Judaism. He's calling us upward. It gets messy, but it is important not to lose heart.

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  11. Thank you Justin and Crystal, you warm my heart.

    Derek couldn't make it to the conference because He is too cheap to buy a T-shirt that says "Noah ate pork.".....LOL!

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  12. I have read and enjoyed Derek's and Dan's posts on various blogs,

    With problems like replacment theology and antisemitism in Christian world and antimissionary bullies harrasing believers in Israel, don't we have enough division already in Christian and Messianic world? Would a shake hands and make up be in order?

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