Do you follow the rules? Oh...

Missed me?

Many of you have read little clips here and there about my time with the Hebrews. I guess it’s way past time to shed a little light on that. I was 23 when I first came into contact. Well not true…a true New Yorker has walked past them several times if they frequented 40 duece (read 42nd st) to go to the movies and Broadway. The Brothers screaming at folks when they walk by. Proclaiming the the Negro, Hispanics and Native Americans are the true 12 tribes of Israel and the the other races are heathens..and they could prove this and more with the scriptures of the Bible. Long story short (you have to buy the book) I spent about 7 years immersed in and studying their doctrine.

It struck me as strange after all the years of reading the Bible and growing up in the C (ogic) religion…that the C doctrine followed some of the rules in the Bible and not all of them. I think it was my confusion concerning this that may have led me to accept a doctrine that was much more rigid. Perhaps it was love and faith. In either case neither the Hebrews nor the Hebrew proved themselves self true. I know this now thanks to Scribe …My baby has shown me love and dedication Like I have never ever known …this relationship has got to be heaven sent….I Love You Baby!…but when I joined I was intrigued by their heavy literal translation of the Bible….Like these are the rules…follow them and we getting into heaven! I was like “Bet! Show me the rules!” Well there were about 600 rules from the Old Testament….now that’s a lot of rules….and we followed the New Testament too…about another 300 if you count all the letters Paul was sending back and forth to the those unruly Christians….

Part of me wondered why we wasn’t sacrificing too….since that was in the rules…but when I asked that question…they looked at me like I was a spy or an idiot LOL

I have always been an inquisitive person. Over 600 instructions on what to wear, how to act and what to say and how to say it. When told there are rules, I have always tried to look into the what and whys. I guess that’s why I made such a bad Israelite. My Hebrew name was Talashamayam (I still can’t spell that right). It means “Dew from Heaven”. But what The Brothers really wanted to call me...and did amongst themselves was the “Rebellious One”. They had so many rules gleaned from the Bible to talk about what a woman could or could not do like in Corinthians and Leviticus… For example in 1st Corinthians it says:

1 Corinthians 11

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Ok…so when they asked me to cover my head while I was praying and when I came to the school….I was cool with it. I mean…it says it right there in the Bible…and supposedly I follow the Bible right?….Then dog gone it…I put my scarf on and followed the rules. I tried to get out of it…looking for loopholes in the law…like I usually do…(Which is why I’m actually thinking about Law School in Memphis…Uhm Scribe…let’s discuss)… During the scripture reading class I hit The Brothers (that what C always called the He.brews LOL) with another scripture to get out of wearing the scarf. I said:

“Uhm, it says here in First Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 15… But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering….uhm my hair is down my shoulders….and some Spanish sisters have very long hair….so we should be given a reprive on the scarf thing….uh…sir”

They looked at me like I was a spy or an idiot….Whispered amongst themselves..asked me if I had hair down to my feet…and upon my reply of no…told me the definition on long…had a scripture to back it up and dismissed my question.


Summary of a Flashback

I dressed in costume…along with the rest of the women. I was often accused of being to “Diva-ish” with it. As a matter of fact….The Second Wife hit me with a scripture in a conversation once…I was the First Wife of course…Don’t ever get that twisted! LOL….Second Wife said: “Uhm, First Wife He.brew Diva, you should remember Proverb 31:30…Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised”

I was like “No this chick did not try to cut me with a scripture!” I had to be quick on the comeback yall…so I came back on “My dear Second Wife, we must remember verse 25… Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. I can’t help it that I like my clothing to reflect that…you should too!”

End Scene

But she was right though…I couldn’t admit that then but in 1st Timothy 2:9 it clearly states:

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Question: How many of us are following this?


Now I attend a Black Pentacostal-like church and not once have I heard that we should cover our heads when we pray…have you?. But Paul said it right? So we should be following it. I know I haven’t done it since I left The Brothers. I wear a hat or something…but it’s not mandatory.

Question: Do any of you women out there actually follow this rule? Do you currently cover your head when you attend church or when you pray?

It is a rule…yet many of us do not follow it…why is it we follow some rules in the New Testament but not all? And who is the judge over which rules we follow and which ones we don’t? In that very same book of Corinthians it says

1st Corinthians 14
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Dang…we can’t say nothing?

Now when I was with The Brothers…I didn’t really have a problem with this. It was clearly stated in the rules and I wanted to follow the rules of Christ. I believed as many of us do…that Paul was an apostle gifted with the Holy Ghost and was speaking the true words of Christ when he was writing those churches and giving them rules on how to be a good Christian….So when told that I would be sitting separately from the men in The Brothers Temple…and I would probably not be saying a word unless permitted….I did it. But when I got a chance to speak…I made it count!

Let some pastor try to tell a woman in a Black Pentacostal church that scripture now. That she can’t speak in church…she can’t praise the Lord….or preach the gospel. Ha! You better jump back cause his head will be rolling down the center aisle!

Oh wait…I have an even better one

1st Timothy 2: 12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

Hmmm..... how would the women in today’s churches deal with that one. All the evangelists, missionaries, so-called prophetesses and even the Sunday school teachers? I mean it’s clearly in the rules right? How do we explain that away…That it shouldn’t be relevant in today’s society? I mean I’m sure it’s possible to lend an interpretation to it….I mean I tend to stick with the King James version of the Bible…some of you prefer the New Living Translation...or the NIV or the Amp. Bible (click for your version)….that’s cool…but it says pretty much the same thing…women shouldn’t be saying much in the church….much less preaching or teaching …and honestly if you try to explain it away…you are really leaning toward this scripture (click for understanding)

I’m not trying to say I want to be with The Brothers again…Lawd no! I’m cool with following the C doctrine. All I’m asking is…how do we discern which rules to follow? …or not to follow?….like the ones above….and which ones do we judge others by…. and we don't even acknowledge this one... and that decision was made and presented...right baby? We getting married in Memphis next July...Crimson and Cream....Diva and Scribe for life.......If you care to discuss I welcome an off line conversation...

I'm glad I did spend the Time with The Brothers....I learned a lot about the Bible and doctrine following...almost as much as I learned in all of my Theology classes and Philoshphy....that’s all I’m saying….

I’m feeling like posting more scriptures and flashbacks….

Stay tuned for a slice of my experience in Polygamy…