Shalom.
Today is Shlishli, Aviv 18. It is day.
I am of Israel. Judaism as a religion is not so important, if there has ever been anything wrong with Judaism. Like with Christianity when I was a Christian. I am a Jew. I have chosen the tribe of Levi. I am an Israelite. I have asked if Judaism is a religion or a faith. But where I am living I have made a comment about religion, to the effect that it is not important to me. Meaning, I am not religious. Some people want me to be religious. Others do not. It is what people say, and the things that I have said. But when a person decides to be religious or to be religious on their own terms they need to think about what they are doing and what stress or stresses and pressures they are placing others, or putting others, in or under. Freedom of religion and freedom of religious expression are different, in a Judeo-Christian nation such as the United States of America. The fact that Muslims were not allowed in the military and Muslims were in the military has been a stress upon my life as a Citizen of the United States of America not in the military. If I have freedom of religion as a Jew, then the Muslim wants freedom of religion too. To this is a Christian nation. I grew up Christian. I do not need to put people under religion. I am Jewish. I am a proselyte and a convert to Israel and Judaism. The people or nation or the people and nation of Israel and God's Commands or God's Commandments the Commandments of Torah and the New Covenant are more important than Judaism or whether or not Judaism is a religion. Is Judaism a faith? Some say so. But I still don't have an answer for what other people think beyond Judaism being a faith or a religion, though I have asked.
In the book of James we read that pure religion in the sight of our God and Father is to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. There is nothing wrong with this. This is pure religion. And religion is our practice, not our intellectual or emotional sensibilities.
We are in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. A person noticed me eating Matzah, and commented on either my religion or I think Judaism. Yes. But, that is not why I do what I do. It is because of God's Commandments as one of Israel. People get caught up in religion or it is an explanation for what a person does. Though I live my life different from other people and don't feel myself relegated to a religion, it is because of God that I do what I do not because I am religious.
Shalom.
Jacob
I said
Satan has authority in the old testament as the wrath of God. Jesus came to deliver us from the old testament curse. Your working with satan to put everyone back under the curse.
[Gal 3:8-14, 16-18, 29
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], "In you all the nations shall be blessed."
9 So then those who [are] of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God [is] evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed [is] everyone who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. ...
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
17 And this I say, [that] the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance [is] of the law, [it is] no longer of promise; but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise. ...
29 And if you [are] Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.