Shalom everyone,
There are some religious preachers who will threaten or shame you into following their teachings. I‘m not going to do that.
There are some religious teachers who will wow you by proclaiming that they are spiritually evolved beings, who have been through many incarnations and lifetimes, that they even used to be some really famous people in the Bible, and they have gained the wisdom of the universe. I‘m not going to do that.
There are religions who use a fear of God or hell to frighten you into following their religion. I’m certainly not going to do that.
There are some people who will prove their ministry with miracles and healings. I‘m not going to do that either (for the reason why, read Dt 13:1-3).
I have not been to any prestigious universities or colleges, I don‘t have any doctorates in biblical studies or ancient languages, and I don‘t have any letters after my name. I am just someone who has read a lot, studied a lot, listened to a lot of online lectures – and prayed a lot to God for guidance.
I am a Follower of the Way. I didn‘t choose to follow the Way in order to be better than everyone else. I didn‘t become a Talmidi so I could be above everyone else. I want to walk alongside other children of God, my brothers and sisters; I don‘t want to stand above them as some venerated or exalted teacher, or be praised by others. I want to bring everyone along with me through a shared joy and excitement for God, not through threats, shame or fear.
That‘s why I will never tell others that I am special, chosen, evolved, enlightened, or spiritually higher than anyone else. I have gone through the same pain, fear, uncertainties and doubts as everyone else. I have made the same mistakes as everyone else. I am not special. I do not belong to a privileged or elite class of beings. God‘s Message is for everyone, not any chosen elite. God‘s Message will make you the best version of yourself, not a better or superior class of being above everyone else. I want to be one of the reasons people are drawn to the teachings and values of Adonai, not one of the reasons people are turned away. Yeshua did not teach, “Follow me, because I‘m a better, higher and more evolved being than you are“. Anyone who says stuff like that is likely to be the leader of a cult. If anyone teaches you that you MUST follow them because they are more evolved and more enlightened than you, and what‘s more, they enjoy how you acknowledge their higher spiritual status, those are warning signs of a dangerous person with a fake smile on their face. If we start thinking like this ourselves, how are we any better than any other religious charlatan?
My service to you is not dependant on how much money you give me; you would get the same if you gave me nothing at all. My recompense is from Adonai. I don‘t put on brilliant shows, I don‘t promise the earth, and I don‘t set out to deceive. Because as a servant of God, I am answerable to God if I misrepresent God, or bring God‘s Name into disrepute.
I do these things, and behave this way, because I love YHVH, who called me.
Blessings, your brother in service
Shmuliq