Outfit // Why I May Start Wearing Tzit-tzit || +What Are They?!

 Hello all! So...my title. You probably want an explanation. Well, I guess I should start way back in March when our family first visited the Torah Community Bible Study. Our Aunt had invited us several times and my parents finally decided we could go and see what it was all about. While I didn't really enjoy it (the first time), I was interested and wanted to go back! And go back we did! We've scarcely missed a service since! But how does all this add up to why I might start wearing four weird little strings on my shirt? Read on to find out!

 All my life I've been told,"When Jesus died He became the ultimate sacrifice, dying for our sins!" While this statement is completely true, they also somehow seemed to slip in there the 'fact' that we are no longer under the Old Testament laws, but under grace! I accept the latter part of that sentence as a definite, we are under grace! God sent His only Son to give His life for mine, so that we wouldn't literally have to make sacrifices unto Him with the help of the High Priest. But may I suggest that we our under both law and grace? Could such a thing be possible? Has the truth been hidden in plain sight all along? 

 The months following our joining the Torah Community circle (after much prayer and even fasting) went by in a blur. We were learning and absorbing information and ideas that had never occurred to Christians like us! Is pork a meat we should be eating? Should we really be calling Him Jesus? Or His Hebrew name Yashua? I am only mentioning these questions to give you an idea of the kind of things we were (are) considering. On to the questions raised in this post's title though!

 So, in the material sense, *tzitziyot [*the plural of tzit tzit; seet-seeth], simply meaning- tassels, are just four hand-woven ropes with a strand of blue running through it. Sometimes incorporating a special knotting pattern that [in Hebrew numerals] spells out Yahweh (the Name of our Creator). But why wear them? Well, without going any further, I will show you the scripture behind my conviction-I-haven't-been-convicted-of-yet, the very first account they were literally written of in the Bible.

Numbers 15:38-40.
 ³⁸ "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. ⁴⁰ Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God."

Hmm. Interesting right? But, none of this means anything if you don't believe that you are an "Israelite".

 This brings on a whole new subject, that is far too vast to completely cover all in one post, and which I may not be prepared to breach quite yet. Are we now considered not Gentiles but "Jews"? Hence we are adopted into the family of God?

 The mystery is in that throughout the gospels, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers in the promise of Messiah.  [Ephesians 3:16.]

 Definition of Jew:

1. An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture.
2. A member of the widely dispersed people originally descended from the ancient Hebrews and sharing an ethnic heritage based on Judaism.
3. A native or inhabitant of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

 While I am not Hebrew/Jewish by blood and only recently started giving any serious thought to celebrating the Old Testament feasts, what does this verse mean then?

 Romans 11:17
"But some of these branches from Abraham's tree--some of the people of Israel--have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree."

Before saying anything else, I will say that if you believe we are 'grafted in' in the way described in the verse above, then the verse from Numbers should henceforth be applied in your life by wearing the tassels. Why then am I not wearing them on a day-to-day basis? After thinking on it a lot, I have come to the conclusion that I simply don't want to.  And by "I simply don't want to", I mean I should be but I'm not. I don't want to be the weird, different one who stands out in the crowd. Even though by dressing how I dress, I already do. I didn't ever feel like this when I stopped wearing pants, (which is much more noticeable than four little strings!), so why do I now?

Maybe it's because of laziness, I don't want to commit to having another kind of question thrown my way. 

"Why are you wearing those little strings?"  ''Uhhhmmm... I dunno..."

It wouldn't be that I didn't have an answer, I just told you why I should be wearing them! It's that once you tell someone like that, they want to know more and more, what you believe about this, that, and the other. Those are the questions I am not equip for yet. But, we are light the unto the world. The most liked quick and easy line that Cass and I have come across to answer these questions from people concerning the tassels is that, basically they are a WWJD bracelet that dates back to Bible times. This is so true!  They are to remind us, and entice others, that we have a higher calling, that we have a choice to do what is right in the eyes of our Maker, or to follow in the footsteps of the world.

Shoes- Ariat Riding Boots, gifted // Leggings- gifted // Petticoat- Cassie made // Skirt- thrifted, $2 // Sweater- Borrowed from Cass, Goodwill, $4 // Tzitzit- Borrowed/made by Cass // Necklace- gifted // Headband- Cassie's

You probably noticed that  I left a thought hanging a couple paragraphs up when I said,"What does this verse mean?" I believe it means that we, all believers in Jesus Christ, have been grafted in and therefore should do as He did. He wore tzit-tzit, so, that is something I (Me, I am not telling you what to do here, and realize that all of this is as new to you as it was to me not so long ago!) think would be profitable and right for me to do once I get my thoughts together and am slightly more ready for the barrage of questions that is sure to follow from well-meaning friends, family, and likely, complete strangers!

 I have covered the doctrinal part of this post as well as I'm able and shall now tell you a bit about the rest of my outfit! I wore this spur-of-the-moment a few weeks ago... When I saw Cassie's new yellow sweater laying on the cloths hamper, I picked it up and thought to myself,"This reminds me of Lilly!" [ Lilly Tsiporenko is a friend of mine on Instagram, and is inspiring in fashion and faith!] So, I went on to put together a completely Lilly-inspired outfit! Now, you see it here on the blog after I wore it all day long and to an Amish bulk foods store later that afternoon!

Dread may not be a suitable word for the feeling I had whenever I thought about having to write this post, but something closely related to it to be sure. Now that it is over, I feel relieved, but apprehensive. I don't know how you all will take it. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Do you wear tzitziyot/tassels?

Who inspires your wardrobe?

Was this post necessary, or would you rather I had kept this to myself for the time being?

-Rebekah

~A Humble Follower of the Most High~

*If you have comments/questions please curiously and respectfully comment below.*