Praise God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth! |
The Pitfalls of the Hebrewic Roots Movement
Complete with Updates
Step 1: Pray NOW!
Step. 2: Open your Bible Now
Step.3: Read Website WITH your Bible
Step.4: FAST and Pray More!
There is nothing wrong with studying and respecting our Hebrew roots as Christians. There is much to be learned by studying the Hebrew words, culture and society. There is also great importance to include/preach/teach the Torah as it is a very important part of the scriptures and must be obeyed and was never done away with nor destroyed.
Study of the Torah and Obedience to the Torah is very important. I fully Encourage everyone to Study the Torah and Every book of the Entire Bible. I fully encourage each person to obey All of God's Commandments.
Christ did Not come to destroy the law nor the scriptures. I teach Gods laws on this website. We are a Torah observant ministry BUT we are NOT a "Torah Ministry" but rather a "FULL Gospel Ministry". We use Hebrew words when they need to be understood to attain better understandings as we also teach Greek words when they need to be understood to attain better understanding. There is nothing wrong with getting in touch with our Hebrew roots. Again, I say, There is NOTHING wrong with exploring and understanding our Hebrew Roots! I even encourage it, as long as it does not become the FOCUS!
However, there are MANY ministries that have taken the "Hebrewic Roots Movement" too far. Their focus has become the Torah and Hebrew Words and the Law. Their focus, their ministry, their words, their writings, their sermons have been redirected off the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and redirected to a return to old things that ARE still in effect but takes our eyes off Christ if we dwell on them TOO MUCH. Most of these groups descented from the old Worldwide Church of God and it's descentants. They were Already observing the Torah. It's not like they did not already observe the Torah. They already understood the need to obey God in all the scriptures (except those rituals that were nailed to the cross which were replaced by the Blood of Jesus). But after the churches split off into hundreds of small groups, there came an uprising of men who felt a need to spread the truth of Gods Laws (as should be done). But somewhere along the way, they have lost their focus in what they call themselves, how they identify themselves and what they focus on in their teachings and ministries. They have become Jews who are not Jews. Of course many will say that we first must have a relationship with Christ and their obedience is out of respect and WANT to obey YHWH and not out of "necessity" while others say it is out of necessity that they return to the Torah (of which they never left). Then you immediately say, "but we got to teach it to others who have not yet known the Torah". True, We must teach the Torah. We must reach the world, all nations, all peoples with the truth of all of Gods Word. But WHY alienate yourself and others by identifying yourself with Hebrew words and descriptions? If you are living in 2007-2017 modern day English and Spanish speaking America, Why are you focusing on Hebrew words AS MUCH as you are? Again, there's nothing wrong with teaching people some Hebrew words to better understand what the Scriptures are teaching. But the problem occurs when your teachings and ministries look and act more like the Pharisees than the New Testament Church. The problem again occurs when your teachings and ministries are so focused on the Torah, Hebrew roots & "Sacred Names" that Jesus, Grace, Mercy, Love and the Holy Ghost (the resurrected Spirit of Christ sent to Mankind in the form of POWER such as the 2 witnesses will have and you can have too!) are diminished by comparison!
You may call me a Greek. You may call me whatever you want to call me. But I know that God is telling me to NOT limit his message to a Torah Ministry.
Sorry but I am NOT a pleaser of men but rather of God and I will boldly proclaim what He leads me to write, however much it may hurt those that be guilty. God chastens those who He Loves. We must ALL be branching out from our previous understandings and grow in the word and be weaned off physical lawful milk and come to the Spiritual MEAT of the Word.
Update 12-6-2007:
Since writing this article the Lord has continued to confirm that it was His Will for me to write this article despite the persecution I have received because of it. Your eyes must be on Jesus, when you take your eyes off Jesus to look at your feet, your roots or to the Left or Right, you loose your focus and begin to sink. That is the pitfall of the Hebrewic Roots Movement. Now, if you just want to explore and learn about the Hebrewic roots, that's certainly okay as long as it is to help you understand more about Jesus, how to live for him, etc. But you must be careful to not take your eyes off Jesus. Don't go into hours of learning the Hebrew Language or a jewish dance and start living like you are a Jew unless you plan on moving to Israel. Make Sense? I have taken an interest in Hannuak, the Menorah, tassels, prayer shawl, Purim, etc. These help me in my relationship with Him. But I have not taken it to the extremes of teaching that a Hebrew pronouncing of His Names are more sacred thus MUST be used, I have not focused my ministry on just the first 5 books of the Bible, the Torah, I have not called for a return to the Torah, I have not called for a return to a historical national culture. I teach all books of the bible with a New Testament spiritual element, that is that the Messiah has come and He is our High Priest and Shepard and we should be looking to Him and Him Only by having a FULL GOSPEL ministry, focusing on ALL HIS WORDS, by the way, that would include "I am the Alpha and the Omega" and that He will Return Soon therefore we must be repenting and proclaiming ALL His Words. We need to be baptizing, we need to be traveling and feeding the poor and helping the homeless and laying hands on the sick and healing the blind, not teaching people things that would cause them to spend hours, days and weeks on changing their language and dance style. Look at the Fruits of Your Own Ministry and stop looking at how many people are attending services with me. It's very interesting and telling, that a Torah minister who has made several accusations against me used the same words as a homosexual drug dealer! Sorry if that hurts. It hurts to be bent and molded when you don't want to be bent and molded. We need to become flexible to God's Will and follow His lead. Since I was able to give that Torah Minister a small block of bible verses with his name on it, part of the title of the article that offended him, the word "offended" and the answer to his accusation about public rebuke ALL within the same small block of Bible Verses, it would seem He would have turned around. But instead he was blind thus far and remains unrepented. I have not written this just to continue my rebuke of him but rather in hope that he will come to see that the bible verses I sent to him from God were truly from God, whereas I cannot understand why He could not see this in the first place, what with his name on it, the name of the article, the word "offended" AND the answer to his accusations. It would seem clear cut to me.
Update: 12-6-2007 Evening
As usual, God continues to Confirm!
I just received a newsletter with the following words:
"Impassioned preaching is seldom heard nowadays. It certainly is not
taught in the seminaries, which the Jesuits promised and did
infiltrate. Impassioned preaching is considered to be
unsophisticated. Impassioned preaching is considered unnecessary and
even thought to be ineffective today, in this pluralistic, advanced,
high tech world in which we live. The passionate preacher proclaiming
truth boldly and without reservation is now considered an outrageous
obstacle to the people of this enlightened age.
Most would be quick to tell the outrageous passionate preacher that he must change the way he preaches because it just looks foolish to the world. May I say that such an attitude toward preaching is proof that we have lost our bearings in the Evangelical and or Messianic Community. Why? Because it is God who has ordained the foolishness of preaching to be the means by which the saving message of the Gospel is to be brought to the world. That is not to say that preaching should be foolish, and certainly not illogical.
What is to be preached is NOT the contemporary opinions of a deceived and corrupt culture, that is wise in its own eyes. God said that is foolish in Rom 1:22 - Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Many believe that today's culture cannot tolerate the type of preaching that was so effective during the great awakenings and revivals of the past. The vast majority seems to think the preaching of John Wesley and other Holy Spirit empowered preachers of that bygone era would be mocked, ridiculed, and considered to be outrageous and ineffective. They do not seem to realize that those Holy Spirit empowered preachers were ridiculed, mocked, and scorned by the majority, especially by the religious majority of their time.
We are to preach The Word. True Gospel preaching will always be foolishness to every culture. Every time one tries to remove the offense, and make preaching proper, suitable, or inoffensive, one QUENCHES the power of the Gospel. It defeats the purpose for which God chose preaching as the means of saving men – so that men's hope might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Paul was given by God to express it perfectly in 1 Cor 1:18-31 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Our culture of these last days of strong delusion is bound in sin like bands of iron. The idolized popular puppeteer with his entertaining, soothing, comforting and encouraging philosophy and stories has NO real power against such bondage to sin. To the preacher who is fearful of losing people, I can only say, better to lose people than to lose God. It really is like the choice between serving God and mammon. One really can NOT do both. God said it is impossible, and it truly is. When you please God, then you will only be left with God's people, and you will NOT fit in the church growth movement. "End of this quote from the newsletter.
Update 12-6-2007 Later same evening:
Again God continuing to confirm this article and His Will! I just came in from services where the Evangelist said things like "too many ism in the church today", "too many clicks and circles in the church where if you don't belong to their click, they think you are wrong", "church lost it's vision and focus", "it's not the number of people in your congregation but rather that you are where God wants you to be", "too many people getting caught up in position rather than submission", "too many people thinking they don't need fed, they think everything is well with their soul", "lean not on your own understandings and wisdoms but rather focus on Jesus", "the church has sores in it coming from the inside out where people are focusing on pass kingdoms and current kingdoms, their empires, size of their congregations and not on Jesus" and many other confirmations that our focus in the church has been turned wrong and we need to get our focus back on Jesus!
UPDATE: 5-13-2008:
Let's NOT be looking to our own branches, figs, fruits, roots and feet. Let's Look into the eyes of the Father and Face of Christ and feet of Christ, NOT our own feet and roots. If you want to look at your roots, Look at Christ, the Alpha! The Word of God! God of all the universe! Praise GOD the Father and Jesus the Christ! Don't do like Peter did. He looked at his feet. He looked down. We are to be looking up at Jesus the Saviour, not down at our roots or our feet. If you want to look at your roots, go all the way back. When you do your family tree, you don't stop at the roots, you go as far back as you can. Let's not stop at our roots to be our focus. Let's go back to the Seed of the Roots, before there were roots. And even the Creator of that seed.
"In the Beginning God..." Gen. 1:1
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
2 Cor. 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
People are saying "Let's return to our roots" and "Let's return to the Torah". But I say "Let's Return to the giver of our roots and the giver of the torah, Let's really return to Christ and Let Him be our FOCUS!"
JESUS!!! JESUS!!! JESUS!!!
UPDATE: 8/19/2009:
KJV Verse Count Old Testament
Leviticus
1 time
Numbers
1 time
Nehemiah
1 time
Proverbs
1 time
Ezekiel
1 time
______
Total 5
King James Word Usage (Old Test.)- Total: 5
shew 1, scatter 1, declare 1, distinctly 1, sting 1
How did the Pharisees separate themselves? Answer: Wrong FOCUS on the LAW. Since orginally posting this article and this update, GOD continues to confirm. Please see latest update at bottom of page.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone that holds everthing together! The Torah is NOT what holds everything together. Yes that's right the torah is NOT the chief doctrine nor message. Jesus is!!!
Ephesians 3:6-8:
6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
The above 3 verses and many other Holy Scriptures teaches us that the Gospel and Salvation is to all nations and peoples, NOT just the Hebrews. Let's Remember that!!!
Galatians 3:2-5:
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 3:10-14:
10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:21-29:
21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4:1-11:
Galatians 4
1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Isaiah 1:10-17:
:10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Of course these verses are NOT saying that the law is done away. Paul kept and taught the Law as do I. But Paul and the verses in Isaiah are saying that the keeping of the law is NOT what saves you and your focus is not to be the law. We keep the Feast days and Sabbaths NOT because it is the law BUT rather because we are a Holy Nation which seeks to celebrate our King and Remember the things He has done for us. Our Focus is on the Creator Himself and therefore we automatically with our heartfelt love, Celebrate and Remember these Sabbaths and Feast Days, Again, NOT because of the Law but because of our Love. IS that your reason for keeping the appointed times? OR is it because of the Law? Are you under bondage? Are YOU under the Law? Unfortunately Many are. I say it is time that we mature in our relationship with GOD and really really worship Him above everything and Put Him first in our thinking and focus. Let's have our email addresses as "JesusLover@whatever.com" instead of "torahlover@whatever.com" OR let's have "tim@jesuslover.com" instead of "tim@torahobservers.com". Let our Ministies be "Jesus Teacher.com" instead of "Torah Teacher.com". Let our sermons be "Love Your Neighbor" instead of "Torah this, Torah that...". Can you get my point yet? Jesus is coming soon. Are you walking toward Him right now? OR are you walking backwards toward your roots?
Finally, I am not saying that all Hebrewic Roots groups are guilty in these things. But many are. If you are NOT guilty in having a wrong focus toward your roots, the torah, the sacred names doctrine, etc. BUT rather your primary focus truly is on Christ, then this article is NOT about you, so then you should not take offence if you are not one of the guilty ones.
This story is not literal but rather symbolic and is a parable with hidden meaning. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees (vs. 14).Quoting from "The Rich Man & Lazarus" by Dennis Crews of Amazing Facts Library of Sermons #28: QUOTE: "The Jews had been blessed above measure by a knowledge of God and His plan of salvation for all mankind. They had received the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises Romans 9:4. Only a Jew would pray "Father Abraham as we find the rich man doing later in the story. The Jewish nation was clearly represented by this character. By contrast, Lazarus symbolized all those people in spiritual poverty- the Gentiles- with whom the Israelites were to share their heritage. ..Unfortuanately, the Jews had not shared their spiritual wealth with the Gentiles at all. Instead they considered them as "dogs" who would have to be satisfied with the spiritual crumbs falling from their masters' tables. The metaphor was known. Jesus had used it before, testing the faith of the Canaanite woman: "It is not meet to take the chrildren's bread, and to cast it to the dogs." She responded accordingly; "truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table" Matt. 15:26, 27. The rich Jews had hoarded the truth and in so doing had corrupted themselves. ....The Jews had enjoyed the good life while on earth, but had done nothing to bless or enrich their neighbors. No futher reward was due... Luke 6:24,25. Conversely , the poor in spirit, symbolized by Lazarus, would inherit the Kingdom of Heaven...The "dogs" and sinners so despised by the self-righteous Pharisees, would enter heaven before they would: "Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" Matthew 21:31. The parable concludes with the rich man begging for his brethen to be warned against his fate. Asking Abraham to send Lazarus on this mission, he alleges that "if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent Luke 16:30" Abraham replies, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Vs. 31). END Of Quote from Amazing Facts Booklet.
Rev.2:9 and Rev.3:9 "...of them which say they are Jews, and are not..."
Since receiving this revelation, GOD has confirmed it!!! I have not been more sure of anything else in my life! Please take this page into intense prayer and fasting!!!
Please take the time to take this entire article in Prayer And Fasting!!! The intent of this article has NOT been to harm or separate, But rather to bless & edify in Loving correction and instruction so we ALL will reach the Promised Land. I look forward to meeting you there!!! GOD Bless You!!!
What is the Message? Is the Message the Law? Guess what! No it isn't!
