Where Have All the Phinehases Gone?

“To those who sold doves [Jesus] said, ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!’ His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” John 2:16-17

“It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!” Galatians 4:18-20

In the Greek the word “zeal” is transliterated as “zelos.” Its meaning includes “the ardor (passion) of embracing, pursuing, or defending something (good); a fierceness of indignation.” Recently, I felt a burning zeal that inspired me to action. Last Friday I was planning to meet a friend for bible study at the corner of one of the busiest streets in Washington, DC – 7th St & H St NW – the Gallery Place/ Chinatown Metro Station. As I made my way up the Metro escalator to the street, I could hear the sound of an angry man on a microphone. I arrived on the street corner and saw a black man on a soapbox, dressed in black leather and surrounded by other black men in black & white army fatigues – the infamous Black Hebrew Israelites. Black Hebrews believe the descendants of American slaves and the indigenous peoples of the Americas make up the 12 tribes of Israel. They also believe that “the white man is the devil” and that they are the only “people of God!” After listening to his argument for a while, I was burning with anger. Paul’s charge to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:3 was running through my head – “command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer.” This man was being extremely defamatory and humiliating to the multi-racial crowd that had gathered around them. He even called other black men around him who disagreed with him, the “n” word! I saw another brother arrive for the study and asked him to call our friend. When he received no answer, I decided to make this Black Hebrew my bible study!
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