The highly
anticipated Kedesh tradition of wine, cheese, and homemade bread on Friday
night, kicks off Shabbat Shalom and observance of the Sabbath. Clinking our
Nalgene bottles and Sea to Summit mugs filled with wine, our group jokingly
toasts with “Isn’t Legalism Great!?!”
In all
seriousness, this month has given me a new perspective on “legalistic” living. As a rule follower, I find comfort in the
reassurance I’m doing what I’m supposed to do and aware of consequences for doing
what I’m not supposed to do.
Here at
Kedesh, each boy is assigned a job for the month like meal 
preparation, 2hr
shifts with the goats, burning rubbish, sweeping the buildings, cleaning
bathrooms. This month I’ve been helping
two boys wash dishes after lunch. Other
rules are in place like being ready for breakfast by song #4 in the morning
playlist blaring from the large speakers of the tree house, or taking a bath
before dinner every night. With every
established job or rule there are consequences if not followed. For example some boys did not shower before
dinner one night and John made them stand in the filth of the goat pin for over
an hour. Some boys were joking during
morning devotions and when they couldn’t answer a question John posed about the
lesson they lost the privilege of going to the beach the next day. When the boys assigned to dinner dishes
didn’t clean up right after dinner they now will spend a week not eating their
own dinner until all the dinner dishes are finished. Yes, John runs a tight
ship, which from a visitor’s perspective looks like a well-oiled machine.
Overall the boys are well behaved, polite, and considerate. John does an amazing job of teaching them
values and biblical principles, and giving them responsibility resulting in a
stronger sense of self worth. John explained one of the most important parts of
running a home for 26 young boys is keeping your word, making TRUST a necessary
foundation to each boy’s development.
I’m still
processing this, but I’m starting to think whether or not we agree with a rule
or with the punishment, more than likely it has been implemented for our own
good and we must honor and respect the authority we are under. Most commonly I think of “following rules” in
the context of parenting (Exodus 20:12), or leadership (Romans 13) but the same
applies to God.
As a Torah
Observant Christian, John, the founder of Kedesh, observes Old Testament
(biblical not Jewish) law. Of course
this includes the 10 Commandments as well as other laws like not shaving his
beard. In many long conversations, I’ve
been able to better understand his perspective on observing OT law and why he
follows the “rules” most Christians feel Jesus freed us from. Isn’t OT law legalistic and in line with
“works” salvation? John would say it is
all about how we approach God. Do
we follow the law in order to earn or get something in return, like
salvation? Or do we follow the law
because God commanded it and we have faith and belief in God’s Word. God makes it very clear in the bible how He
wants to be loved and how He wants to be honored and worshiped. John’s unique perspective has surely inspired
me to confirm my own beliefs through scripture; giving me an increased desire
to better understand and truly study the bible.
What do you
think Jesus meant when he said in, “Do not think that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law
until everything is accomplished.” Matt 5:17-18???
