— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Soldier,

Movements break upon the church like ocean waves.  One frothing deluge barely recedes before the next comes crashing in.  Although some are but distractions, others wear away at the foundations of Christian faith.  Still others can draw the unwary believer away from the simplicity in Christ.

The Hebrew Roots/Messianic Movement (HRM) is just such a wave and under its umbrella, camp many factions.  They range from instructive, distractive, to destructive. From benign, to spiritually toxic.  Since the latter is of greater concern, subsequent articles in this series will be devoted to their examination.

We begin with the following introduction, overview and earnest prayer that you will find it useful.

Our Hebrew Roots

Without roots there can be no fruit.

(Part 2 of 7)

"In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples ... "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." — Isa 11:10a; Jn 15:5

Though studying the New Testament daily during my early Christian years, I spent so much time in the Bible’s first five books (Pentateuch/Torah) I all but spoke with a Jewish accent.

Chapter 23 of Leviticus, detailing the feasts of Israel, especially enthralled me.  Learning of their historic, memorial and prophetic significance became of huge foundational benefit to my new life in Christ.  Of equal fascination were the types and shadows cast by the Mosaic and Davidic tabernacles.  Countless hours of Old Testament study helped establish my doctrinal underpinning and preserve us from many wiles of the enemy.  Praise God for the Torah!

Our Hebrew Roots

Since Christianity sprang from Judaism, it can be most appreciated when viewed in that context.  The Church has a rich and blessed Jewish heritage; to believe otherwise is a denial of reality.  Myopically approaching Christianity with a New-Testament-only mind-set, would, at best, be a monumental loss and at worst, a doctrinal disaster.  We need to put away fears and prejudices concerning biblical teachings emphasizing this aspect of our faith.  It’s been said that, “fear is faith turned inside out,” and fear is surely detrimental to one’s health and spiritual well being.

Teaching that Jesus, His original apostles and disciples were Jews, is both historically accurate and required for a biblical view.  It’s also correct to note that the Jerusalem church was strongly influenced by the Old Testament and declare that the New Testament succeeds it.  It is biblical to emphasize that the New Testament is studded with references, quotes and allusions to the Old.  Numerous times it refers to people, places, events and prophecies which cannot be appreciated without O.T. study.  It’s vital to understand that Christianity was born because God used the Jews to expose man’s need for a Savior.  The Mosaic Law had to first reveal man’s failure to live sinlessly and demonstrate the Law’s inability to resolve the sin issue.  The O.T. endlessly testifies to the need for a new and better covenant (Heb 8:6).  It’s also crucial to discern the line dividing Old and New; between flesh and Spirit ... Jew and Christian.  It’s the cross of Jesus Christ which blood-inscribed message reads: “I love you, however you MUST be born-again into Me where there’s neither Jew nor Gentile, but a singular man ... a Christian.” (Gal 3:28)

These historic points are also the record of a sovereign God’s progressive plan for mankind’s redemption and few Bible scholars would disagree with any of the above.  For the most part, they are clearly laid out in the Scriptures and readily available to the Spirit-filled disciple.  To aid scholarship, many Bible helps have been developed: concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, study Bibles, commentaries, tapes, handbooks, videos, etc.  While it may be true that some ministries have not provided an adequate Hebraic teaching emphasis, it surely has not been for a lack of resources.  So then, what is the purpose of a new set of teachers and ministries, namely ... the Hebrew Roots/Messianic movement?

As earlier mentioned, this is a broad and diverse movement that ranges from the benignly instructive to spiritually toxic and only God knows motivations of participants.  That being noted, each believer is charged to be a diligent and discerning Berean (Acts 17:11).  We must compare what is being claimed or taught with Scripture to assess its accuracy.  Rephrased in country terms: if something looks like a duck, and it walks like a duck, and if it quacks like a duck ... you can pret-ty much bet that it’s a “duck.”

Duck Inspection

Some HRM ministries might simply believe that not enough emphasis has been placed on the church’s Jewish background and/or the connection of Old and New Testaments.  They might therefore play this up by calling more attention to the facts that Jesus aimed His words at the Jews and that other New Testament writers frequently quoted from the Tanakh (O.T.).  They might emphasize that it’s nigh impossible to fathom the Revelation without a firm grasp of Ezekiel and Daniel.  Though clearly Christian, their group might eventually take on a distinct Hebrew flavor.  But that’s well within the pale of “good duck” Christian orthodoxy.  Not a problem.

Beneath HRM’s umbrella also hunker groups that honestly believe the usual supplemental study material is not detailed enough and want to delve further into Jewish theology and/or first century history and customs.  They want a better “feel” of what it was like back then and embark on extensive studies of other Jewish writings such as the Talmud.  Now, although this “duck’s” motivations might be purely intellectual, caution is in order.  As with Gentile writings, there’s much Jewish chaff to sort through and the average believer is at a disadvantage to discern fact from fable.  This kind of dabbling can prove to be more of a distraction than benefit by feeding the intellect more than the spirit.  Indeed, it can lead one to stray from the faith.  Careful!

Increasing in toxicity are groups which not only encourage study of Jewish writings and customs, but promote their practice: sabbath keeping, feast observing, learning Hebrew, etc.  They might even imply these will lead to deeper spiritual understanding or break-throughs; that they might draw a person closer to God or are needful for proper worship.  Now, this is a troubled “duck.”  There is no evidence that some of today’s Jewish religious practices are God inspired or were even employed in the early church.  They’ve evolved much like those in Christianity.  A disaffected and seeking Christian might therefore merely be exchanging one set of man-made traditions or superstitions for another (indeed, for some rooted in mysticism and the occult).  Subjected to this type of ministry, one finds him/herself increasingly beholden to a go-between rabbi for understanding, rather than learning to depend upon the teaching ministry of Holy Spirit.  Being caught up in Jewish customs, a Christian is risking losing sight of the simplicity found in Jesus Christ.  Danger!

Toxic ducks

Some HRM groups cross the line of Christian orthodoxy.  They not only encourage study and practice of Jewish religious customs, but claim it’s the only way to be authentic followers of Christ.  They also teach that it’s important to refer to Him by the name He would have used in the first century (Yeshua or its variations).  Some even promote the wearing of prayer shawls for worship, blue tasseled garment fringe and traditional Jewish “blessings” throughout the day; also male circumcision.  They are told these make a person more spiritual and acceptable to God.  This is a toxic “duck,” completely distracting from the simplicity in Christ (faith in Him alone) and leads away from true Christianity ... into works and legalism.  Deadly!

The really toxic “ducks” pose as an aid to help believers explore their Jewish roots, but beneath the surface of their seeming benevolence are satanic goals to destroy Christian faith.  In addition to doing the above Jewish things, they downplay Christ’s divinity, portraying Him as but another good Rabbi (even a blasphemer) rather than the Son of God.  They also claim the traditional Greek-derived New Testament (while containing some good) is riddled with error, unreliable and must be replaced with their Hebrew-biased version.  Clearly, these are destructive, demonic and devilish “ducks.”

Within the Hebrew Roots Movement are Messianic Jews with evangelism of Jews in mind.  Their groups are often populated by many Gentiles; most with pentecostal, charismatic and sabbatarian backgrounds (Adventists, World-Wide Church of God, etc.).  Like the majority of those attracted to the HRM, they are searching for a more authentic Christian experience.  They want out from today’s retail, worldly “church” and into the real thing.  Many are primed for the HRM, having already exited from Christianized holidays and customs.  Some have also been through other distractive and/or destructive movements (Word-Faith, Health-Wealth, Promise-Keepers, Seeker-Sensitive, Purpose-Driven, etc. (we’ve detailed their plight in a series under the label, “CODfish; Church Of the Disaffected).  For the most part and to varying degrees, Messianics follow the doctrines and behavior of other HRM ministries.

These are the perilous days our Lord forewarned of and Paul passionately tries to prepare us for. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all" (Col 2:8-10).  May He grant you keen discernment and keep you from the evil one.  Amen.

— Aticles in this series —

• Part-3 — Jews, Gentiles and The Church — God divided mankind into distinctive groups.
• Part-4 — Judaizing The Church — Today’s Pharisees are at work to seduce you.
• Part-5 — Judaism's Lubavitchers — They aim to teach all Gentiles their Noahide Laws.
• Part-6 — "Messianics" ... whaa? — Does Scripture support Christians “keeping Torah”?
• Part-7 — Messianic Christianity — A syncratic religion.
• Part-1 — God Loves Israel ... and what God loves Christians should also love.

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