The Eclectic Evangelical-Arlene Bridges Samuels : Following in Ruth and Naomi’s Footsteps

The Book of Ruth has inspired its readers over the centuries portraying loyalty, redemption, and enduring relationships. Young couples often include one verse from Ruth in their wedding ceremony, Ruth 1:16: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts you and me.”
This beautiful verse fits so well into wedding ceremonies since it is a road map of marital commitment. Yet, the context of the verse is important too. Ruth’s loyalty as a Gentile Daughter-in-law is always mentioned but Naomi’s acceptance as her Jewish Mother-in-law is also a treasure trove, a role model, for the growing warmth between Jewish and Christian communities.
Ruth, a gentile, returned with her Jewish mother-in-law to her ancestral homeland after Naomi’s sons died in Moab. The ancient portrayal of Jew and
Gentile bonded together in relationship is reenacted now in the 21^st century within the growing relationship between Christians who love Israel and who stand shoulder to shoulder with Israelis in their fight for existence against Islamist terrorists.
Millions of Christians like me consider our stance with Israel and the Jewish people a command from God to be in relationship with His people whom He calls, “the apple of His eye.” We owe a debt of gratitude to the Jewish people for writing our scriptures under God’s inspiration. We recognize that Christianity was birthed in the cradle of Judaism

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. Our Lord Jesus’ birth into our world through a young Jewish woman places Him squarely in the Jewish culture, religion and ethnicity. Without the Jews and our Savior-a Jewish Rabbi-Christians wouldn’t have a faith and enjoy the spiritual heritage that is so vital and life-giving to us.

Many in the Christian community are learning about the Hebraic roots of our faith, reconnecting with the original Hebrew and Aramaic languages. What we are discovering is a deepened richness in understanding scriptures and the Jewish culture and context in which the Word of God was written and passed down through the centuries.
If we emblazon Ruth’s loyalty on our hearts- first, loyalty to God then to His Chosen People- Naomi’s welcoming acceptance will show us that the Christian and Jewish communities are stronger together to face a world where anti-Semitism is rising again. Let’s abandon apathy as this scourge unfolds.

#RejectApathyStandUpToAntiSemitism

A Tapestry of Churches

A splendid tapestry of churches has ripened my faith with fruit from many good trees; as a missionary with Mercy Ships in a crew I describe as a "Christian United Nations," and also living in Switzerland and Romania-plus moving around the United States.

Growing up, my Southern Baptist church laid my foundation built with singing the great hymns of the church, where to locate books of the Bible, and scripture memory. Through my youth group, I encountered the Lord in a personal way on July 31, 1963.

Presbyterians fed me at a buffet of Protestant theologians especially my favorite one, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and emphasized God’s sovereignty.

In The Episcopal Church, I waded into two different streams, one liturgical and the other charismatic. In the liturgical "high" Episcopal church, I feasted at the Eucharist each week and navigated the ups and downs of kneeling. In the charismatic Episcopal church, I connected more deeply with the Holy Spirit, finding freedom to raise my hands in joyful worship. As a member of a black church on then-small Hilton Head Island, the pastor and choir fed me with vibrant songs and eloquent sermons.

Living in Switzerland, we enjoyed worshipping with other ex-pats in the Church of Scotland. During our eight years with Mercy Ships, the world's largest private Christian hospital ship, we sailed the seas with a crew from 35 nations-among them South Sea Islanders who introduced us to their lovely, worshipful dances. On the mission field living in Romania, my senses delighted in the Romanian Orthodox Church replete with incense and gilded, intricate altars.

In a non-denominational church with contemporary music, I engaged with believers from varied church backgrounds and joined a small group. At the Church of God, I worshipped in a Pentecostal setting in a distinctly pro-Israel denomination that displayed the American and Israeli flags. Belongling to a small Anglican church I relished liturgy, weekly Eucharist, missions outreach to Rwanda, and acoustic guitars.

Transferring from small Anglican to big Baptist, I have reconnected with my chidlhood biblical roots where I feast on hymns sung by an outstanding choir and orchestra, an excellent Sunday School class, bible-focused sermons, and a prolific domestic and international missions focus. Last but not least, the Jewish community and expert Hebraic roots teachers have opened a door of deeper understanding that Judaism nurtured Christianity in an ancient cradle rich with commandments, festivals, wisdom, poetry, patriarchs, prophets, and Older and New Testaments. Significantly, learning more about Jewish culture and Christianity's Jewish roots has deepened a richer relationship with my Savior, a Jewish Rabbi. I've received an extraordinary gift as a non-Jew grafted into the branches of the ancient Jewish tree connecting me to Israel, my spiritual homeland. .

I invite you to walk with me through a lifetime of adventures reflecting a tapestry of faith that I hope will encourage you in your journey to discover extraordinary beauty and limitless fulfillment of our Christian faith.

In Him we hope, Arlene

Following in Ruth and Naomi’s Footsteps

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