The God Or Elohim Controversy

The God or Elohim Controversy Physical Name versus Spiritual Intent A TSN and Shamar Briyth Message (Refined 7-10-2005)

We get E-mails everyday, concerning our usage of the word "God" or "Elohiym" in our messages. Some try to say that Acts 4:12 or Philippians 2:9-11 applies here, but these verses only apply in the sense of making sure you have the correct Messiah and not an Anti-Messiah. This confusion largely centers around a Name versus a Title or a Position of Authority; There is a significant difference. So! . . . . .

Would Yahweh put a physical utterance or a name above Spiritual Intent? Acts 4:12 12 There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved!"

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore Yahweh also highly exalted him (Yahshua), and gave to him the name which is above every (fleshly) name; 10 that at the name of Yahshua every knee would bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue would confess that Messiah Yahshua is KURIOS (Highest in Authority under Yahweh), to the glory of Yahweh, the Father.

Note: This refers to the fact that Y'shua (Yahshua, Yeshua, Yahoshua,Yahushua) has been appointed by YHWH to the highest ranking position of "Firstborn" (Eldest Son) by YHWH (to received The Inheritance of King David's Throne) as "King of Human Kings" for his selfless sacrifice (See "Sacrifice of Messiah"); Make no mistake, these verses are a specific

reference to a specific person for a specific purpose! That purpose being to Magnify Torah as a Spiritually Righteous Law of Love. There is no implication here that it is the utterance of a NAME that is of primary importance; But rather it is the MAN and his MISSION that are of primary and utmost importance! Therefore, the NAME is to insure that we have the correct MAN. When we pattern ourselves after the correct MAN, by faithfully following his teachings and example, then if we have Spiritual "Ears to Hear" and "Eyes to See" we will be Spiritually led down the narrow path that leads to salvation. Even so, we can still have the correct MAN, but have the wrong name! Many have been personally led to the Truth by the indwelling power of YHWH's (Set-Apart) Spirit (Ruach Qodesh or HaKodesh); But they didn't immediately know all Truth. When Yahweh sees (through seeking and testing) that the intent of ones heart is to worship only Him in Spirit and Truth, it is then that the Holy Spirit of Righteousness in your mind (Holy Temple) starts incrementally leading you unto all Truth. You cannot come to the knowledge of Truth except Yahweh's Righteousness Seeking Spirit leads you! Then and only then can you worship Yahweh in Spirit and in Truth! Any spirit that leads contrary to the True Word of the Creator is not

the spirit of Yahweh (YHWH). The "Name" issue is only important when we realize that it is the Good Name that directs us to a specific being. Otherwise anyone with the "Name" of "Yahshua" would satisfy the "Name" requirement, and that is obviously not what these verses are telling us. It is not the "Name," but the intended Man behind the "Good Name" or Reputation presented by the name! The question then becomes, "Who is your intended man?" Do you worship the fictitious god-man (Jesus or IHS) of the pagan trinity (or Bientity) or do you simply pattern your life after the righteous example set by the first human to receive the appointment of "First Born Son of Yahweh" (namely Yahshua)? If you say that you don't believe in the trinity and you don't believe that Jesus is G-d, and if you say that you are just merely following the example set forth by the first human son of Yahweh; then I say to you that now is the time for you to realize that there is no Jesus, there never was a Jesus, and if you want to be understood when you speak to those that do worship Jesus as G-d, then you need to correctly apply the specific name to the specific man so that you can better define your beliefs. Even so, Satan (source of Human Nature) has and is causing chaos and conflict even with the Messiah's True Name by confusing Jesus with Yahshua. And so we emphasize, Jesus and Yahshua are not one in the same! One is "The Messiah" and the other is "The Anti-messiah" or "False Prophet".

Romans 8:13-14 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of Yahweh, these are "Children of Yahweh" (Elohim or Sons of G-d).

Galatians 5:18 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the (condemnation of the) law.

Note: This is because you cannot have the Holy Spirit (mind set) of Yahweh and be in conflict with Torah (Law) at the same

time.

John 16:13 (Please note this is a corrected and partial verse) 13 However when Yahweh's Spirit of truth, has come, Yahweh's (righteousness seeking) Spirit will guide you into all the truth, .......

Note: This is just enough of the verse to see that the context here is that it is Yahweh's Righteousness Seeking Spirit that Leads, that Yahweh's Spirit cannot come to each of us prior to our physical birth, and so must come after physical birth, during our lifetime, and to whom Yahweh chooses; that it is Yahweh's Righteousness Seeking Spirit that leads Yahweh's chosen to ALL Truth (usually over a period of time).

Now, with all of this having been said, and recalling that the primary cause for the confusion centers around the Name versus Title issue; The word "God" and the word "Elohim" aren't even Names, but are simply descriptive titles, which must be qualified by their usage within the context of a message. Therefore, not only does Acts 4:12 and Philippians 2:9-11 not apply to names as a written word or utterance, but can't possible apply to titles (non-name descriptions); especially ambiguous titles that can and have been applied to many various beings and entities other than Yahweh. As for Yahshua (Y'shua), the following verse pretty much sums up the thought on his name or title. Why? Because since one can be readily forgiven for deliberately speaking against Yahshua (the son of man). Just how offensive can it be, when no offense is implied? For it is not the action that is offensive to Yahweh or Yahshua, but the sinful intent of ones heart (Selfcentered Mentality or Intention).

Matthew 12:32 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit (of Righteousness), it will not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in that which is to come.

Note: Bye the way, "Son of Man" means "Human Being" and not demi-god or god.

Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Of course, we would prefer to live in a world where everyone called and referred to Yahweh and Yahshua by their real names, and we consistently encourage everyone to do so. However, it is ones heart that speaks to Yahweh through following Yahshua's Righteous Example, and one can honorably pray their whole life to Yahweh, and never once physically speak His name (in prayer); This is not a sign of a lack of Faith, paganism or insincerity on their part, but a sign of the inward Spirit of the Heart versus a self-righteous spirit on display; Similar to praying privately in a closet.

Matthew 6:5-6 5 "When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most assuredly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber (closet), and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father (Yahweh) who sees in secret will reward you openly.

So what are we as evangelists, witnesses or ministers supposed to do?

Answer: We do what we have to do in order to reach others and plant the seeds of the Spirit. We do what we have to do to feed the Spiritually hungry (uninformed seekers of truth). We use the ambiguous, yet universally understood term "God" for those coming out of Christianity and we use the word "Elohim" or "EL" for those with a Hebrew background. It is a necessary compromise we must make in order to reach into the minds of as many religious and ethnic groups as we can. We admit the word "God" originates from paganism; however, how else can we communicate with those reluctant (usually wrongly led since childhood) christopagans that are searching for truth? This was the exact same problem Paul faced, and is why many of the ultra-strict legalist consider(ed) him a false prophet. Paul made himself "all things to all people" so that he could communicate the truth; It was after they grasped the truth, that they became more sanctified (or setapart). Paul NEVER departed from "The Intent" of Torah. He was simply thrust into a situation where the use of "Torah-talk" would have been impossible for those hearing it to understand (It is literally a foreign language to non-Hebrews). So, since he was lead by a Spirit of Love originating from YHWH, he (unlike ultra-strict legalist) knew the soul of a man is of more importance than surgically precise terminology. Since we cannot stuff Spiritual meat down the throat of Spiritual infants, we are forced to make our already meaty diet easier to swallow. One way of doing that is to utilize terminology that is universally accepted or understood. Only a tiny fraction of the people in the world even know what Elohim means, and if we use it exclusively, our messages will become all the more difficult for the greater majority of the people in the world to understand. By the same token the term "God" is universally understood to refer to the Creator of the entire universe; particularly by those brought up in a Judeo-Christian environment. Since our primary mission on Earth is the advancement of The Coming Kingdom of God (Elohim) on Earth, we are forced by present day language and terminology barriers to use fully defined present day language and terminology to accomplish that mission in a manner that is Spiritually digestible (Spiritual meat or milk, as required). Ministers, evangelists and teachers who attempt to do otherwise reveal within themselves a dark heart that is void of true concern for the eternal welfare of their fellow man, and betrays that person as an unloving elitist with a truly legalistic attitude. It is to like minded men that Yahshua and Paul spoke these words.

Matthew 12:7 (NRSV) 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Note: Here Yahshua is quoting Hosea 6:6 (NKJV) 6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God (Yahweh) more than burnt offerings."

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Messiah Yahshua . 2 I fed you with (Spiritual) milk, not with (Spiritual) meat; for you weren't yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, 3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren't you fleshly, and don't you walk in the ways of men?

There is a Spiritual Truth at work here, and once we truly grasp this Truth, our ability to answer almost any Spiritual question becomes possible. That Spiritual Truth is simply that Yahweh will NEVER place any physical observance or requirement above a sincere and loving Spiritual Intent to follow said physical observance or satisfy said requirement, even if that intent results in error. This is because Yahweh knows that, those who love him enough to sincerely try to become obedient, are the very same people who will immediately correct their error upon discovery of their error. Why is this always true? Because these are those people whose lives are YahwehCentered and not Self-centered. These are those people who always attempt to do the "Will of Yahweh," and, therefore have the "Mind of Yahweh," which is His Holy Spirit. These are those people that can be entrusted not to abuse power and authority (Just Exactly Like Yahshua). You can readily apply this Spiritual Truth to "Circumcision," to "Sacred Calendar Dates" or any area where Satan (Human Nature) has managed to introduce chaos and ambiguity. However, deliberate disobedience is a different story, because in this case the intent would be to disobey, and the result of that disobedience

(rebellion against Righteousness) would be sin.

One last thought In our zeal to honor our Creator, Yahweh, and Praise our elder brother, Yahshua, let's not forget that once we too were Spiritual Babes. So, in reality, is it the physical utterance of words that brings honor to Yahweh and Yahshua or is it living a Spiritual life that revolves around obedience through love to Yahweh's "Laws of Love" (The Spiritual Torah)? We pray that we don't need to tell you the answer. Again, having said all of this, it should always be the intent of our hearts to honor, worship, and praise Yahweh using His correct name (Yahweh); For by our action of worship through Love (1 Corinthians 13:all verses) we Glorify not only Yahweh, but His name (reputation) as well. Besides, do we not know that "ELOHIM" does not simply refer to Yahweh, but to The Entire Family Of YHWH, including Yahweh's "Chosen Children." Strong's wrongly calls them gods and goddesses, but we know them as Spiritual "IMAGES" of Yahweh.