The Congregation

A couple weeks ago I visited a messianic congregation near where I live. For those of you that do not know about the Messianic Christian movement here is a brief overview.

The Messianic movement is a Christian movement that combines Jewish and Christian beliefs. Messianic Jews believe that Jesus was the Messiah and that they should be both Jewish and Christian. They believe that Jesus, or Yeshua in Aramaic, was the Messiah. The Bible is their spiritual authority, including both the Old and New Testaments. The Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy) should be obeyed today, including Shabbat, Kosher dietary laws, holidays, and circumcision (some congregations) and that the Jews are the chosen people. Messianic Christians meet in congregations. They observe Jewish rituals, such as (some) wearing the Yarmulke and Tzitzit.

As most of you that follow my blog know by now, I believe that Paul was a false Apostle. I believe that he taught contrary to Yeshua. I believe following Paul and following Yeshua at the same time is impossible as their teachings are incompatible. So, as much as I enjoyed the fellowship of the congregants, The first thing I noticed was, Paul’s teaching of salvation by faith alone still underlies their beliefs even though they are trying to be obedient to the laws of Torah (in spite of Paul’s teaching that the Law is dead). They seem to place his writings beside the Torah and the words of Yeshua and seem to hold them in the same place of authority. This made me uncomfortable and I don’t think I will be able to make attending their services a regular occurance. That is a pity. I found the congregation warm and welcoming and I believe they are doing their best to be obedient to YHVH. They seemed to be very nice people who are going to great lengths to serve God. But, Paul is a non starter for me.

The second thing I noticed about their service is that it is heavily influenced by the practices of present day Judaism . I have a lot of respect for the jewish people. I have great reverence for the Torah and the prophets. What I take issue with is that many of the practices of current Judaism are not found in the Torah and adding man made traditions is expressly forbidden in scripture.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add a thing to what I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I am delivering to you.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.

I understand that the rabbis try to build fences around the law to protect people from sin. But the torah is clear. It should not be done. YHVH gave the Law and it was enough. To imply otherwise is in violation of that very Law. Yeshua also seems to take a dim view of adding to or taking away from YHVH’s Law.

Matthew 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word  of God.

Mark 7:1 Now the Pharisees and some of the experts in the law who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. 2 And they saw that some of Jesus’ disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.) 5 The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

7 They worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’

8 Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.” 9 He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition.

Matthew 16:5 The disciples reached the other shore, and they had forgotten to take bread. 6 Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They were discussing among themselves, “We didn’t bring any bread.” 8 Aware of this, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you do not have bread? 9 Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected? 11 Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread? ” 12 Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The teachings He was warning them to beware were the leaven, the added traditions.

The reason I bring up the subject of adding to the law is because the Messianic Christians have imitated these added traditions of Judaism. There is no Torah instruction to wear a yarmulke. There is no Torah instruction to light sabbath candles. Celebrating Hanukkah and Purim are not commanded. The leader of the congregation giving the Aaronic blessing seems an unnecessary addition also as it was to be given by the levitical priest (although it could be argued that it is a blessing for the people and since the Levitical priesthood is no longer with us that others might be permitted to give it. But, I am not certain it would be proper since no instruction is given. Nowhere are we told to give it in our services).

I understand that the Messianic Christians are trying their best to worship in the manner of Judaism and reconnect Christianity with it’s Jewish roots. I think that is admirable. However, I feel it is misguided to follow the traditions that have been added that do not have a basis in either the Torah or the prophets. I think YHVH expects us to be very careful in the way we obey and serve Him. Although, I realize we are all a work in progress and can only walk in the light that we have. We must be studying and learning.

Deuteronomy 12:29 When the Lord your God eliminates the nations from the place where you are headed and you dispossess them, you will settle down in their land. 30 After they have been destroyed from your presence, be careful not to be ensnared like they are; do not pursue their gods and say, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God the way they do! For everything that is abhorrent to him, everything he hates, they have done when worshiping their gods. They even burn up their sons and daughters before their gods! 32 You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it! The Messianic movement is very young. It has not had enough time to correct itself and establish scriptural practice. My fear is that it will become static where it is and will not continue to follow the Holy Spirit and be lead into “all truth”. If it remains as it is it will become just another denomination. It has great promise if it continues to seek the truth. If they will abandon the traditions of the Rabbis and the false Apostle Paul  and follow only the Torah, the Prophets and the words of Yeshua they will be the heirs of the early Church in Jerusalem, the Ebion, the Nazarenes, the followers of the way. 

I will give you a metaphor. If the true way was an apple and the Paul-following Christian churches were candy, then the messianic congregations are just apple flavored candy. That is, unless they come to fully embrace Yeshua as the sole Rabbi and teacher that we must all follow.

Matthew 23:8  8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 9 And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. (YHVH) 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ.

John 13:16 Truly, truly, I say to you, There is no servant who is greater than his master; and no Apostle who is greater than he who sent him.

I pray for the Messianic congregations. They are a step in the right direction. I hope they take the next step.