Hebrew Roots Movement

Until recently, I have been unaware of the so-called Hebrew Roots Movement.  I just chalked up seeing such things as God spelled G-d on "Christian" web sites as just another "wind of doctrine."  Then channel 28 appeared in our area.  At first, I had hope that there now was an alternative to the stuff channeled into the the Rio Grande valley by TBN and FeTV.  But soon hope turned to disgust as I watched Rabbis or Rabbi wan-a-bees teaching the wisdom of the Mishnah and the Talmud.  I am all in favor of Christians understanding their Hebrew roots. But everyone needs to know that we have no roots in rabbinical Judaism.   Orthodox Judaism has its spiritual and historic roots among the Pharisees who rejected the Messiah.  And it was Jesus who said to them, "Unless you believe that I AM he, you shall die in your sins."

Before someone declares me to be anti-Semitic, I want to say it is a selfish love and false compassion that withholds the truth from those whom God says are perishing. I also want to say that I have been to Israel and observed firsthand the lostness of the people and the vanity of their man made religion. My heart grieves over the things I saw in that land, not only among Jews but also in the so-called Christian churches and "holy sites." I went there full of false ideas of the spiritual condition of that land. I went there with the false idea that a spiritual pilgrimage to the land of the Bible would bring me closer to God.  What I found disabused me of my fantasies. Spiritual growth comes from walking with Jesus where He is, not walking through the places where He was.

While there I had the opportunity to debate a Rabbi on several occasions.  The debates took place as I sat listening to him lecture a young gentile audience on the book of Daniel and as I was provoked in my spirit by the error he was teaching to the those young people.  I tell you plainly, the Rabbis do not understand the Scriptures.  If they did they would accept the Jesus the Messiah. He that drinks from their wells, drinks from bitter waters.

Can we learn anything from the Mishnah and Talmud?  Sure.   We can learn something of the Pharisees who opposed Christ, and perhaps gain a better understanding of Jewish life in the time of Christ. One of the reasons the "Gentile Church" was so easily led astray was the lack of knowledge of Hebrew traditions such as the baptism of converts.  Not understanding the cultural context of the New Testament contributed to misunderstanding, and the growth of sacramentalism.   We can also learn from the writings of the "Church Fathers."  But what we will learn is that they departed from the Living Waters "to hew cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."  If you have a Mishnah or Talmud you would like to send me, fine.  I have neither and would gladly place them on my book shelves. 

Christians have no roots in rabbinical Judaism.  As disciples of Y'shua (Jesus), our Hebrew roots are Jesus, the Apostles, and the Prophets.  The Hebrew roots of the Rabbis are found in the so-called "Oral Law" and traditions of Pharisees who rejected the Messiah.   It is a matter of history that Judaism in the first century consisted of several factions: the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the followers of Jesus, and other sects.   Once the door was opened by God to the Gentiles, the disciples of Jesus soon ceased to be identified as a Jewish sect.  But in the beginning, the Church was a Jewish Church, -the disciples of the Nazarene.  With the destruction of the Temple came the end of the Sadducees.  Modern orthodox Judaism is descended from the Pharisee survivors of the Roman destructions of 70 AD and 135 AD.  What wisdom have they who reject their Messiah?

What does the Scripture say?

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22,23)

There it is in black and white.  Those who deny that Jesus is the Christ (Rabbinical Judaism, and Islam, among others) are of the Antichrist.   Those who deny the Son do not have the Father.  Jews who have not received Jesus as Messiah need to be saved.  They need our prayers, They need our love.   They need the Good News that God has sent the Messiah, and He died for their sin according to the prophets and rose again from the dead, and He will receive, and forgive, and give the Holy Spirit and a new life to all who will receive Y'shua Ha Meshiach as Savior and Lord.

But for those "Christians" who turn from the way of Truth and put their trust in rabbinical fables. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (2 Peter 2:22)

Don't turn aside from the Way.  The Orthodox Jews will not go to the temple mount because they might accidentally trespass on the Holy of Holies.  I have no such fear.  I am a descendant of Abraham.  I have been grafted into the tree of Israel. I am a priest of the Most High God.  The atonement for my sin has already been offered and accepted.  The veil has been rent.  I can freely enter the Holy of Holies and come boldly into the presence of my God and my Father any time I desire.  The Messiah of Israel is my King, my Savior, my Lord, my elder Brother, and my most intimate Friend.  Why would I sell my birthright for a bowl of lentil stew?  Yes, we need to return to our true Hebrew roots. We need to purify ourselves from the influence of pagan tradition. We need to reject every tree our Father has not planted.  But should we "seek the living among the dead?" Unbelieving Jews need the Light that we possess.  Let us shine with forth the light of the Messiah of Israel.

Please, if you have been influenced by this movement, go back and read again Paul's letter to the Galatians. Read the Gospels. Read the Law and the Prophets. Put your trust in the Word of God.  Return to your real Hebrew roots in Jesus and the Apostles.