Tsiyon News

Listener Q + A

Listener Comment - Which New Year?
I was wondering .. you talk about the change in the calendar year and all the strange things that are happening. I thought the new year started when the barley is in Aviv around Passover? I may not be asking correctly but it's an understanding I had and the Biblical calendar vs mans. Seems like it would be more profound if it was happening around the beginning of the Biblical calendar. I do enjoy your teachings and listen often. There is so much and so many teachers but getting back to my Hebrew roots was a first step. Understanding started falling into place after I began studying Old Testament in addition to becoming more obedient to Father! Now I see Father and Messiah in everything and every teaching. Blessings to you and your ministry.

Tsiyon Answer - Which New Year
It's great to hear of the progress you have made in learning about your Hebrew roots. Now, to your question: You are absolutely correct that the Biblical new year occurs in the spring. However, what we are talking about are signs - and signs are a means of communication. Signs occurring according to the Biblical calendar are, have been, and will be, meaningful to those persons such as you and I who are attuned to the Biblical calendar. Let's face it though, that's a relative few people. Therefore, the messages communicated by such signs are generally lost to the vast majority of the world. On the other hand, signs meant to communicate a message to the world are better understood by the world when keyed to a time that is universally recognized by the world. Surely the world's New Year qualifies on that score like few other times would. Since the message sent by these signs is meant to get the attention of the world, using the world's timing for that is very appropriate. That is not to say there won't be other signs at other times, as I'm sure there have been and will be. YHWH is sure to use every opportunity to call all who will wake up and listen by every means possible, as we move ever closer to the end of the Age.

Listener Comment - Be fruitful and multiply?
After listening to your “After the Deluge” broadcast I have a question about my own life regarding God’s call to “Be fruitful and multiply”. I didn’t get married until my late 30s, but even by then had long since decided that I am not parental material. Even now in my mid-40s I simply cannot imagine being someone’s dad. However, after hearing your broadcast I have to wonder if my willful non-multiplication is offensive to YHWH. What is your opinion on believers who choose not to become parents? Is it okay to make this personal choice or do you think God sees it as selfishness or unfaithfulness?

Tsiyon Answer - Be fruitful and multiply
Let me start by saying that I don't believe it is my place to tell any earnest believer what family choices to make nor to judge anyone on the basis of those choices. There may be good reasons why some people do not have children - and none of those reasons are my business. Some reasons might be hereditary diseases, emotional factors, physical inability to pro-create, family instability etc. Some might even feel it inappropriate to bring children into the world because we are living in the last days. Any comments I have made or will make about this are not meant to argue with any prayed-through and well thought out choices already made. What I can do is state a few principles that are obvious from Scripture and history, and share a few observations from my experience.

We have several Scriptural factors very strongly in favor of believers not interfering with conception. Some of these are:

1. The command to "be fruitful and multiply." (Gen 1:22, 9:1, 7)

2. Children are given by the will of YHWH and are a blessing from Him. (Job 31:15, Psalm 127:3-5, Isa 44:2, 49:1,5, Psalm 139:13-14, Jer 1:5)

3. Childlessness is viewed in Scripture as an affliction. (Ex 23:25-26, Deut 7:13-14, Hosea 9:10-17)

4. Fruit of the womb is a distinguishing feature of the restored remnant of Israel. (Jer 23:3, Exe 36:9-12)

5. The only incident of interference with conception recorded in the Bible was viewed as evil. (Gen 38:6-10)

Weighed against these Scriptural factors, we have verses like these: Matthew 19: 11+12, 1 Cor 7:28-35. Here both Messiah and Paul speak of the advantages for the Kingdom of remaining single, for those who are gifted with celibacy. Singleness is not presented as the proper choice for everyone, but only for those with the gift. This gift is exceptional and is not for most people. Of course, those who are gifted for singleness do not have the concern regarding family and children, so are free to devote their whole attention to Kingdom interests, which is great for them. On the other hand, people like me who are meant to be married to the woman of Yah's choice, are empowered through that marriage and family to glorify God beyond what they could do alone. A marriage and family that is centered on Him is still the most powerful social unit possible on planet earth and has the potential to glorify God like nothing else I know of. Now, bringing this back to our subject, the Scriptures seem to offer the choice of singleness or marriage. They don't seem to even consider married believers actively interfering with conception. At least, I am not aware of a single instance of this in Scripture, other than the unfavorable case of Onan cited above (Gen 38:6-10). The general tenor of Scripture seems to be that marriage includes the possibility of children, which are given as YHWH pleases, when He pleases, as a blessing to the family. If anyone sees a Scriptural argument to the contrary about this I remain open to it. All I'm saying is I haven't seen that in Scripture.

Tsiyon Paradigm Shift #261