A reader of mine sent this comment to me recently. I decided to address it here because it required a lengthy response and it may help other people. It’s a little long so grab your favorite beverage and enjoy.
Reader’s Comment – Beware of These False Teachers
Beware of _____________ from _____________. They are 100% Hebrew Roots heretics who claim to ‘love and care about the Body of Christ’ but are doing their level best to subvert them away from Christianity. These people are ACTORS and false teachers, nothing more.
They do their level best to convince/deceive Christians who study the word of God for themselves under the instruction of The Holy Spirit into thinking they DON’T know the true meaning of the real gospel and are hell bound. They teach the old laws the ‘Jewish way’ instead of teaching the new laws Christ’s way.
They have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof through man made Jewish traditions. They seem more like a cult. To listen to some of their followers it’s obvious they have been brainwashed and deceived through this couple’s false gospel. He’s even convinced the women to walk around with their head covered.
In First Corinthians Paul was saying it was a shame for a woman to wear her hair short (not walk around with hair uncovered) instead of wearing it long because God gave her HAIR to her for a covering. He also stated it’s a shame for a man to have long hair instead of short hair.
_____________ has twisted this verse and many others, yet condemns Christians for following the true gospel and claiming we don’t know the word of God and we need to follow The Torah, when it is he who takes scripture completely out of context to follow Jewish traditions of men.
_____________ seems to DESPISE Christians and definitely speaks as if we’re all idiots who don’t know the gospel and need to replace the teachings of Christ with HIS FALSE teachings. He is quick tempered and quick to label anyone who corrects and calls him out on his false teachings a prideful Jezebel. He also tries to use guilt and make people feel sorry for him when they correct him. It’s all for filthy lucre’s sake. These people have no shame!
My Reply to False Teachers Accusations
Forgive me for taking so long to answer your comment. I needed a moment to process what you were saying and the best way to respond. So here it goes. I replaced the names with blank lines for a couple of reasons. One reason is that I don’t know these people personally, nor do I follow their ministry; therefore, I can’t agree or disagree with you concerning your accusation. The other reason is that the scriptures tell us that if we have something against our brethren then we need to go to them first. If they don’t listen, then we bring a witness and so forth. I don’t know if you’ve done any of that. So I removed their names so I can’t be accused of slander.
With that said, here’s my take on your comment. I don’t believe anyone should make another person feel guilty or ashamed for walking in their understanding of the scriptures. Unfortunately, there are Christian pastors and Hebrew Roots pastors who do this. They place dire burdens on their congregations all in the name of God. They both have their own traditions and they both take the Word out of context.
On the positive side there are some very good pastors (both Christian & Hebrew) who are trying to lead their congregations in the right way with the understanding that they have.
Just because I may not understand what someone else understands doesn’t make me right and them wrong. It doesn’t make them right and me wrong. We’re just at two different levels of understanding. You wouldn’t expect a child in first grade to understand high school level work. You wouldn’t expect someone in college to belittle a sixth-grader for what he doesn’t know.
Show Compassion Towards One Another
However, when we come into the knowledge of God, we forget the basics. We forget to be kind, patient, and understanding. We forget to be compassionate. We forget to be friendly. We gain a little knowledge and act like we are above everyone else. We have it right and everyone else is wrong.
It’s like when my grandson tells me he knows something because he just learned it and swears I don’t. He thinks he holds the keys to the universe. He’s adamant about being right, even if I know he is wrong. Instead of calling him names, accusing him of being stupid or being a liar, I explain why he’s wrong.
If he still feels like he’s right (which he sometimes does), I say, “Ok, baby. You obviously need to be right so I’ll let you. But do me a favor? Will you come back and tell me when you’ve figured out the truth of this matter?” Then I let it go. Sometimes, he comes back sooner than I expect. On some things he just hasn’t reached the age where he learns the subject yet. So I wait patiently.
Then there are times he tells me something that I don’t know. So I have to look it up. Ohhh, the joy he gets out of being right just makes me laugh. He does his “I told you so” dance with a few accolades to pat himself on the back. I expect this from him because he’s a child and children always want to be right.
That’s when I enlighten him to the fact that he doesn’t like it when others do that to him so why is he doing it to me. “Do I do that to you when I’m right? Of course not because I don’t want you to feel back. So don’t do it to others.”
Not matter what, this little boy keeps me on my toes. He asks a lot of questions, which makes me study more. I love it and I love him.
Sometimes, this is how we act towards one another. We HAVE to be right. We act like we hold all the secrets to the Word of God as if God couldn’t teach anyone else the truth. We refuse to see that we are all on different levels and learn differently.
We need to be compassionate towards one another instead. We need to stop being so defensive. We need to stop desiring to be right all the time. We should try to understand why someone thinks the way they think. Why do they feel the way they feel? Instead of bashing them.
The Real Meaning of the Gospel
This is the Gospel. God created mankind to dwell with Him in paradise, but it didn’t last. So God gave mankind a way back to Him by providing a blood sacrifice through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ/Yeshua the Messiah. Yeshua died for the entire world. He gave everyone the opportunity to be reconciled back to the Father.
All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then salvation is yours. The scriptures go on to tell you to be baptized just like Yeshua was. This is an open declaration that you now serve God Almighty verses another god.
This is a gift to anyone who accepts it. You cannot bride your way into the Kingdom of God or work so many hours to receive it. He has already paid the ultimate price for you. All you have to do is accept that fact, turn your back on your wicked ways, accept His gift for you and follow Him and His ways.
To Follow Torah or Not – That is the Question
Let’s start by agreeing that the scriptures were written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That ALL scripture (in which case at the time Timothy wrote this only consisted of what we call the Old Testament) is given for reproof, correction, and instruction IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)
Let’s also agree that Yeshua was a Jew, meaning he came from the tribe of Judah, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. He only said and did what he has seen his Father say and do. Let’s agree that his Father is the one we call Father God, who laid down some rules to follow, even in the garden.
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19 KJV)
Jesus therefore said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me,'” (John 8:28).
You made the distinction between the Jewish’s laws and Jesus’ laws with the Jewish’s laws being the Torah. This is not an accurate view. Jewish laws are the oral laws, not scriptural laws. Jewish laws add to the scripture in an effort to never break them. Unfortunately, many people confuse the scripture with Jewish laws, which aren’t the same.
This is why Yeshua tells the people to obey the Pharisees when they speak from Moses’ seat because they are only allowed to read the scriptures. They can’t comment or give their opinion as to what the scriptures are saying while they stand there.
If you want to look at the narrow definition of Torah as being the laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai, then you must recognize the true author of them. It was God who SPOKE out the first ten sayings (commonly referred to as the ten commandments).
Exodus 20:1 says, “And God spake all these words, saying.” (KJV). Even the Amplified Bible couldn’t expound on what was clear, “Then God spoke all these words.” Whenever God wanted to make a covenant with someone He SPOKE to them, just like we do today. First, we speak. Then we sign the contract of the rules and regulations we are to abide by.
When He spoke He spoke to ALL 12 TRIBES, plus those who had bound themselves to Israel. He didn’t just speak to the tribe of Judah (Jews). The Torah, which are covenant rules, was given by God, just like the rest of the Bible.
So who spoke the Torah into existence? God the Father. Who followed the Torah in the New Testament? All those who claimed to love God, including His son, Yeshua.
So if we are Jesus’ disciples, shouldn’t we do what he did? He followed God’s rules, not man’s. Man’s rules are burdensome. God’s isn’t. So when you accepted Yeshua/Jesus as your Redeemer, you accepted the covenant laws that you are to abide by.
Side Note: All of the instructions given to Moses while on the mountain are not for everyone. Some of them are for the priests in the temple, which doesn’t stand today. This is where leaning on the Spirit of God for understanding is imperative.
With that said, it’s your choice as to how much you want to follow God and in what way. All I know is that the scripture says that if you follow His laws, you’ll reap blessings. And if you don’t, you won’t. Read Deuteronomy 28. It has nothing to do with your salvation.
Learn More About the Hebrew Roots Movement
I’ve written enough, but to address some of your other complaints, please read God Gave Commands to All of His Creation, The Hebraic Roots Movement is a Cult, The Hebraic Roots Movement Teaches False Doctrine, and The Hebraic Roots Movement Teaches Legalism.
May the God of the universe through His Son, Yeshua the Messiah bless you.
