I didn't write this... However this is how my husband and I feel. I thought you might like the link to this mans blog. http://towardblog.blogspot.com/
I believe that G-d has a ministry to touch each individual, we weren't all cut from the same mold... We have the same Potter different clay!
Messianic Judaism - Beyond Evangelistic Shtick
In defining what Messianic Judaism is it is important to deal with the issue of Torah observance and to see what the differing voices in the larger spectrum say on this issue. In doing this we can see clearer those who affirm a Messianic Judaism that is a Torah-honoring movement for Yeshua and those who hold for a Jewish cultural form of Evangelical Christianity. This is the divide between Messianic Judaism and Jews for Jesus/Missions/Hebrew Christian movement. Below is a post from Year 1 of Toward Blog, looking at Jews for Jesus' view of Torah observance for Jewish believers in Yeshua:
I believe that G-d has a ministry to touch each individual, we weren't all cut from the same mold... We have the same Potter different clay!
Messianic Judaism - Beyond Evangelistic Shtick
In defining what Messianic Judaism is it is important to deal with the issue of Torah observance and to see what the differing voices in the larger spectrum say on this issue. In doing this we can see clearer those who affirm a Messianic Judaism that is a Torah-honoring movement for Yeshua and those who hold for a Jewish cultural form of Evangelical Christianity. This is the divide between Messianic Judaism and Jews for Jesus/Missions/Hebrew Christian movement. Below is a post from Year 1 of Toward Blog, looking at Jews for Jesus' view of Torah observance for Jewish believers in Yeshua:
Jews for Jesus affirms Jewish believers who, for the sake of honoring our heritage and developing a Jewish testimony, choose to give up some of what grace allows to conform to dietary standards and various other Jewish practices. As long as such practices are not presented as incumbent upon others in the body of Messiah, Jewish or Gentile, we hope to be an encouragement to those who desire to uphold their Jewish identity in this way, (from Fall 2003 Havurah, a publication of Jews for Jesus)
The above quote from JFJ's Havurah newsletter was looked at in a previous post. In this post I want to look further at this statement from Jews for Jesus. In their statement above they put forward that a Messianic Jew can observe Torah commands if they choose to give up some of what grace allows to conform to dietary standards and various other Jewish practices. Torah observance is not an "abandoning of grace", but an embracing of obedience to G-d. Observing kashrut, Shabbat, the Festivals and other Torah commands is an act of obeying G-d and faithfulness to the covenant G-d made with all the Jewish People. If we choose not to obey Torah commands we are not "living in grace", but "living in sin". Non-observance of Torah commands is an act of disobeying G-d and not walking in His ways, not a benefit of being a follower of the Messiah. Torah observance like dietary standards and various other Jewish practices is not just shtik to be used for evangelistic outreach (which sadly is the case for Jews for Jesus and other Jewish missions), but it is a matter of obeying G-d and living lives that honor Him. I close with a statement by another Messianic Jew on the topic of grace and sin:
What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?(Romans 6:1-2)Let us live in obedience to G-d and observe His Torah!
What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?(Romans 6:1-2)Let us live in obedience to G-d and observe His Torah!
7 comments:
Sorry, nothing big and philosophical this time. I just wanted to say that I think "Schtick" is a great word.
Hey Frank family... That's ok...LOL
If we choose not to obey Torah commands we are not "living in grace", but "living in sin".
Yeshua, showed in Mathew that parts of the Torah had been misinterpreted and he was showing how they should have been interpreted.
i.e. mathew chapter 5 verse 27ff "You have heard that it was said "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,"; But I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has already commited adultery in his heart......."
This shows the difficulty we have on interpreting the Torah. The statement at the top that I have quoted also implies that the Torah takes precedence over say the book of Galatians. It would also put into question, why grace at all if it was possible to live fully under the law in the Torah. Most importantly if i am understanding it correctly and maybe I am not, it seems to indicate that by being given grace that G-d condones sin. When Yeshua was being killed on the cross, He asked His Father why he had been forsaken, to me this shows G-ds utter abhorance for any sin.
Hope I am coming across as confused and questioning rather than argumentative. ;o)
Hawkeye, thank you for stopping by my blog! I agree with you on a couple points:
Yeshua did indeed help us to intepret Torah, and He actually intepreted it in a stricter manner than we had previously known. The passage you quoted is a perfect example of that.
The Torah does indeed trump the book of Galatians. I believe that all of G-d's word is authoritative, but the Torah is the foundation. We received it directly from the mouth of G-d, word for word. Everything else in scripture, whether in the prophets, (nevi'im) or in the brit chadashah, it must lie up with the Torah, or it must be thrown out. The torah is our standard. If Yeshua spoke or taught contrary to the Torah, He would be a false prophet diserving of death.
G-d truly abhors sin. No argument here. It was possible to live by the Torah prior to Yeshua coming. Our redemption came in the form of repentance, following the mitzvot that was outlined in Torah and interpreted by our forefathers, and Yom Kippur. Then came our Messiah, Who initiated a new covenant....a better way, if you will.
Was the Torah abolished when He came? No in any way! Jews are covenanted with HaShem to follow the Torah...it is a blessing! It is an act of worship to do so! He gave it to US! Not that we can derive a position of pride from that, because He chose us, not the other way around. Non-Jews are not obligated to be Torah-observant. You have an obligation to pursue holiness and to live sin-free to the best of your ability. You also have an obligation to love Israel and G-d's people and pray for them to come to know their Mashiach. I hope my answer was helpful and informative. You are welcome here anytime.
L'Shalom, Ann
18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All the elders were there. 19 Paul greeted them. Then he reported everything God had done among the non-Jews through his work.
20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they spoke to Paul. "Brother," they said, "you see that thousands of Jews have become believers. All of them try very hard to obey the law. 21 They have been told that you teach all the Jews who live among the non-Jews to turn away from Moses. They think that you teach them not to circumcise their children. They think that you teach them to give up our Jewish ways.
22 "What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a promise to God. 24 Take them with you. Join them in the Jewish practice that makes people pure and clean. Pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know that these reports about you are not true in any way. They will know that you yourself obey the law.
25 "We have already given written directions to the believers who are not Jews. They must not eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. They must not drink blood. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not commit sexual sins."
26 The next day Paul took the men with him. They all made themselves pure and clean in the usual way. Then Paul went to the temple. There he reported the date when the days of cleansing would end. At that time the proper offering would be made for each of them.
- Acts 21:18-26
***
10 It is written,
"No one is right with God, no one at all.
11 No one understands.
No one trusts in God.
12 All of them have turned away.
They have all become worthless.
No one does anything good,
no one at all." —(Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20)
13 "Their throats are like open graves.
With their tongues they tell lies." —(Psalm 5:9)
"The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake." —(Psalm 140:3)
14 "Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness." —(Psalm 10:7)
15 "They run quickly to commit murder.
16 They leave a trail of failure and pain.
17 They do not know the way of peace." —(Isaiah 59:7,8)
18 "They don't have any respect for God." —(Psalm 36:1)
19 What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God. 20 So it can't be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin.
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Isn't he also the God of those who aren't Jews? Yes, he is their God too. 30 There is only one God. When those who are circumcised believe in him, he makes them right with himself. When those who are not circumcised believe in him, he also makes them right with himself. 31 Does faith make the law useless? Not at all! We agree with the law.
- Romans 3:10-2, 29-31
***
According to these passages, I say, "shame on those who tell/teach Jews to forsake the observance of Torah!"
Thank you, Ann, for sharing this! It is so important for all Believers to understand Messianic Judaism and dispose themselves of the doctrines of men that meant to eradicate the beauty of Torah from the Jewish life! Shameful, shameful, shameful!
G-d bless you abundantly!
-Deborah
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, my friend!
I pray you have a wonderful day with your family and friends!
-Deborah
Deborah-
It was me and my husband only... it was great. I cooked and he watched football! :)LOL
I pray you also had a great Thankgiving!
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