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Vero Essene Yahad & New Earth Restoration Membership Information Page, 2022 Press Release – Membership Appeal Note: There may be broken links on this page. Please report.
Do you consider yourself to be Nazarene Israelite, Enochian, Ebionite or Essene? Do you keep the Zadokite calendar?
Are you a lonely worshipper? Have you no place in your area offering a proper worship experience? Do you wish not to worship at a Rabbinical Messianic Synagogue or a Christian Church? Do you desire to properly keep the festivals of YHWH? Do you also wish to avoid the conflicts and authoritarianism of your Hebrew Roots group or church?
Do you long to keep the Enochian / DSS / Zadokite Calendar with like-minded others? Are you interested in learning the Ancient Ways of our Master Yahshua? In the assembly, church or synagogue, do you feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Do you want to know more about the Master's historical time? Would you care to study the Dead Sea Scrolls? Then here is good news for you!
You are special to us, and the following invitation to you is personal.
Listen to our letter at this link. or read it yourself below: (P. S. If you are already a new member, let's talk. (321) 421-9266.) If you have already reviewed this information, next steps are at this link.
To our close friend in Messiah: Vero Essene Yahad and our branches invite you to join us in our quest to share meaning with Thinking Believers all over the globe through the Internet. We believe that the Internet is a special tool of our Heavenly Father, and that it may well be a temporary tool. We are doing the work of an evangelist through audios, videos, podcasts, literature and personal contact to promote the most primitive roots of our common faith; not for everyone, but for those whom the Ruach seeks to join with the "little flock" of hopefulness through Messiah, Torah and verified Apostolic manuscripts and roots. Yes, for a "tiny" flock, our Father has blessed us with a staggering number of inquiries into these Roots, and we are doing our best to honor Father by fulfilling each one for the last 20 years. We understand that if we are going to keep on, we need more people dedicated to the Way to complete our common ministry for the future, and we have been moved to invite YOU to step into the water with us and do the common work of an evangelist (1 Tim 4:12). There is much more to tell you about membership, but there is enough information to get you excited on the rest of this page. If you feel called to what you read below, or what you've heard in our various venues and witnesses, you will also find on that page a link to our primary membership form. We hope you will take a few minutes to read that page, pray about what you should do and how you might help, and if you feel a calling, fill out the membership form and click "submit." We hope you will; and we hope when you do, you will be given a vision for our new direction in yahad in 2021 and following.
Your friend, Jackson Snyder writing on behalf of the members and friends of this ministry
The Vero Essene Yahad, New Earth Restoration & Douglas Essene Ministries are equal opportunity ministries that are:
Seek the Sovereign One - join the United Yahad of the Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, forgiveness of sins and power to do exploits.
If this message resonates with you, then consider reading the rest of this page - or join now.
The rest of the page . . . INDEX . . .
The Three-month Membership Trial Period Literature - What we read and follow Creed – What we believe in common Introduction to Your Servants – the Yahad list of personnel. Link to Membership Form (new page) Yahad Social Principles – (optional) the principles for which we stand. Link to the Full Enochian Affirmations and Practices (new page) Questions? Surf to this link to submit.
For the first time, the Vero Essene Yahad is opening for members. The Yahad began in 2001 as a local fellowship meant not to be a religious society, but an academy for serious student-adults to study Hebraic and Greek Christian origins and re-discover the Essene-Jewish foundations of our faith. Late in 2013, we went as far with academics as we could at the time, and a few in the group realized that we had something of religious importance to say to believers everywhere – a new paradigm for both study and worship – all derived from the 12 years of studiously and seriously exploring the Scriptures and history!
Since in joining a New Way, our knowledge of each other is very limited, we offer an interval of time to get to know each other. At the end of three months' membership, either party may break the obligagtion to the other without any malice or remorse. We will repay your dues if you request repayment and you will assure us that you will not berate the Yahad in any public forum. This severence has never happened before so we are fairly sure it won't happen to us, either.
What was that new paradigm? It was discovered in the Nazorean Essene Way - as set out in the ancient literature we found and properly re-translated. Besides the Bible, these authentic texts are very important:
* The Teaching of the Twelve; * The Nazarene Acts of the Apostles; * The Epistle of Barnabas; * The Damascus Document; * The Yahad Rule; * Apocalypses of James * Odes of Yahshua's Sister Shalome * Ethiopic and Slavonic Enoch; * Josephus, Pliny and Tacitus; * The "Old Testament" Apocrypha; * The 364-day Zadokite Calendar; * The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs * Plus the canon of Scripture, of course.
In January, 2016 the participants of one of our Essene Boot Camps were so enthusiastic about the Yahad that they all insisted on forming a religious organization alongside the academic study clubs. After more than a year of planning, in April, 2017 we chartered in Florida as a religious organization after talks with the state. Through a special loophole, we were able to charter with the state without becoming part of the state system.
In these last 2 years, your servants in the Yahad have made giant leaps in learning, worshiping and social media with success upon success. Though it has been toiling and difficult and even sometimes miraculous, we are assured by the results that Father is with us and with you as we planned our work and worked our plan.
For you too have discovered the ancient Way (halakah & haderekh) of the Nazorean / Ebionite / Essenes, attending many of the Yahad's online lessons and services. Some of you have viewed videos and heard our podcasts, and some of you have even attended one of our live Feasts and Boot Camps in one venue or another – some have attended several. And what we are in YAHAD about is being greatly blessed by our powerful Father with prayers being answered and many becoming born again and baptized. Soon, the Spirit will fall on us in an extraordinary and Scriptural way.
As the founder, I am so personally excited that I am doing far more work right now as a volunteer in this movement than I was at almost anytime during my pastoral career. And this is also true of our pastoral ministers and teachers. We're in it for the long haul; and the Word of YHWH has assured us that this is not a 'flash in the pan' church start, but a long-term, Millennial movement that means to bring back the original Way of our master and example, Yahshua ben YHWH.
“Unity in Diversity” - we are not and never will be bound by doctrines. If we are to be bound together, it will be in the Bond of Love.
“Not Diversity in Conflict” - people may come and go, but there will never be a split in this movement because all leaders respect each other immensely, whether all believe the same or not.
This is the extent of the creed we follow – that of the Apostles:
1. We believe in the Father Elohim El Elyon, progenitor
of sky and earth, 4. Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. 5. The third day he arose from the dead. 6. He ascended into the sky to be seated at the right hand of Father El Elyon. 7. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. 8. We believe in the Ruach ha Qodesh. 9. We believe in the qadosh universal assembly - the communion of zaddikim. 10. We believe in the forgiveness of sins; 11. The resurrection of the body; 12. And life l’olam va-ed - Life Eternal.
More of our practices can be found in the Teaching of the Messiah to the Twelve (Didache), a little handbook said to have been authored by Simon Zelotes, brother of the Messiah. It can be downloaded from this link.
We know you and care for you. If you can accept our foundational beliefs in the statement above, then perhaps you would consent to becoming a member of the Vero Essene Yahad.
We are developing Special Benefits for Members.
Non-members will no longer have access to these benefits:
* Access to premium materials – premium books, podcasts, videos – that are not in the public domain, including teachers' blogs, rare and ancient manuscripts and music. * Access to training – in evangelism, witnessing, history, languages and Essene Academy of Religion, Theology & History (EARTH). * Access to professional, remote coaching, counseling & referral – we are blessed with several trained and experienced counselors, with diagnostic materials, personality assessments. They will work with you one-on-one via ZOOM. * A connectional system with more than five hundred affiliates of many ministries and professions. * Active overseas Mission and evangelistic outreach * Books, calendars and other materials at cost or no cost. * Our teaching / preaching venues are yours. Hebrew Nation Radio, YouTube, etc. * Weekly Online Shabbat, Communion and Feasts Services. * PLUS - the feeling of assurance – you know us personally, what we do, how dedicated we are – and thus you may rest assured that the organization you have joined is not a authoritarian cult, a fly-by-night organization or a mouthpiece for politics, sensationalism, condemnation or hell-fire. With your help, we can be the revealers of the elect and the restorers of a broken creation. * Further assurance that your contributions are tax-exempt and being used 100% directly in ministry. * Access to our Speakers' Bureau - preaching and teaching by degreed and experienced ministers. * New friends you will come to love and support.
The Essene organizations of old financed their ministry through a common treasury. This method is not practical for today. As the Yahad Rule informs us: “the Rule must grow with the people and the times.” Our next best means of financing the ministry are the Temple Rules:
The
(Temple) Tax – Everyone pays small dues keeping the organization solvent. The 2nd Tithe – This is for financing the Festivals and Events. The 3rd Tithe – The leftovers of the second, to be held over to the next year. Alms and Offering – For the welfare system and various designated needs.
This system is scriptural and practical for this day and age. A growing ministry must first be financed by its members through the tax. Let us call it dues. We are asking members for a minimum of $17.50 per month. Anyone can find a means of finding this amount, and paying the dues is part of your religious requirements anyway. If we desire to maintain an organization, we must contribute to it, else it cannot grow. Before now, financing this international ministry has been provided by the ministers. No one here is rich; the amount gained was so small that there was little we could do to meet our obligations much less the obligations that our Father has bound us with.
On the other hand, as we look back at the Temple Rules system of finance, the Tithe, 2nd Tithe, 3rd Tithe, Alms & offerings – those sums are up to you. If you care to give more, such will be greatly appreciated. If you choose to help a minister or teacher of the Yahad – all of us are volunteers – you can – up and above the dues. If you choose to give Alms for the poor or needy – well, there are MANY who are needy, especially in our foreign ministries. But that's for you to decide. But to operate, we need $17.50 monthly per member, $20.00 if you are in the ordination program - and that is an obligation that you must keep. (And as membership grows, you might expect to see this sum lessened.) In the end, you will be proud to be part of a professional Messianic ministry – a “thinking” movement – that will always be moving in the Way of the Spirit and Truth, United in Diversity, but Diversified without Conflict. Please say 'Yes' and let's get to work.
The Yahad Government is set up on the Essene plan, which is very much like the New Testament polity, with a few major differences. We have the following stepladder of responsibilities (not authorities - unlike most, we are a democratic organization - every member gets a vote on every issue) The ordination (shmikah) chedule is the following:
* Maskil - Chief Interpreter of the Yahad message. * Sholiach - Chief Evangelist / Apostle. * Mevaqqre (equivalent to Bishop) Ordained Overseers of Yahadim or Ministries. * Shoter (equivalent to Elder) Ordained Elders equivalent to the 4-fold Apostles. * Shamash Gadol (equivalent to arch-Deacon) Ordained Deacon or Minister. * Shamash (equivalent to Deacon) Non-ordained minister or a proselyte. The next step in membership is to follow this link. For historical information on membership and candidacy for ordination. For a round-up of the Prime Directive.
Due to the CPP virus shutdowns, our feasts and boot camps are off the schedule, and we are focusing in on our Internet work - services, videos and podcasts. We put out a lot of these, for we believe the Internet may be a temporary doorway to the world and the best opportunity that our Father has ever opened up. The world is truly our parish now. We work toward professionalism and personal ministry through the Internet to foster very anointed and meaningful Shabbat and feast services. Once the virus is done (if it ever is), we will resume our remote Boot Camps and Feasts immediately. We are maintaining our Douglas (GA) Essene Ministries of good works and distribution of food and things to a very alienated yet deserving segment of the population. The next step in membership is to follow this link. Or learn more about it at this link.
The following titles are NOT titles of Authority. The only authority here is the Teacher of Righteousness. These are Essene titles of Responsibility. Because these people take their responsibilities as sacred to fulfill them, there is no need for an authoritarian, leader or pope. NOR are these titles of pomp or grandeur, but of devotion to our common Master and Teacher, the Servant to those who will express their need.
Titles definitions: Maskil = public relations; Mvqr = organization head; Zach Gedola = supervisor; Shol = specialist; Shot = ordained diaconal minister; Azar = consultant; Lic = Licensed Minister (Presenter)
Maskil Dr. Jackson H. Snyder II, (FL). Mvqr. & Overseer, Vero Essene Yahad (VEY). Interpreter, Broadcaster, Correspondence & Fund-raising.
Mvqr. Marcelle C. Logue, (TN). VEY Founding Member. Professional Coach, Shabbat Preacher. Youth & Child Evangelism.
Mvqr. Valerie Mangeot, (GA). Founding Member. Chief of Douglas Essene Ministries.
Mvqr. Prof. Gregory Smith, (SC). Academy Dean, Professor of Hebrew Hebrew & Electronics Consultant.
Mvqr. Sandra Whatley, (TX) Equine Ministry
Zach. (gedola) Kenneth Kimmons, (SC) Shabbat Preacher, Zoomist, Liturgist
Shol. Dr. Mark Heston, (WA) Natural Health, Science and Shabbat Teacher
Shol. David Coleman (AL) Advisor Shot. Emerson Moe (FL) Liturgist, Video Host Shol. Steve McGuire (OK) Liturgist Ms. Anne Burnett (FL) Shofara, Liturgist Shot. Jonathan Kromer (NC) Admin, Essene Academy Shol. Hope Brown (TX) Professional Health Counseller Azar. Jeremiah Brown (TX) Liturgist, Organizer
Lic. Gregory Droogsma (TX), Home Group Lic. Jesse Miller (MT), Evangelist at Large Lic. Joshua Graves (MS), Botanist Lic. James Cramer (MI), Prison Ministry
Emeritus (These are ministers trained and ordained in the Yahad who have 'graduated' to go forward in their personal ministries)
Mvqr. Daniel Ben Regesh, (TN) Zach. Lizbeth M. McGee (CT) Zach. Allyson Moore Gary (VA) Zach. Yochanan Governor Staten, (TN). Shol. Harold Lee Hayhurst, (FL). Mvqr. Michael Clark, (GA).
The next step in membership is to follow this link.
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Reading the Social Principles is Optional
Social Principles: The Nurturing Community Vero Essene Yahad - 2017
The community provides the potential for nurturing human beings into the fullness of their humanity. We believe we have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage development of the fullest potential in individuals. Primary for us is the gospel understanding that all persons are important—because they are human beings created by Elohim and loved through and by Yahshua Messiah and not because they have merited significance. We therefore support social climates in which human communities are maintained and strengthened for the sake of all persons and their growth. We also encourage all individuals to be sensitive to others by using appropriate language when referring to all persons. Language of a derogatory nature (with regard to race, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, and physical differences) does not reflect value for one another and contradicts the gospel of Yahshua Messiah.
Culture and Identity
We believe that our primary identity is as children of Elohim. With that identity comes societal and cultural constructions that have both positive and negative impacts on humanity and the Yahad. Cultural identity evolves through our history, traditions, and experiences. The Yahad seeks to fully embrace and nurture cultural formation and competency as a means to be fully one body, expressed in multiple ways. Each of us has multiple identities of equal value that intersect to form our complete self. We affirm that no identity or culture has more legitimacy than any other. We call the Yahad to challenge any hierarchy of cultures or identities. Through relationships within and among cultures we are called to and have the responsibility for learning from each other, showing mutual respect for our differences and similarities as we experience the diversity of perspectives and viewpoints.
The Family
We believe the family to be the basic human community through which persons are nurtured and sustained in mutual love, responsibility, respect, and fidelity. We affirm the importance of loving parents for all children. We also understand the family as encompassing a wider range of options than that of the two-generational unit of parents and children (the nuclear family). We affirm shared responsibility for parenting where there are two parents and encourage social, economic, and religious efforts to maintain and strengthen relationships within families in order that every member may be assisted toward complete personhood.
Marriage
We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man, a woman, and The Creator. We believe that Elohim’s blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union. We reject social norms that assume different standards for women than for men in marriage.
We define marriage as the union of one natural-born Man and one natural-born Woman. While we do recognize any state-ordained marriage between a man and a woman; we also reject the view that couples may only be married by the permission of the state. We understand that marriage is a sacred covenant between families, that marriage existed before the state, and therefore state involvement is not required to constitute a marriage. We do not recognize any marriage that has not been properly solemnized in a ceremony before witnesses, and require that the union also be memorialized by documentation filed into the public record. A lawful marriage cannot be formed without the express, voluntary agreement of both parties, and both parties must meet the lawful requirements to enter into a contract (i.e. age, mental capacity, etc).
Divorce
Elohim’s plan is for lifelong, faithful marriage. The Yahad must be on the forefront of premarital, marital, and post-marital counseling in order to create and preserve healthy relationships. However, when a married couple is estranged beyond reconciliation, even after thoughtful consideration and counsel, divorce is a regrettable alternative in the midst of brokenness. We grieve over the devastating emotional, spiritual, and economic consequences of divorce for all involved, understanding that women and especially children are disproportionately impacted by such burdens. As the Yahad we are concerned about high divorce rates. It is recommended that methods of mediation be used to minimize the adversarial nature and fault-finding that are often part of our current judicial processes, encouraging reconciliation wherever possible. We also support efforts by governments to reform divorce laws and other aspects of family law in order to address negative trends such as high divorce rates.
Although divorce publicly declares that a marriage no longer exists, other covenantal relationships resulting from the marriage remain, such as the nurture and support of children and extended family ties. We urge respectful negotiations in deciding the custody of minor children and support the consideration of either or both parents for this responsibility in that custody not be reduced to financial support, control, or manipulation and retaliation. The welfare of each child is the most important consideration.
Divorce does not preclude a new marriage. We encourage an intentional commitment of the Yahad and society to minister compassionately to those in the process of divorce, as well as members of divorced and remarried families, in a community of faith where Elohim’s merciful favor is shared by all.
Single Persons
We affirm the integrity of single persons, and we reject all social practices that discriminate or social attitudes that are prejudicial against persons because they are single. This also includes single parents, and we recognize the extra responsibilities involved.
Women and Men
We affirm with Scripture the common humanity of male and female, both having equal worth in the eyes of Elohim. We reject the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to another, that one gender must strive against another, and that members of one gender may receive love, power, and esteem only at the expense of another. We especially reject the idea that Elohim made individuals as incomplete fragments, made whole only in union with another. We call upon women and men alike to share power and control, to learn to give freely and to receive freely, to be complete and to respect the wholeness of others. We seek for every individual opportunities and freedom to love and be loved, to seek and receive justice, and to practice ethical self-determination. We understand our gender diversity to be a gift from Elohim, intended to add to the rich variety of human experience and perspective; and we guard against attitudes and traditions that would use this good gift to leave members of one sex more vulnerable in relationships than members of another.
Human Sexuality
We affirm that sexuality is Elohim’s good gift to all persons. We call everyone to responsible stewardship of this sacred gift. Although all persons are sexual beings whether or not they are married, sexual relations are affirmed only with the covenant of monogamous, heterosexual marriage. We deplore all forms of the commercialization, abuse, and exploitation of sex. We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting the sexual exploitation of children and for adequate protection, guidance, and counseling for abused children. All persons, regardless of age, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation, are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured and to be protected against violence. The Yahad should support the family in providing age-appropriate education regarding sexuality to children, youth, and adults.
We affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of Elohim. All persons need the ministry of the Yahad in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship that enables reconciling relationships with Elohim, with others, and with self. The Yahad does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Essene teaching. We affirm that Elohim’s merciful favor is available to all. We will seek to live together in Essene community, welcoming, forgiving, and loving one another, as Messiah has loved and accepted us. We implore families and Yahadim not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. Instead, pray for them and all who are not in a state of regeneration, that they might repent and be healed. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.
Family Violence and Abuse
We recognize that family violence and abuse in all its forms—verbal, psychological, physical, sexual—is detrimental to the covenant of the human community. We encourage the Yahad to provide a safe environment, counsel, and support for the victim and to work with the abuser to understand the root causes and forms of abuse and to overcome such behaviors. Regardless of the cause or the abuse, both the victim and the abuser need the love of the Yahad. While we deplore the actions of the abuser, we affirm that person to be in need of Elohim’s redeeming love.
Sexual Abuse
Violent, disrespectful, or abusive sexual expressions do not confirm sexuality as Elohim’s good gift. We reject all sexual expressions that damage the humanity Elohim has given us as birthright, and we affirm only that sexual expression that enhances that same humanity. We believe that sexual relations where one or both partners are exploitative, abusive, or promiscuous are beyond the parameters of acceptable Essene behavior and are ultimately destructive to individuals, families, and the social order. We deplore all forms of the commercialization and exploitation of sex, with their consequent cheapening and degradation of human personality. To lose freedom and be sold by someone else for sexual purposes is a form of slavery, and we denounce such business and support the abused and their right to freedom.
We call for strict global enforcement of laws prohibiting the sexual exploitation or use of children by adults and encourage efforts to hold perpetrators legally and financially responsible. We call for the establishment of adequate protective services, guidance, and counseling opportunities for children thus abused.
Sexual Harassment
We believe human sexuality is Elohim’s good gift. One abuse of this good gift is sexual harassment. We define sexual harassment as any unwanted sexual comment, advance, or demand, either verbal or physical, that is reasonably perceived by the recipient as demeaning, intimidating, or coercive. Sexual harassment must be understood as an exploitation of a power relationship rather than as an exclusively sexual issue. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the creation of a hostile or abusive working environment resulting from discrimination on the basis of gender.
Contrary to the nurturing community, sexual harassment creates improper, coercive, and abusive conditions wherever it occurs in society. Sexual harassment undermines the social goal of equal opportunity and the climate of mutual respect between men and women. Unwanted sexual attention is wrong and discriminatory. Sexual harassment interferes with the moral mission of the Yahad.
Abortion
Human abortion is a blight on our society, and needs to be abolished and eradicated from the face of the earth. Abortion is murder, and the Vero Essene Yahad opposes murder in all forms, including abortion.
Ministry to Those Who Have Experienced an Abortion: We urge local pastors to become informed about the symptoms and behaviors associated with post-abortion stress. We commit our Yahad to continue to provide nurturing ministries to those who terminate a pregnancy, to those in the midst of a crisis pregnancy, and to those who give birth. We further encourage local Yahadim to make available contact information for counseling agencies that offer programs to address post-abortion stress for all seeking help.
Adoption
Children are a gift from Elohim to be welcomed and received. We recognize that some circumstances of birth make the rearing of a child difficult. We affirm and support the birth parent(s) whose choice it is to allow the child to be adopted. We recognize the agony, strength, and courage of the birth parent(s) who choose(s) in hope, love, and prayer to offer the child for adoption. In addition, we also recognize the anxiety, strength, and courage of those who choose in hope, love, and prayer to be able to care for a child. We affirm and support the adoptive parent(s)’ desire to rear an adopted child as they would a biological child. When circumstances warrant adoption, we support the use of proper legal procedures. When appropriate and possible, we encourage open adoption so that a child may know all information and people related to them, both medically and relationally. We support and encourage greater awareness and education to promote adoption of a wide variety of children through foster care, international adoption, and domestic adoption. We commend the birth parent(s), the receiving parent(s), and the child to the care of the Yahad, that grief might be shared, joy might be celebrated, and the child might be nurtured in a community of Essene love.
Faithful Care for Dying Persons
While we applaud medical science for efforts to prevent disease and illness and for advances in treatment that extend the meaningful life of human beings, we recognize that every mortal life will ultimately end in death. Death is never a sign that Elohim has abandoned us, no matter what the circumstances of the death might be. As Messianics we must always be prepared to surrender the gift of mortal life and claim the gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Yahshua Messiah. Care for dying persons is part of our stewardship of the divine gift of life when cure is no longer possible. We encourage the use of medical technologies to provide palliative care at the end of life when life-sustaining treatments no longer support the goals of life, and when they have reached their limits. There is no moral or religious obligation to use these when they impose undue burdens or only extend the process of dying. Dying persons and their families are free to discontinue treatments when they cease to be of benefit to the patient.
We recognize the agonizing personal
and moral decisions faced by the dying, their physicians, their
families, their friends, and their faith community. We urge that
decisions faced by the dying be made with thoughtful and prayerful
consideration by the parties involved, with medical, pastoral, and
other appropriate counsel. We further urge that all persons discuss
with their families, their physicians, and their pastoral
counselors, their wishes for care at the end of life and provide
advance directives for such care when they are not able to make
these decisions for themselves. Even when one accepts the
inevitability of death, the Yahad and society must continue to
provide faithful care, including pain relief, companionship,
support, and spiritual nurture for the dying person in the hard work
of preparing for death. We encourage and support the concept of
hospice care whenever possible at the end of life. Faithful care
does not end at death but continues during bereavement as we care
for grieving families. We reject euthanasia and any pressure upon
the dying to end their lives. Elohim has continued love and purpose
for all persons, regardless of health. We affirm laws and policies
that protect the rights and dignity of the dying.
Suicide
We believe that suicide is not the way a human life should end. Often suicide is the result of untreated depression, or untreated pain and suffering. The Yahad has an obligation to see that all persons have access to needed pastoral and medical care and therapy in those circumstances that lead to loss of self-worth, suicidal despair, and/or the desire to seek physician-assisted suicide. We encourage the Yahad to provide education to address the biblical, theological, social, and ethical issues related to death and dying, including suicide. theological seminary courses should also focus on issues of death and dying, including suicide.
A Essene perspective on suicide begins with an affirmation of faith that nothing, including suicide, separates us from the love of Elohim (Romans 8:38-39). Therefore, we deplore the condemnation of people who complete suicide, and we consider unjust the stigma that so often falls on surviving family and friends.
We encourage pastors and faith
communities to address this issue through preaching and teaching. We
urge pastors and faith communities to provide pastoral care to those
at risk, survivors, and their families, and to those families who
have lost loved ones to suicide, seeking always to remove the
oppressive stigma around suicide. The Yahad opposes assisted suicide
and euthanasia.
Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is wrong. We affirm
the right of all people to live free from such assaults, encourage
efforts of law enforcement to prosecute such crimes, and condemn
rape in any form. It does not matter where the person is, what the
person is wearing, whether or not he or she is intoxicated, if he or
she is flirtatious, what is the victim’s gender, or any other
circumstance.
Pornography
Scripture teaches that humans are created in Elohim’s image and that we are accountable to Elohim through right relationship. Sexual images can celebrate the goodness of human sexuality through positive depiction in art, literature, and education. We deplore, however, images that distort this goodness and injure healthy sexual relationships.
We oppose all forms of pornography and consider its use a form of sexual misconduct. Pornography is sexually explicit material that portrays violence, abuse, coercion, domination, humiliation, or degradation for the purpose of sexual arousal. Pornography sexually exploits and objectifies both women and men. Any sexually explicit material that depicts children is abhorrent and victimizes children. Pornography can ruin lives, careers, and relationships.
We grieve the pervasiveness of Internet pornography, including among Messianics, and especially its impact on young people and marriages.
The Yahad is called to
transformation and healing for all persons adversely affected by
pornography. Congregations should send a clear message
of opposition to pornography and commitment to safe environments for
everyone. We encourage strategies to eradicate pornography, to
support victims, and to provide open and transparent conversation
and education around sexuality and sexual ethics. We also believe
that people can be rehabilitated and should have the opportunity to
receive treatment; therefore, Yahadim should seek ways to offer
support and care for addressing issues of addiction. Further, all Yahadim are encouraged to review and update appropriate child,
youth, and adult protection policies to reflect the Yahad’s position
that the use of pornography is a form of sexual misconduct. By
encouraging education, prevention, and pathways to recovery for all
affected by pornography, we live out our Wesleyan understanding of
merciful favor and healing.
Bullying
Bullying is a growing problem in parts of the connection. It is a contributing factor in suicide and in the violence we see in some cultures today. We affirm the right of all people, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, race, religion, disability, age, physical appearance, sexual orientation and gender identity, to be free of unwanted aggressive behavior and harmful control tactics. This includes what is eaten as food, what is taken as medication and what is consumed through addiction.
As the Yahad, we can play a pivotal role in ending this problem. We urge Yahadim to seek opportunities to be trained in responding to the needs of those who have been bullied, to those who perpetrate bullying, and to support those in authority who may witness or be called to intervene on behalf of those who have been bullied. Yahadim are urged to connect with community associations and schools in this outreach.
We encourage Yahadim to adopt a policy of zero tolerance for bullying, including cyberbullying, within their spheres of influence; stand with persons being bullied; and take a leadership role in working with the schools and community to prevent bullying.
Vaccination
The Yahad believes in basing our lives on the Faith taught by the prophets of YHWH, with Moses and especially Yahshua constituting the two greatest prophets.
We are aware that vaccines contain many different types of unclean substances, including but not limited to: mercury, formaldehyde, squalene, viruses, bacteria, aborted fetus cells, and various animal cells (including blood). We know that the early Nazarene / Ebionite / Essene communities were especially concerned with cleanliness and practiced strict adherence to a clean diet, daily ritual baths, and the avoidance of any sort of corruption in their bodies. As an organization we do not endorse the use of vaccinations for our members, and all members of the Yahad are entitled to use the Yahad’s principles of belief to qualify for religious exemption from vaccinations.
Our refusal to receive vaccination is based on Biblical injunctions against mixing the clean with the unclean, as well as the Apostolic teachings contained in the Didache, Nazarene Acts, and historical information about the early Jewish Christian groups. Examples of statements which we use to formulate this belief include, but are not limited to:
* Leviticus 7:26-27 “And do not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, of bird or of beast. Any being who eats any blood, even that being shall be cut off from his people.”
* Leviticus 19:19 “Do not let your livestock mate with another kind. Do not sow your field with mixed seed. And do not put a garment woven of two sorts of thread upon you.”
* Luke 5:31 "And יהושע answering, said to them, Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but rather those who are sick.”
* Acts 15:19-21 “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the gentiles who are turning to Elohim, but that we write to them to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath.”
Sins and Sinners
The Yahad recognizes that Yahshua Commissioned all believers to proclaim His Gospel of “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.” (Matthew 4:17 & 28:18-20) Therefore, we have a duty, ordained upon our lives by the Great King Himself, to call sinners to repentance and to spread the message of the Kingdom. Sometimes this mission is difficult to do when sinners have accepted a sinful lifestyle to the point that they have personally identified their sin as a part of themselves. This sin-association causes people to sometimes take offense because certain lifestyles, practices, or identities are condemned by YHWH in the Scriptures.
The members of the Yahad believe that we have a duty to answer questions truthfully about what sin is (and what it is not). We make every effort to express love for the sinner while condemning the sin, but we cannot be true to Yahshua and pretend that sin is not sin when confronted by those that are offended by our beliefs. Our beliefs and statements are part of a religious ministry and is therefore a Natural Right and protected free speech. ___________________________________________________________________________________
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