(There will be two parts to this post about my conversation with an orthodox Jew on an airplane)
As long as I can remember I have been fascinated with Judaism. I’m always learning everything I can about the various forms of modern-day Judaism. I’ve found that the best way to learn is through dialogue with Jews. I’m always looking for another conversation.
Thankfully, during my travels last month I was seated next to an orthodox Jew on an airplane. I spotted him in the terminal and was anxious to chat, but people are people and you want to give them their space. After being seated next to him on the plan I thought, maybe this is a divine appointment. I also thought, well, now he and I are sharing a space. Let’s do it.
I introduced myself and we got chatting. It all starts with a chat.
After social preliminaries, I asked him if I could ask him a few questions about his faith. He agreed, however, he said that he could only talk about certain things with me in that I wasn’t an orthodox Jew. There are certain things that are sacred that are simply off limits to non-Jews. I told him that I understood and didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable.
After the fact, something dawned upon me. This is entirely different from Christianity. Nothing is a secret in Christ. There is no special knowledge that only an elite group has access to. Everyone is welcome.
This is a thread throughout many world religions—that there are levels of knowledge, or secrets, that are only available to individuals with special credentialing or eligibility (especially with Eastern religions, and most especially with Masonry). Along with this, the levels build on each other so it’s like climbing a ladder. You can’t get to the higher rungs without passing over the lower rungs.
There is no ladder to Jesus!
Isn’t it a wonderful thing that through Christ, the curtain in the temple is torn in two? Isn’t it simply mind-blowing that the sovereign, Creator of the universe invites us right into his holy presence? Thanks be to Jesus! There are no secrets to be obtained, or hidden. There are no levels of status for those who “know” more than others. There isn’t the holy ones and the laypeople. We are one in Christ. No secrets. Just Jesus. Just Truth.
This isn’t the only thing I’m thankful for, however. I’m also thankful that salvation, peace, joy, and eternal rest, doesn’t come through knowledge, but through relationship. It’s not knowing something but knowing Someone that brings people to the place of eternal salvation. The Christian faith is not a set of doctrines or dogmas (although those things have their roles), rather, it is a living, dynamic, relationship.
