Unfortunately I feel the picture that we are showing is one of bickering, falsehood, and a root of antisemitism that shows itself as anti-Judaism, Anti-Rabbinic or anti-Oral Law. My heart here is only to humbly suggest the we all take time this Hanukkah to check our hearts and ask Hashem for wisdom to see clearly His Heart on these matters.
I will start with the Hebrew Roots first. For the most part Hebrew Roots is the walk of the gentiles in The Way. There are a lot of gifted teachers in this movement. I have met online a lot of wonderful people with hearts to serve Hashem in truth. I am deeply affected however on the continuous teachings that seem to pull apart everything Judaism, Oral Law, Rabbinic and make it into evil. Yes be bereans but use respect and wisdom for those who have kept the path clear before you. We have this picture of Talmud that is false, a picture of Rabbinical Judaism that is false. As if to say they are all legalists who only want to exalt themselves above Hashem. Hashem Forbid! Do you really think that this is the heart of a Jewish person who has sacrificed Jewish lives to keep Torah, to prevent assimilation and who have kept Torah for thousands of years. Torah clearly would have been lost if left up to christianity. Yet Rabbinical Judaism has in many ways managed to keep from assimilating into our false, pagan, Greek culture. Don't get me wrong, of course they are not perfect but in comparison to my walk in the past, I dare not even think to criticize their strength and dedication to Hashem's Mitzvot! The sages of Judaism have great wisdom that we can glean from. The Oral Law is a treasure chest of guidance and wisdom from those who have struggled to death for it and for the Torah. Two blog posts I would recommend for more understanding on the Oral Law are: Oral Torah- What it Isn't and Oral Torah; Lifestyle and Communication . When we gentiles go about trying to redefine all of halachah and completely disregard the thousands of years of those who struggle to answer these questions, we not only make ourselves out as fools but we also isolate the very people who are our brethren, the people that have allowed us to walk this walk through Yeshua. When we constantly attempt to speak and pronounce the name of Hashem and change Yeshua to other derivatives that are inaccurate translations it is as if we are Gentiles are thumbing our noses at our Jewish brethren. ( I know a sticky subject, but one that needs to be addressed) when we try to do away with all Tradition thus creating our own tradition of no tradition...well we fail at getting rid of tradition, huh? ;-) Yes stand for truth, cleanse your lives of paganism, but use wisdom, discernment and shalom. Let us not exalt ourselves above those in Judaism or above the Jewish Keepers of The Way. We are grafted into Israel, this is not our own path but a path that Yeshua graciously opened to us through His sacrifice...and by nature that is the sacrifice of Israel. No do not stand under ministries that teach falsehood, but do not boast either. This scripture is a warning we need to heed it....
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
(Rom 11:16-21)
Now on to Messianic Judaism if I may, in all humility make a few observations. I say these things with all due respect knowing that my opinions could be based on false perceptions of one looking in but feeling pain when I see these things.. This same root towards Judaism exists in the MJ movement. Something I have observed is that some raised in Judaism who come to faith in Yeshua hold on to an enmity against Judaism. A desire to see them "converted" out of Judaism. There are groups who spend time"evangelizing" because they love their brethren yet almost have a subtle anger towards them. First let me say, an Orthodox Jew does not need "converting", He is already a disciple of Torah, and most likely walks a better walk than those doing the evangelizing. What he needs is to become a disciple of Yeshua and continue in Torah. Another important subject is evangelization without making disciples, and one that encourages abandoning Torah is opposite of the very mission Yeshua gave. We must remember to do all things in love and humility, respecting the path that Judaism has cleared, respecting the rich history and traditions that make Judaism so beautiful and show Yeshua in each step. We must all search our hearts and ask Hashem if we have in our actions or thoughts been actually pushing a anti-Hebrews root instead of sharing the path of Yeshua, The Way which is a Way of love and Shalom. I pray that all will consider and pray about my words before reacting and responding. Know that I only mean blessing and truth to come of this post.
If you are still struggling with the traditions of Judaism I highly recommend this study at Bereansonline.org on Traditions....
If you are still struggling with the traditions of Judaism I highly recommend this study at Bereansonline.org on Traditions....
שלום ואהבה ישוע
AMEN! Thank you for writing this, it needed to be said!
ReplyDeleteWell said. May Father forgive our arrogance, and grant us mercy. May Father teach us HIS ways, and how to honor His Torah, with a clean heart. May Father show us how to love as He loves. And may He grant those we have knowingly or unknowly hurt, His shalom.
ReplyDeleteShalom on Israel!
I absolutly agree with your post. It saddens me to see a rejection toward mostly anything comming from a Rabbinical source, or most teachings from Judaism. Our walk should be one of humility and love not a judgemental attitude. Yes, the like the bereans we should search out the truth, however, that doesn't mean throwing out everthing because of the misunderstood "legalistic" argument. Thank You for this post. It's quite appropriate for our times. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. In our old group that we attended, there were a couple people that seemed to be against doing anything that would be "Jewish." Uhh... Hello, Mashiach was Jewish. We're supposed to be like him. That entails lots of things that would make us appear Jewish. Long story short, those of us who agreed that Mashiach was Jewish, and so we would also appear Jewish if we were following him, now meet together and we are currently looking into the teachings on http://www.netzarim.co.il/ So far, it's been really good. If you get a chance, you should check it out. The guy used to be a baptist preacher, but found the Truth and now lives in Israel!
ReplyDelete