The Hebrew Roots Movement is a heretical cult that has many factions. Therefore, it is difficult to explain all of their doctrines. The crux of their heresy is that they deny the atonement of Christ by denying that He fulfilled the Mosaic Law. They further deny the work of the Holy Spirit by rejecting the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (The indwelling of the Holy Spirit) that sets us free from the law of sin and death (the Mosaic Law) (Romans 8: 1-4).
They also deny Colossians 2:14, that states, “…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” HRM proponents are famous for taking verses out of context and adding extrabiblical interpretations (Midrash) to God’s word. They claim that this passage is not about the Mosaic Law’s regulations, but about punishment. However, Paul goes on to write in Colossians 2: 16-17, “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Again, they must add to the word of God to force a different meaning on the text.
Recently, I heard a HRM pastor claim that Christ only delivered us partially from the Mosaic Law, but not in full, making a partial atonement. Without any scriptural authority (and that does not seem to bother them) they split the Mosaic Law in two parts. That would be like splitting the life of Christ into two parts, His words and His sacrifice, and declaring that somehow we are free from His commandments but have the privilege of His atonement. Establishing that error as a premise, they insist that Christ died to remove the sacrificial system, but not the rules and regulations. Thus, from that flawed conclusion they insist that we remain under the Mosaic Law minus the requirement of sacrifices. They conclude that anyone that claims to be a child of God must observe the Mosaic Law including diet requirements and Sabbath observance.
Other claims include the notion that no one can truly understand the New Testament until they are fluent in Hebrew. Of course, lacking that skill they can always sit under the ministry of a Hebraic Roots teacher who will tell him or her everything they need to know. Professing Christians that succumb to that error apparently do not consider the consequences of it, namely that most Christians throughout history (that had a New Testament) did not know the true Gospel. Did all of these believers enter hell because they did not keep the Mosaic Law’s diet requirements, Sabbaths, and other regulations and rules? Further, it implies that God did not give us the simplicity of the Gospel that is able to lead us to Christ, but that He gave us a complicated book susceptible to the interpretation of individuals that are fluent in Hebrew. There is also the fact that there have been many Christians fluent in Hebrew and Greek that never came to the flawed conclusion that the Atonement of Christ did not deliver us from the Mosaic Law.
Another claim is that there is no salvation under any other name but the Hebrew name of Jesus. This claim is the essence of the Sacred Name Movement, which is also essential to the Hebraic Roots Movement. Therefore, every prayer that was prayed by godly men such as David Brainerd, E. M. Bounds, Rees Howells, Leonard Ravenhill, John Welch,
J. Hudson Taylor, and everyone before and since those mighty men of prayer prayed in vain. Further, it means that the multiple thousands of souls that they won to Christ were won in vain. In fact, the Book of Life would have to be wiped nearly clean of the great majority of names if the HRM is correct in their doctrine. To these consequences the HRM must reply with a resounding “yes”. Therefore, Christianity is dismantled and rebuilt on the opinions and interpretations of men who denounce nearly every soul, every work, and every prayer that was before the modern hodgepodge of Hebraic “gospel”. However, please consider the following verses, and the New Testament is replete with like statements about the Mosaic Law.
“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.” (Acts 15:19-21)
(In other words, those requirements were not for salvation, but to keep from offending the Jews that still clung to elements of the Mosaic Law.)
“Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.” (Acts 15:24-29 NKJV)
(This is a direct statement that the Early Church did not require Christians to keep the Mosaic Law.)
“19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NRSV and other translations)
Obviously, Paul is saying that he is not under the Mosaic Law, but would appear to be so in order to win the Jews. While the Mosaic Law needed the rules and regulations as instruments of teaching, the Holy Spirit does not need such things. Instead, we are convicted by the Holy Spirit when we are tempted or actually commit an act that is against the Divine Nature of God.
It certainly does not qualify one as a heretic to observe the dietary part of the Mosaic Law, but it is heresy to claim that Christ did not fulfill and thereby deliver us from the Mosaic Law including the dietary requirements and sacrifices. Christ did not come to do half of the job, but a full work. The Law was a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. Christ fulfilled it and nailed the “handwriting of ordinances against us” to His cross. His finished work set us free from the “law of sin and death” (Mosaic Law) by giving us His Spirit of Life. The Spirit of Life is the Holy Spirit. It is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that His law is now written on the hearts and in the minds of every true Christian. This new law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is portrayed clearly in 2 Peter 1:2-11. There are no scriptures that declare that God has re-written the Mosaic Law in our hearts and minds. The Mosaic Law was a teacher, but God declares that teacher is no longer needed (Hebrews 8:10-13). A new Teacher has arrive, the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:27).
The Mosaic Law was a reflection of the Divine Nature of God. The law in our minds is the Divine Nature, not a reflection. It is a higher, greater, and more perfect law than the Mosaic Law. Christ declared that the Law can be reduced to two commandments, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. The law that is written in our hearts and minds teaches us this exact truth. When God saved me, I did not receive a law that impressed me with the ordinances of the Mosaic Law, but with the elements of the Divine Nature of Christ as expressed by Peter in 2 Peter 1. In that statement of calling and election for salvation, Peter, the most Judaistic of all the disciples, never mentions the Mosaic Law.
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11 NKJV)
To illustrate which law is more perfect, consider the following verses.
“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:28-29)
The blood of the covenant by which we are sanctified is the blood of Christ that activates the New Covenant. The Old Covenant with the Mosaic Law has faded away, and the New Covenant with the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is in effect. It is a greater and more perfect Law because it is not written on tablets of stone, but in our hearts and minds.
In Matthew 5:17, Christ states, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law, thereby ending its authority and God the Father replaced it with the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The new Law is greater than the old Law because it resides in us through the Divine Nature, the Holy Spirit. It is more powerful and intimate because it is embedded in our hearts and minds. Christ did not die to send us back to the shadows, e.g., regulations, ordinances, and other requirements.
Instead, he nailed them to His cross by His atoning death as the perfect Lamb.
The only way for the law to be used lawfully is for the Holy Spirit to apply it to sinners. The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of his or her sin because sinners remain under the Mosiac Law. They are in danger of the wages of sin because they remain under the law of sin and death.
“But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” (1 Timothy 1:8-11)
True Christians are not under the Mosaic Law because they died and their life is hidden with Christ in God. No dead person is subject to a law from the temporal realm. They walk according to the Spirit and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
“ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)
In summation, the New Testament is replete with references to the fact that we are no longer under the Mosaic Law and its works-based attempt at salvation. A huge portion of Galatians is devoted to striking down the heresy, which was one of the more persistent ones the Apostle Paul dealt with. Some HRM leaders attack Paul in an attempt to marginalize the scriptures that are against their heresy. Of course, HRM leaders will also “explain” all of those scriptures if you are willing to listen to their spiel. God’s word tells us not to accept whatever is contrary to His word. Claiming that HRM doctrine is not contrary to His word is not of itself evidence to a fact. Further, once explanations go beyond the boundaries of the Bible, they are subject to the opinions of men. I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that is given to us in the form of the Holy Bible is enough.
It is important to recognize that we are in the last days. It is a period of great deception, and in my opinion, the final deception. There has always been and will always be heretics with clever methods and enticing words. The best way to avoid being lured into a cult such as the HRM is to love truth more than doctrine and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Even if you have little knowledge about their doctrines, and feel inadequate to debate them with Scripture, the Holy Spirit will warn you. That should be enough to reject their advances. You do not owe them any other explanation than that.
Finally, anyone indwelt by the Holy Spirit will understand in a much greater measure the righteous nature of God than the Mosaic Law (as a shadow of things to come) could reveal. Although it is possible for one to fall away, such a person has the resident power to conquer sin. The danger in HRM is denying the work of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, reintroducing people to the bondage of the Law of sin and death, and denying them the power to overcome sin. As such, it is a very dangerous doctrine. Not many that are deceived by it in this day of deception are being delivered.
Included on this page is a series of excellent articles by Vicky Dillen that expose the origin and the errors of the HRM. I am posting them here with her permission. Although the data presented in this series is more than a decade old, it is still very helpful to understanding the Hebrew Roots Movement. However, as Vicky Dillen puts it, “They are very adept at morphing to deal with the exposure and biblical and factual refutations. Many have dropped the upfront animosity and wicked words used so easily to denigrate Christ and now mask their true beliefs with Christian speak. They have learned much. Because of that, and their incredible use of Christian media (which I am sure they just love the irony of) they have managed to become accepted as ‘brothers and sisters’ who are just being obedient–unlike the rest of us poor misled Christians.”
The HRM has made inroads into mainstream Christianity. I often see HRM teachers on religious television and their books in Christian book stores. True Christians need to understand that these are not people who simply wish to learn about the Jewish roots of Christianity. It is a Movement that has the intent of replacing the true gospel of Jesus Christ with a false gospel. May God give wisdom and understanding to everyone that avails themselves of the information contained in these articles.
Many of the points in this article are addressed in this article. There is much misunderstanding within the body of believers. Most of the characterizations of the HRM you gave are not true. I cannot speak for all HRM believers or teachers, but it is a shame to throw the baby out with the bath water. I hope you will take the time to read this. Shalom. http://www.bulldozerfaith.com/the-new-legalism-response
There is no “baby” or “bath water” in this heresy, just falseness. In any case, a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
I like the fact that you said “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Christmas is a lot of leaven.
Every movement has its problems and some of HRM do take things to an extreme. However, I think whoever your source is grossly misrepresents what hebrew roots is about. It’s always helpful to step outside of your bias and look at things objectively and in context, which it seems that you have failed to do. Just more of the same parrot-fashion rendering of someone else’s views.
This errant charge was responded to elsewhere.
Seems like you enjoy denying the word of God in favor of your own opinion backed only by cherry-picked and out of context verses.
Pro 7:1 My son, guard my words, And treasure up my commands with you.
Pro 7:2 Guard my commands and live, And my Torah as the apple of your eye.
Pro 7:3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
It certainly appears that you wish to deny God’s word, the New Testament, and reject the atonement of Christ. You are a debtor to keep the entire ML. However, it is not possible that your animal sacrifices can pay your sin debt.
I do not know one HR that goes or believes in animal sacrifice
Then he or she does not believe his or her own doctrine. We have been set free from the Law of sin and death by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. One who returns to the Mosaic Law has rejected Christ and His atonement. All that is left is to sacrifice the spotless lambs repeatedly according to the Law of sin and death (Mosaic Law: someone sins, a lamb must die).
If you truly believe that “All that is left is to sacrifice the spotless lambs repeatedly according to the Law of sin and death (Mosaic Law: someone sins, a lamb must die)”, then you’ve clearly never read the book of Isaiah or Hosea, where animal sacrifices were replaced with prayer. And you clearly do not know about the evolution of Rabbinic Judaism where, again, sacrifices were replaced with prayer and deeds.
But of course keep parroting off false anti-semitic notions that Judaism requires only strict perfect adherence of laws to be saved (news flash: it doesn’t) or that you must sacrifice to be saved (news flash: it doesn’t and never has), instead of realizing that the OT had multiple means of atonement, including a “grain offering”, and that there is no New Testament without the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), the same Old Testament that you clearly fail to understand.
I love Psalms 118, the HRM read 119 not realizing what law is or who made the law and in so deny the Messiahs Deity and try and create a second God called the Logos denying Deuteronomy 6 breaking the fundamentals they think they follow.
Some of what this says is nuts… God sent the Word in the flesh to free us from the Word, which Jesus, teh Word, said “if you love me, keep my commandments”, and Hebrews 8 copies Jeremiah 31 saying the Torah is placed in our hearts if we are in the new covenant… and 1 John 3:4 says sin is violation of the law…
Not to mention the times Paul says over and over and over- we obey the law by faith, and keep it cuz of faith… and the law we’re free from is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
Literally – the Law defines sin… the law NEVER saved us… God’s grace does. Messiah LIVED it perfectly to be an example and show us how… and we do it by faith- with grace for when we sin… we don’t throw out the definition of sin and the standard that defines it. In fact, Paul argues in Romans several times- quite the opposite, cuz we have faith and grace, we LIVE BY IT!
You are so right!
How sad that you are writing against the brethren. What you wrote is wrong. I listen to several Hebraic teachers and non of them teach what you are writing. I wouldn’t say I’m in the HRM rather a follower of Yeshua (Jesus ). Scripture says walk as he walked. True? Messiah kept sabbath. True? Messiah kept the feast. True? Messiah says if you love me keep my commandments. True? Messiah said that by keeping his commands you will be blessed. True?
Blessings to you dear one. Please do a little more research.
Please do meow reading of the research provided for the Hebrew Roots heresy, which is an antichrist movement. There is a link at the bottom of the page to a very throughly researched book with copious footnotes. It will take some time to read it, but well worth the investment. The bottom line is that you must either you deny the Gospel or admit the Mosaic Law was fulfilled by Christ. You cannot have it both ways and agree with God’s word.
I agree completely. One preacher I’ve listened to about 5 years now does not deny the Holy Spirit. Everything in this article is false from what I’ve seen, except maybe he preacher you were talking about. Idk who that was. I’ve seen so many things taken out of context I don’t really believe the “critics”. I pray. I read The Word ofGod, the ENTIRE thing And I stay away from things the Spirit leads me away from. I’ve in no way listened to every HR but I’ve not heard any deny the atonement of Jesus. Nor that He partially fulfilled the law. I have to say this article is excessively judgmental and has only been researched in part.
Actually, the HRM has been well researched. It is antithetical to the Gospel of Christ. Any HRM preacher, teacher, or adherent that claims he or she does not reject the atonement is not telling the truth. The very doctrine they believe is aggressively against the Holy Spirit, which is the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Those who are in Christ have been set free from the Mosaic Law of sin and death. You cannot cut-n-paste the Scriptures to produce your own tailor-made soteriology.
HRM doctrine is an extremely deceptive and deadly heresy that few people have escaped from. It is no small sin to deny the work of Christ in fulfilling the Mosaic Law and seek to reimpose it on God’s people. It is no different from any other heresy that sends souls to eternal hell. How tragic that people would come under this deception this close to the end.
Until Messiah died and resurrected again, paying our ransom, all were still under the law. He appeared to everyone where they were…inthe synagogues, at their festivals ….they still practicing the “shadows” because fulfillment not yet happened, even tho Jesus was physically present, he had not yet died. The earth and all inhabitants still under curse. At Jesus’s last Passover with followers He said, this is my New Covenant…this is my body broken for you, this is my blood shed for remission of sins…Do this to remember me. This is the festival I keeep…communion with the saints on a regular basis , rather than Old Covenant festivals, mosaic laws, special days. Holy Spirit indwelling me…and prices my conscience when I go against divine nature of God..Father Abraham was gentile, and was saved the same way we are, by faith.. He lived over 400 years prior to Mosaic law.
How can the HRM not read, heard, and do Acts 15:19-20,28-29;?
How can they read Acts 15:19-20 and not do… ? Well how can you read Acts 15:19-20 and ignore that 21 goes on to say that “for every sabbath in the synagogue Moses is read” – meaning, “don’t press them cuz every Sabbath they’ll hear Torah read in the Synagogue”?!
Those four things were the MINIMUMS to obey to allow them to BE THERE to be able to hear it be read. You have to IGNORE the next verse to argue “nothing else applies”- cuz they clearly say WHY to do those things, and there’s a clear expectation that the ppl coming in would hear the Torah (Moses) read every Sabbath…
Really, a minimum? Acts 15:28~29. That is by far not the context.
“For it was thought good to the spirit, the holy spirit, and to us, to be putting-on you* not-one more heavy-weight except these things on-obligation: To be keeping yourselves distant of things sacrificed-to-an-idol, and of blood, and of choked animals, and of sexual-immorality —of which by keeping yourselves free-of you* will act well. Farewell.”
The instruction is also repeated in Acts 21:25. And if you look at the reason why they choose only those things. Blood related things were part of the Noahic covenant, which God made with every living creature. And the sexual-immorality laws in Leviticus are the ONLY part of the law of Moses in which God states that he destroyed “the nations that were before you.” Therefore, only the universal laws which also happened to be in the law of Moses were put upon them. (Though some state — does that me they can murder then? No. Jesus spoke about those things. I do not murder because it says so in the law of Moses, but because Jesus taught us that, and even more than that. But Jesus did not touch on those four topics that we know of.)
Funny, I looked at that article, and it looks like justification by works to me.
If ppl are NOT careful, it CAN turn into that- and THAT IS ALWAYS WRONG.
It was never “justification by works” before Christ- and it’s NOT after Him. Obeying God and choosing NOT to live in sin is NOT earning salvation. James says that that is living by faith… Faith without works (meaning not living it out) is dead. Can’t separate obedience from faith- if you do, it’s empty words.
Sadly, after being married to one involved in the HRM for 7 years, I found this article to be spot on. There is no room for the love of Christ, only works, arrogance, hate and pride. There is a great deal of scripture twisting, reading from the Talmud over the Word of God, and sitting at the teachings of Rabbis. I cannot emphasize it enough…there is no room for the love of Christ and no Holy Spirit fruit! It’s a dreadful journey that destroys families! Mine being one of them as my husband determined it was acceptable to divorce me because I was not Torah observant and therefore not under his spiritual headship! Truly a divisive religion!
I am sorry to hear of your tragedy of your husband divorcing you over that, which is in absolute violation of what Jesus taught (unless of course you were sexually-immoral, of which I did not detect from your response). People should keep in mind that the authors of the Talmud, Midrash, etc. are NOT Christians. Most of them are Anti-Christian. And the entire spirit behind the teachingsin the Talmud, etc. are in stark contrast to anything found in the OT, NT, and even the apocrypha. What they say are confusiong, contradicting, and many times absolutely ridiculous. The Talmud, etc, seriously have the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah upon it that they refuse to hear and cannot see.
Christina I am so sorry. Your story shows the fruit of this.
I am currently in the same situation as you were…There is absolutely no grace…I asked to read Romans this evening as our Bible reading and was told I was being a rebellious wife and uncovering myself by not submitting to my head (my husband) because I asked a second time to read Romans after he replied, “You can’t understand Romans unless you understand the OT first…” He walks the house and curses me throughout with condemnation that I don’t believe the “truth” because I am firm on not following him into this cult.…he also believes that Flat Earth is a foundation of salvation…if you don’t believe in FE cosmolog, you don’t believe truth and therefore cannot understand truth, hence are not saved even if you believe Jesus Is The Christ…His leader is Adam Fink out of Nixa, MO (YouTube Parable of the Vineyard) …this movement has destroyed our entire extended family (all Believers) and will ultimately take out our marriage if repentance doesn’t come…I’m so very sad…I have asked for counseling, but he will only counsel with those in his fellowship…
This is a good example of how a seemingly minor misreading of scripture leads to massive errors down the road. Christ died for our sins, but God surely cannot be smiling as 2 billion Christians defile the Sabbath and go to church on the day of the imaginary pagan sun god, celebrate the birth of the savior on the pagan solstice festival period (even though not a single birthday was celebrated anywhere in The Bible), and ignore Passover while hunting easter eggs a few weeks earlier or later, depending on how they feel.
It’s a good thing Jesus died for all of our sins, because some of us sin on a weekly basis, on purpose. Repeatedly. Our whole life. That truly is Grace.
But as for me, I think I’ll skip the bacon, and still know I lust for it in my heart, and so have sinned anyway, but by the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, I am forgiven.
The above is what is being called “heresy”. I guess I would be excommunicated, if I allowed power-hungry men to stand between God and myself. Fortunately, scripture teaches me to not permit such circumstances.
Rejoice! We’re forgiven!
Pro-Tip for the churches – Correct the errors of your forefathers, or else your congregations will whither away to nothingness, just as we are witnessing today. This is not necessary, and it is as simple as admitting that a mistake was made, and then moving on. I know, I know, confessing sin can be really hard to do sometimes.
I am sad to see you so misrepresent a movement as broad as the HRM, yet claim in your diatribe about the NAM that the movement (lightworkers) has no locus with which to contend. I am a born again Messianic Jew and the HRM led me to this state. Your statement that “they deny the atonement of Christ by denying that He fulfilled the Mosaic Law,” is new information to me. No one I am aware of in the HRM has said this, at least not my rabbi nor anyone in the group. Furthermore,to say we (or I) “deny the work of the Holy Spirit by rejecting the “Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (The indwelling of the Holy Spirit) that sets us free from the law of sin and death (the Mosaic Law) (Romans 8: 1-4)” is ludicrous. I have NEVER HEARD these things. Additionally, I do not see how you distort the clear meaning of Col. 2:14, for we know that Messiah’s blood, death, and resurrection are true, and that the law which condemned us has no power to condemn when we are free (Gal 5:1). I am baffled by your assertions.
Shalom
Dr. Ramon Argila de Torres y Sandoval
I have not misrepresented anything. The fact that you are not aware of the HRM’s major claims does not serve as a refutation of my points. There is plenty of documented information in Vicky Dillen’s book, To Embrace Hebrew Roots, concerning the HRM with foot notes. The link is on our front page. Perhaps you should better acquaint yourself with the heretical movement that you have chosen to associate with.
Why don’t you do some truly “independent” research yourself instead of relying on what someone else has said? Many of us like to quote our pastors, teachers and church leaders (and favourite authors), without making any effort to investigate the truth for ourselves. We don’t make the effort because we are too lazy to test the truth. That’s a dangerous approach to follow. This website is called “truth-keepers”, which is really a joke. It should be called “tradition-keepers”, because, like many people, we are more interested in the status quo than in “truth”. Very disappointing and biased article lacking any independent thought.
I replied to this errant charge in another response.
We believe that man’s additional ordinances (not walking on grass on sabbath) man’s not God’s were nailed to the cross. Man cannot do it. But God’s word remains. The commandments, “Laws” have been since the beginning of time. If there is no sin, then there was no need for Jesus to die. Why? Because his atonement for our sin first of all tells us there is such a thing as sin. What is sin? Lawlessness=breaking the law. God’s perfect law, which, by the way, will be followed into eternity and beyond. We do not say Jesus did “half a job” as you suggest. Jesus job was complete. He was the sacrificial lamb.
Thank you for your well stated reply. Shalom in Yeshua, Barbra
Thank you for your well stated reply. Shalom in Yeshua, Barbra
A friend of mine has recently begun frequenting a Messianic Jews fellowship. I am concerned about some of her statements: “the minute I walk into the building, I start to laugh” (she is still immersed in the Pentecostalism I once was immersed in); and so-and-so “saw Jesus’ hand” on a person who was being prayed for.
1. She revels in the freedom to sing and dance before The Lord.
2. She claims the word is spoken boldly. (Both points seem fine).
But now she is adding some types of works via Jewish customs.
I also find it interesting that various factions of the Hebrew Roots Movement insist on sprinkling Hebrew and Aramaic terms throughout their language and texts, as if Hebrew and Aramaic were God’s holy languages, thus making the user holier through their use (reminds me of muslims requiring the use of Arabic to fully carry out their religion, or the old school Catholics requiring Latin). I have looked through Rood’s version of the Bible – his ‘corrected king james version’ and find it to be a strange amalgamation of English, Hebrew (using the Hebrew alphabet), romanized Hebrew place names, romanized Hebrew personal names, and various romanized Hebrew words (words which apparently meet the threshold for being unworthy to say/write in English). They refuse to say ‘Jesus’, and opt for/insist on ‘Yeshua’ or variations thereof. Such things are a nonsense. I am not a theologian, however I do know that the Messiah did not go to the cross as a means to call us to be Jews, to call on us to use the Jewish language, or grow beards like the Jews of old, or wear historical Jewish clothes, or dance Jewish jigs during worship, and etc. Requiring an outward ‘Jewish’ appearance, and use of Hebrew terminology are so far down the scale of importance when it comes down to the exercise of our holy faith. Did Paul, when proselytizing to the pagans, come to them as a Rabbi, requiring them to become Jews and speak the Jewish language in order to save their souls? Indeed not, and he castigated those who tried to require the gentiles to do so. In order to reach the lost, we have to become all things to all people, just as Paul did. One culture or language is not better than another in the eyes of God – of this I am convinced. God meets man where he is, just as Jesus met the Samaritans where they were, and just as Paul preached the Gospel to the Greeks where they were. The gospel has seen widespread acceptance where it was preached in the language of the people, while respecting who they were as people (Korea and Papua are modern-day examples). Insistence on such outward appearances, as seen in many factions of the Hebrew Roots Movement, are in my opinion very non-productive and counter to the simplicity of the Gospel.
To the author of this article….you are so lost! How do you define sin? If the law is only for sinners are you saying that we are not sinners? The scales of deception have your eyes covered. People like you should be banned from the internet. You are a true wolf in Sheeps clothing.
Normally I do not respond to people who appear unable to understand the words of the Apostle Paul. However, for the sake of people who might be snared by the HRM, I feel it helpful to respond. Please know that Paul was not lost. God chose him to write nearly 2/3rds of the New Testament. Believing what Paul wrote does not make one lost or a wolf in sheep’s clothing. However, you may get your wish when not only me but all true Christians are banned from the Internet. Until then, I will keep presenting the truth.
”Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” (1Timothy 1:9-11)
The fundamental truth of the Gospel is that Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law. He became the perfect sacrifice and paid the sin debt for humanity forever. As a result, God has established a new covenant with His people.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. (Hebrews 8:10-11)
We have been delivered from the law of sin and death (Mosaic Law) by the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, which is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2). The Holy Spirit which dwells within every true Christian (as opposed to the ML that dwelled without) and is a much higher and stronger Law. Christ taught on the difference between the Mosaic Law and the Law of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 5.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
The ML found someone guilty to adultery because they committed the act physically. The Holy Spirit convicts (a verdict of guilty) the individual who looks at a woman to lust for her. Under the ML, the one looking with lust would not be guilty. An individual living under the Mosaic Law can commit many deeds that I, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, cannot and will not commit. The fact is, if given the choice, carnal flesh would rather accept the Mosaic Law and deny the Law of the Holy Spirit. However, the carnal mind is an enemy against God and cannot submit to the Law of God (Romans 8:7). 6th verse: “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
I hope that helps you with your struggle to understand the Gospel.
That’s a perfect well said statement! Thank you brother in Christ, May the Lord continue to guide you through this challenging false doctrine.
Thank you so much for this website this HRM is dangerous period, calling Paul a false apostle , saying yeshua instead of Jesus this doctrine of demons and that’s what this is , is bringing people new to Faith and leading them down dark paths the amount of comments on here trying to cast you in a bad light is evidence in itself of how wide spread this demonic doctrine has gotten, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the very thing that causes the great falling away it has taken once faithful Christians back into slavery it’s a very deceptive doctrine it’s almost impossible to change someone’s mind once they’ve went down this path, I don’t even know where to begin with this movement it has inspired me to start my own website to expose this group , I’m very glad to see and to have found this site Thank You sincerely!!
What’s wrong with saying Yeshua?
Nothing is wrong with it. But it doesn’t mean those of us who call our Lord , “Jesus” , are wrong . However , HRM would disagree. They are very legalistic.
Those in our home were not allowed to say Jesus, only Yeshua, for eight months because my husband’s fellowship introduced to him that they “believed” the name Jesus means, son of Zeus…which a simple short study showed this is a false claim…they (the fellowship) even infight on how it’s actually pronounced …that’s what’s wrong with it. It’s a beautiful way to say it, but to make it a salvation issue, as it was in our home, there’s an issue…
My husband and I are long-standing Christians with a spiritual legacy for hundreds of years on both sides with pastors, teachers, and missionaries. We actually began the Hebrew Roots Movement many years ago in the 60s. We would be the first to criticize some of its over-emphasis. However, to say it is a cult is SHEER NONSENSE and degrading. Some of your claims as to what we believe or practise are totally off the wall! We are solidly born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit and operate in all the gifts. All we have embraced is the Biblical Sabbath and the Biblical Feasts and we don’t eat pork or shellfish. Aside from that we are completely normal. We have done this as a personal choice and do not insist that others to do likewise. We use “Jesus” when we are talking to folks who do not understand that term, and we use “Yeshua” with folks who do. The practice of the HRM has been one of the biggest sure-fire ways of reaching out to the Jewish people. Maybe some DO and SAY things inappropriately but that doesn’t for one minute say it’s all kibash! The Charismatic movement itself has a LOT of error, but that doesn’t mean that its basics are not in tact.; Likewise the HRM. Time for you to meet folks like us and pull in your horns!
Apparently, you do not know the difference between Hebrew Roots and the Hebrew Roots Movement. The Hebrew Roots Movement is a dangerous cult. It’s founders are well-documented. Neither you or your husbands name has ever been mentioned in the vast research I have read, several debates with HRM proponents, or in any of the expose’ articles by accredited site, such as CARM, who expose cults.
Therefore, with due respect, you simply do not know what you are talking about. Most likely your effort to educate people about Jewish roots of Christianity never crossed paths with the HRM. I am very supportive of exploring Christianity’s Jewish Roots, but adamantly opposed to the Hebrew Roots Movement. It is not as you insist, a few fringe people taking matter to an excess. It is a vast and powerful movement that is deadly in its heresy. I personally know people who were snared and rejected Christianity.
You can access the book, To Embrace Hebrew Roots, by Vicky Dillan by clicking the link at the end of my article, or you can go directly to her site. Vicky’s book is thoroughly footnoted. It is the most extensive work exposing the HRM on the Intenet. There is also a discussion forum where you can post what you believe is expert knowledge for other experts on the HRM to answer. http://www.seekgod.ca/embraceintro.htm
You should have made the distinction between Jewish Roots and the HRM in your article – you cannot now try and get out of the confusion you have created. By failing to do so you have effectively treated them the same. In my opinion, I think the distinction is poor anyway. There are many things that are shared between JR and HRM. So how do you distinguish between the two? As a “truth-keeper” you should study the scriptures from these perspectives and then clearly inform your audience why they are wrong. You merely glaze over issues without giving them the depth of consideration they deserve. This is how confusion spreads. Please review your article and address these issues more clearly. You need not publish this post as it meant for you personally.
Please be advised that I have extensively studied HRM and extensively debated HRM apologists. Further, if you will click on the link at the end of my article, you will find a book that is the most complete expose’ of the Hebrew Roots Movement available. Please correct your comments accordingly.
I should also point out here to unravel the confusion being presented by HRM apologists that the Jewish roots of Christianity is not a Movement. The Hebrew Roots is a diabolical Movement that denies the atonement of Christ and significant portions of the New Testament that cannot be reconciled with the deception. There is no confusion presented here but that which flows from the HRM heresy.
One thing for sure, these verses say much about what awaits founders and supporters/believers of Hebrews Roots Movement:
Matthew 7:15-23
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will [k]know them by their fruits. [l]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [m]know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
People I love are involved in HRM so I have researched it for around 4 yrs. I have have used context of scripture and compared scripture with scripture. One day the word “insidious “came to me in connection with HRM. The definition in Webster’s is “an ambush.1. Characterized by treachery or slyness; crafty. 2. More dangerous than seems evident “. I don’t know if this fits all the teachers or any of them, but I do know it fits the enemy of our souls. I hope and pray that those who really want to walk with Jesus in grace and truth(John 1 ) will reread what has been said in this article and look up all the scriptures in your Bible. Truth is in the Word of God but the enemy comes to distort it. David Stern has actually changed the meaning of Scriptures (especially Galatians) in his Jewish New Testament.
Actually, I think that Stern has attempted to put the jewish-ness back into the scriptures. It is our job to test how good a job he has done. I think your comments are based on superstitition and your particular doctrinal-bias rather than a thorough independent study of God’s Word. I guess as long as the Devil can keep us throwing stones at each other, the Gospel will not go out.
Bingo
What was the Doctrine of the Nicolasians warned of in the New Testament? From what I’ve been able to research it sounds a lot like the doctrine of the groups attacking Messianic Judaism, Adventists, and Hebraic Roots. Why is it that these groups have drawn more fire from Western Christians and the Orthodox Jewish community than any other religious group out there, except maybe Islam.
Hebrew Roots is not proposing that the Law is a means of Salvation. It was the Law that makes us aware of our sin and our need for a redeemer.
Absolutely, salvation was a free gift and purchased by Yeshua ( Jesus ) at Calvary. The Law is still in full effect though! Paul uses the word Law in reference to those Bewitching the Galatians. He uses it in reference to the Wage of Sin and Death nailed to the Cross. He equates the Law as Spiritual in contrast to our flesh nature, and he affirms that the Law is Good and Righteous and Holy. When Paul is taken out of context, he appears to contradict the Messiah as in Matthew 5: 17, and John 14.
The Law is contrary to a world in disobedience. It is only by the Ruach HaKodesh that we can realize this, and only by submission to Him that we can be conformed to His image. It is not a product of our own effort, or attainable by our own power–it is all Him.
As others have pointed out this movement has gained momentum with little organization and no central leadership–or so it would seem! It is the work of the Ruach HaKodesh in these last days, and by His Spirit it will continue to grow.
Much as Yeshua was a challenge to the religious authority of His day, the Churches feel threatened by that which they cannot control today–hence these sites. In looking for Hebraic Roots sites I found more opposition than support.
Please consider your position prayerfully and from scripture, and not out of a knee jerk reaction in defense of doctrine and tradition.
Sincerely, Shalom!
Since the Hebrew Roots doctrine is another gospel, and against the true Gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there is no doubt as to its danger to unknowledgeable professing Christians and even non-Christians. Of course, there is no “knee-jerk” reaction here. God’s word is replete with denunciations of that heresy. In fact, it is one of the more easily refuted heresies. However, in this period of the great and final deception, delusion, and apostasy, not many are being delivered that reject love for the truth. Tragically, I do not know of even one. Succumbing to the Hebrew Roots heresy has the same effect as succumbing to Contemplative Spirituality. The individual sees everything spiritual in reverse. Sadly, they cannot accept truth because it is deemed as false. Considering the complete denunciation of the heresy by God’s word, to continue to believe in Hebrew Roots is indicative of delusion.
You are still not making a distinction between HRM and Hebrew Roots – Why?
Please be respectfully advised that I do not have the time to respond to every query, especially when the explanation one is seeking is in the article. HRM is (H)ebrew (R)oots (M)ovement or (H)braic (R)oots (M)ovement, whichever term you wish to use. The Jewish roots of Christianity is not a Movement. Further, the Jewish roots of Christianity is not a green light to deny the Gospel as HRM adherants deceptively insist.
In February of this year I walked away from the HRM after 7 years, so I am one, praise be to GOD.
Could you expand on why you walked away? My husband is involved in the HRM. Thank you!
Yeshua in John 14: 21 says “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me…”
He further states in v. 24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words…”
Paul, who is so often taken out of context, states in Romans 3: 31 “Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.”
The only ones I see trying to establish the Law are the Hebrew Roots, Adventists, and Messianic Jews. This is not in opposition to the Gospel of Yeshua, but is according to His Word!
The Law never brought about salvation, but it clearly shows us our need for a redeemer, and as Paul states ” the Law is Holy, and the commandment is Holy and righteous and good.”
Salvation is a free gift, and the Law which is Spiritual points us in the direction Yehova originally intended for our lives.
My question for you is what do you think Gods standard for us all will be when His Son returns again?
Shalom!
As all heresies, Hebrew Roots Movement is established on picking verses, even sentences, and in some instances a couple of words, out of context to defeat the Gospel of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a cult. Individuals involved in it are in full deception. There is no way to reason with them because reason has been sacrificed for pragmatism. The majority of their efforts attempting to prove the unprovable. Their only defense is to hurl ad hominem at the ones who exposes them. Any full reading of the Apostle Paul’s letters clearly destroys this deceptive return to bondage under the Mosaic Law without hope for a Savior. Thank God the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death (Mosaic Law, someone sins, something dies)!
CH Fisher, your article follows the exact same pattern that you condemn above – you pick and choose the scriptures and the interpretation that suits you. You avoid answering the man’s question above. You even mis-interpret the meaning of the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death was simply that if you sinned, you would die. To equate the law of sin and death to the entire Mosaic law is biased eisegesis (imposing your meaning to the text). Very sad.
The volume and very essence of the New Testament rejects the Hebrew/Hebraic Roots Movement. You agree with my point concerning the Mosaic Law (law of sin and death) that the Apostle Paul wished to be delivered from. Your words, “The law of sin and death was simply that if you sinned, you would die.” Exactly, and that is what we have been delivered from. If the individual did not wish to die, then an animal had to die in his place. Christ the Spotless Lamb died in our place, became the High Priest forever, and thus fulfilled the Mosaic Law which was a shadow and a tutor to lead us to Christ.
Only full surrender to Christ and receiving His atonement can deliver one from the Mosaic Law. Otherwise, every lost person remains under its force (1 Timothy 1:8-11), which is the only lawful use of the ML. However, the HRM denies the atonement of Christ. As such, it is an extremely dangerous heresy. It is the same heresy that Paul dealt with in Galatians, Colossians, and other scriptures. In order to believe HRM, one must submit to the spirit of deception that is leading the human flood into the great and final apostasy.
HRM is a heretical intrusion in Christianity. To discard and abandon Christianity to accept it is to willfully reject love for truth, accept deception, and subsequent delusion. If you are one who has reached the point of delusion, not one sentence of truth will resonate in your mind. You will spend your time arguing with people who present truth because without confirmation of the Holy Spirit you have an insatiable need for validation. The Holy Spirit will never confirm the return to what God fulfills. Further, anyone who returns to it must return to all of it, including the killing of animals for his or her sin. Their sin will never be atoned for by animals. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)
If you do not wish to die in your sin, you must accept the atonement of Christ and repent. If you continue accepting the Mosaic Law, you are accepting is penalties without any atonement. It is an utter rejection of Christ and His atonement. If you claim you have accepted the atonement of Christ and continue to accept the Mosaic Law, you are considered anathema.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. – Galatians 3:10-14
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. – Galatians 5:18
Just curious — does anyone know of an actual group that actually keeps the law? I mean, all of these Hebrew groups only seem to incorperate the scriptures that are for their own personal easy feel-good benefit. Have you ever attended a stoning of an adulterous woman, or the death of someone who cursed his father or his mother, or the public killing of a homosexual, or the enforcement of the eye for an eye command, etc? If they want to keep the law they have to do this. They are not even allowed to make a fire on a Saturday, nor to do anything that causes anyone to work. There are so many countless things that they pick and choose not to do, because they fear the consequences of man over God. And thefore, they really are cursed. I hope that God can do go to deliever them into the freedom of Jesus, because it really is wonderful to put my focus on God and his redeeming sacrifice and the words and hope of Jesus. (I did notice, that in most of these circles, Jesus definitely takes a backseat and Moses takes up the first ten front rows entirely.)
Dear Cedric: At 70 years of age ( 4 years ago) I & my wife left the PAOC. As a retire, I was assisting “Distance Education” at Central Pentecostal College in Saskatoon, SK. as a volunteer.
When I found ot what they were teaching, I knew it was time to leave. Our pastor was also teaching part-time at the college and what was this deluded man teaching? “Spiritual Formations” When I saw what format he was using and required reading was Richard Foster’s “Celebration of Disciplines” that was enough! He has gone on to become the Saskatchewan District Suprintendant for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and the College has changed it’s name to “Horizon College and Seminary and President Jeromy Martini is heavily involved with “Evangelicals and Catholics Together”. It gets worse, at Camp this past summer, Jeromy was one of the speakers and another speaker was Ted Yukes. Class of ’70. Ted and his brother are involved in the N.A.R. aligned with Dr.C. Peter Wagner.
Some of my class mates from the ‘Class of ’62 at Bethel Bible Institute,(which became Central Pentecostal College and Seminary) were really impressed with Ted Yuke’s preaching at Camp. Such a discerning group.
The apostasy in our former denomination is incredible.
I want to thank you for for attempts to prevent Ruth Haley Barton from speaking to the A.O.G women pastors at last year’s conference and was wondering what if any outcome occurred of having her speak?
One last thing, I don’t want to be known as a Nabob of Negativism but this year, the International Pentecostal Meeting in Jerusalem featured (almost) a Who’s Who of Pentecostal Heresy, including Cindy Jacobs who prayed that Canada would forgive the U.S.A. for invading Canada in 1812! What a flake! She offered this ‘insight’ at some other conference.
Fortunately My wife & I have found refuge in a Bible-preaching, Bible Believing Baptist church and our Pastor is not a seeker-friendly, purpose driven Evangelical & Catholic Together variety of pastor but uses the Word of God and we are thankful for him!
I appreciate you bother Cederic! Gerard Klassen
Sadly, it appears that the apostasy is spreading rapidly, unchecked by leadership. In fact, many leading Christians are accepting heresies as if they have been longing for and expecting them. It is very bizarre and disturbing.
To answer your question about Ruth Haley Barton, the answer is that a number of ordained ministers in the AoG protested, but that’s all they did. She still spoke and there were no repercussions for George Wood. Many of those ministers are very upset at the deterioration of their denomination, but few are willing to do anything that might get them excommunicated. I do not know how they can remain. It is obvious that the denomination is too far gone to revive it. All I can do is pray for them and keep presenting the truth. Eventually, the apostasy will ravage the denomination so completely that they will be forced to leave or compromise. We are living in a very dark period and it is going to get worse.
C.
WOW , I don’t mean to double dip on my comments here , thank you again for this site exposing this group this is out of control on the net HBR is wrong, wrong ,wrong, sly and deceptive in just their comments alone, this needs to be exposed HRM what’s crazy unlike the obvious cults is how well formed the deception is . The people who are in this are in to deep to even remotely help, they appear to have all the answers, it’s the ones that are new to faith that I feel I can help steer them as far away from this cult as possible. The ones who are in this have lent themselves over to a depraved mind and there is almost nothing you can say to help them, so I just simply hand them over to it , they allowed themselves to be fooled, they sowed it let them reap it then . The apostles had no problem handing them over to Satan neither do I . Thank you again for what your doing, this is an uphill battle and I commend you for it!!
Thank you for your solid Biblical rebuttal of the HRM. We have several family members who have been seduced by this false teaching. Interestingly, they pick an choose which parts of Jewish Rituals and Levitical Laws to practice. What is consistent is a denigration of those who do not join in their heresy. Though subtle, there is an air of superiority that is inseparable from any legalistic religious doctrine.
I ask then, how do I respond to my very Gentile family that is practicing and promoting such a dangerous deception? Even my mother-in-law has started making two meals for family gatherings, i.e. dishes that traditionally include pork and a counterpart that uses fake bacon for seasoning. If they were Jews who were continuing in their traditions and customs I could understand, but they are not. My sister-in-law was a lover of all things bacon until her brother started teaching this heresy!
Any suggestions on how to handle such a deceptive doctrine in a family setting?
Yes! Study the word of God to prove them wrong. Start at the beginning, Genesis, work your way all the way to Revealations. By the time you have finished studying it for yourself, you will realize that your family is actually right. Go home and read your bible. 🙂
Weird, when I read my bible I see the name Jesus. I don’t see anything relating to Hebrew Roots. So, I’m guessing when he reads his bible, it will strengthen him in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I agree 100 percent. the Hebrew Roots Movement, a long with the Sacred Name Movement is an occult and heretic. the book of Acts alone should be enough to put this movement to a stand-still. Back in those days a bunch of Pharisees were teaching that early Christians could only be saved by observing the Law of Moses. but going to Acts 15 you can see where a lot of them got into it and said that Gentiles converting to Christianity need not obey the Mosaic Law, but to abstain from certain things and that was it. They didn’t want to burden them with it. the Law doesnt save, Jesus saves. the Law was fulfilled through Christ and we also fulfill the Law through Love. the Law was based on Love. If you Love GOD and your neighbor, you keep the entire Law and we can only do that through the SPIRIT. this is why Paul said those of the SPIRIT are not under the Law. the SPIRIT allows us to keep GOD’s commandments. the Law was a system of do’s and dont’s. and people were guided by it to try and please GOD and it was impossible. that’s why Christ came. the LAW pointed to HIM. the Mosaic Covenant according to the Prophet jeremiah was broken and GOD initiated a new covenant through the death of Christ with better promises. the HRM also teaches that the word Torah means law and youll see some of them replace the word Law with Torah which is false. Torah means to teach or to instruct and does not mean law. I had one say that when paul said the word gospel he meant the Law and the Prophets. The gospel is the good news of salvation. the Law was burdensome to men and people who didnt full obey it were cursed. Far from being good news. I don’t care how much hebrew or greek a person knows, GOD doesn’t require us to know any of it. And we certaintly don’t need to be able to pronounce HIS name in hebrew or Greek, nor do we need to pronounce Christ’s name in hebrew or greek to be saved. People who support this movement will tell you that the word LORD, or Jesus is pagan, or that the word Lord means baal, etc. As if the Canaanite Language was the only language. I tell them that the reason why we say Jesus is because that’s the transliterated english version of his Greek Name. and I tell them that Lord means master and owner. Jesus is Lord of lords. Isiah the prophet saw the Lord sitting on a throne. He saw Jesus sitting on the throne, and he said Lord, not YHWH. He saw the Lord, aka the Master sitting on a throne, not baal. These Hebrew Roots Movement and their false teachings will drive a person crazy if they are not aware. I’ve been saved for a little over 18 years now and I don’t dare let them pull the wool over my eyes. They have tried and failed.
Horrible movement the HRM, it took Jesus rebuking me from Heaven to set me free again.
Hrm twist all verses used against them. Pointless to argue because they see it as confirmation they are right. Leaders say to expect persecution.
I remember when I first encountered these teachings and was considering whether to follow them. I was laying on my bed reading scripture and asking God for direction as to whether He really wanted believers to follow these traditions or not. I barely had gotten the words out of my mouth when I saw a huge flash of lightning right outside my window. I dove off the bed it scared me so bad. I think it was the power lines arcing together, but it definitely got my attention. Maybe a coincidence but I took it as a NO.
Maybe it was yes……….
It saddens me to see the strife and in some cases downright bitterness occurring in some of these posts. There are some scripture passages that are hard to understand, especially in the context of the whole counsel of scripture, and different people wrestle in different ways. Paul does indeed SEEM to be teaching that the Mosaic law has been rendered obsolete, and yet in the book of Acts he was accused of the exact same thing, and defended himself, with James backing him up, stating that that was NOT what he was teaching. What to make of that? Furthermore, in Matthew 5, Jesus told his followers NOT to think that he came to render it obsolete, because in the following couple of sentences, he states that until heaven and earth pass away, not a single pen stroke, or “jot” or “tittle,” will pass from the law until all is fulfilled, and then telling his followers that whoever does the commandments and teaches them, clearly referring to the Mosaic instructions, are the greatest in the kingdom. Heaven and earth clearly have not passed away yet. According to Revelation, they won’t pass away until after the millennial kingdom, a full thousand years after Jesus’ return. Again, difficult words to absorb. What are we to make of this? People really struggle with this stuff. And why shouldn’t they struggle? It’s confusing. God told Moses that the statutes for the Levitical priesthood were ordinances “forever, throughout your generations.” How are we to understand that? Did God not mean what he said? If he didn’t mean that, then why say it? Again, very confusing trying to reconcile that with what the letter to the Hebrews seems to be saying. If people are getting back into “Torah” with an attitude of legalism and arrogance, then they need our prayers. Otherwise, if they’re simply doing it as an act of worship and out of love for Jesus, provided they take his advice to separate God’s commandments from man’s commandments (which in HRM is typically Rabbinical traditions) and do it with right motives and attitudes, then what could possibly be wrong with that, given that Jesus himself clearly seems to endorse that very thing?
Hebriac Roots heresy is only struggle when one is unknowledgeable either by lack of study or unwillingness to accept truth. Further, coming to the Scriptures with preconceived notions causes a serious learning disability. Take for example your reference to Christ declaring that nothing would pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. Your claim that because heaven and earth has not passed away the Law has not been fulfilled is a misunderstanding of what Christ clearly spoke. Your misunderstanding effectively cut off the phrase “till all is fulfilled.” Heaven and earth will pass away when the prophets have been fulfilled. (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 6:14)
Also consider that you failed to quote the scripture in context, which poses a problem.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” – Matthew 5:17-18
Notice that he does not reference the Prophets in verse 18, but only the Law. The context of the Apostle Paul’s teaching, and the only reason he could go to the Gentiles with the Gospel, is the fact that the Law has been fulfilled by Christ. The good news is that the Law was fulfilled, that we have salvation through the blood of Christ the perfect Lamb rather than a sacrificial lamb. If the Law has not been fulfilled, then Christ died in vain.
“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” – Galatians 2:21
I might add that the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ, who dwells in every true Christian, is much more superior to the Law of Moses. It was He who delivered the Law to Moses. It is clear that the original is better than the copy. Further, it is clear that the Law failed to provoke Israel to live godly. However, anyone truly filled with the Holy Spirit is much more prone to living godly.
Goofy question for HRM adherents: if Hebrew is the “language of God,” why did the apostles, Luke, and other NT writers use Greek?
This is a really funny post J Dean. Actually, my bible is in English. I could say that the apostles were all British.
… J. Dean.. The New Testament was in Koine Greek and Aramic. The Gospel of Matthew is under debate about if it was written in Aramic or Ancient Hebrew.
I have several friends that are involved in the Hebrew Roots Movement. They deny the deity of Christ, the Trinity and the authority of the scriptures. (except the Torah) They reject the first church council as being inferior to the law. They reject the concept of Communion in favor of the Passover. They believe the church is all wrong and that there is no desire for holy living within the church if we are not teaching and keeping all the law. They do not recognize the difference between the ceremonial and sacrificial law and the moral law of God. The funny thing is, they seem to find reasons not to keep the whole law in certain places. No one kill and lamb and puts the blood on their doorpost at Passover. They deny that Jesus is the fulfillment or the picture of the Passover and that Jesus is our Passover lamb. It is also interesting that they do not sacrifice animals even though that is part of the law. They justify that by saying that they cannot do so because there is no temple. If God wanted us to be sacrificing animals, would he have left the temple non-existent for 2000 years? There are many inconsistencies including the total rejection of the first church Covenant in Acts 15. At least the people that I know seem to still trust in the death of Christ for their salvation.
Your assessment is incorrect. Not sure how you came to this deception. Maybe one or two bad apples but this is not the consensus of the majority
The hrm is the last stop on road of Covenant theology. The heresy is the same as always. If a person fails to recognize that the church is NOT spiritual Israel or physical Israel, but a new creation, he will fall for this deception eventually in some form. Paul’s epistles are the answer. Jesus was always talking to the lost sheep of Israel. Moses was speaking to Israel. Paul is speaking to YOU and me. Thats why hrm throws Paul out and claims he was false. Their carnal minds can’t understand Paul’s dispensation of grace so they must do away with it to make their theology work. Very sad.
There is a false ministry called ‘House of Light Ministry To The Nations’ that posts videos on YouTube claiming that ONLY the Jews are the set apart people of God, not the Christians. It seems more like a cult and his female followers seemed to be confused into thinking they need to wear head coverings.
In First Corinthians when Paul mentions a woman’s head being covered he was referring them having long hair instead of short hair. He even mentions that men should keep their hair short, not long. HOL’s leader acts as if Holy Spirit taught Christians are idiots who know nothing.
His entire premise seems to be ‘Christians have been taught wrong(even the ones who DO know how to rightfully divide the word of God)and I must explain the word of God to them.’ He seems to despise Christians and believes God favors the Jewish people over us. He definitely DOES NOT exercise PERFECT UNDERSTANDING of the scriptures.
Anyone who disagrees with his false doctrine is labeled as being prideful and having the spirit of Jezebel. He actually got offended because he was told that the Holy Spirit was a better teacher than he was and knows more.
This is the truth so what’s to be offended over? He clearly is a false teacher and out to get men and women to glorify HIM and his false teaching, not Jesus Christ. He even stated that certain parts of the new testament is speaking strictly to the Jews, not the Christians.
He reminds me of the Jewish people in the book of Acts who became jealous when Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles and they began contradicting him to discourage the Gentiles from being saved.
I thought he was true at first. But the more I listened to him the more The Holy Spirit made me realize that this man is an ethnocentric Jew who despises Christians and takes pleasure in deceiving the people of God.
If you watch some of his videos you can hear the animosity in his voice against Christians as he talks about how NONE of us KNOW the true gospel and we all need HIS instruction when he is walking in error about MANY things.
The Holy Spirit revealed to me that he is not simply a well meaning believer but an intentional ravening wolf in sheep’s clothing who holds a special hatred in his heart for Christians.Pray for him. I will to.
Hello,
I am curious about the rationale behind why a spouse of the HRM would divorce a spouse of the “mainstream” church. I now understand and this has something to do with: as long as that spouse rejects the Law of Moses and living under bondage to it, then the wife has no “covering”? I mean, the wife refuses to convert because she knows the truth “once delivered to the Saints,” etc.. and the true Gospel. I read another lady’s post that said the same thing as me… 7 years we have tolerated 2 different faiths in the family and after that time, it is apparent that there is only room in the marriage for HRM! I say this because the fact is, that my husband left me as well because I wouldn’t and couldn’t see the HRM as the truth. Only a deception like this can take a person who otherwise would be so obedient and “lawkeeping” that they would be considered by outsiders to be “holy”. But with this divorce action, we see the true colors come out!
First of all I want to say thank you for this article , Yrs ago I grew up in a Old Covenant Believing Church and everything you wrote about how they see things is true and what they believe . I also have read the New Testament and Know that Jesus made a New Covenant with his Body of Believers His Church .So easy to understand when you have been led by a old school master as a kid . I am thank full to God for what His son did for us . He ended our bondage to be under the Law and now His Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us in our daily walk following Jesus . Gal 5: ,18
Thank you so much for your article that brings light to the errors of the HRM. Please keep the good work!
I noticed HRM teachers don’t understand the difference between the 2 covenants, they mixed them together, & the law always overwrites Grace. Like cults they look for WORKS (Law keeping in their case) instead of the fruit of the Spirit.
HRM teaches the word ‘commandments’ in the New Testament always refers to the law or the 10 commandments. When Jesus said: “If you love Me, obey My commandments (G1785 =precepts)” John 14:15. He is saying this at the end of His ministry in the last supper, right before His arrest, after teaching them daily for 3 and a half years. He was not referring to Torah or Mosaic Law but His teachings for the new covenant, otherwise why He needed to teach them anything if they had already the Torah? Jesus was giving His last minutes instructions to His disciples and if we continue reading in context in verses 21-24 He tells them these commandments are the words He has spoken while being present with them! (Not the Mosaic Law). The Holy Spirit will help us to remember them. They had hundreds of year to memorize the Mosaic Law already.
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will KEEP MY WORD; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have SPOKEN to you while being PRESENT with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you”. John 14:21-24
True Christians are rooted in Jesus & His teachings, not Judaism or man made doctrines or interpretations. Colossians 2: 6 – 10
Blessings
Thank you for this article and the inspired words of what is true and what is false. The beliefs of some who choose to follow HRM has brought more confusion than clarity to my Christian walk. You’re correct that we are to be lead by the Holy Spirit when we are confronted with questions about HRM.
God is good. I enjoyed the article. I’ll agree there is some benefit to seeing the manners and customs of the Old Testament. Seeing the Jewish/Hebrew types and shadows and illustrations that find their fulfillment in the Finished Work of Christ and the Person of Christ. I must say we must always begin by understanding all these practices and rituals and ceremonies find their full fulfillment in Christ and His redemptive work. So the idea that modern Christianity is not accurate or is unbalanced because they aren’t “Jewish” enough is hogwash!
Acts 15 settled the issue, we are under Grace not Law. There is no spiritual benefit in observing the Sabbath or the dietary laws or celebrating the feast days. If you want to honor something, honor the New Covenant. Honor the Finished Work. Honor Jesus and all He did.
My husband also was ensnared by this cult. I tried to reason with him that Jesus fulfilled the law in its entirety, and our position is to trust in and believe Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross atoned for our sins. Actually, attempting to keep the law(impossible because we have a sin nature, the law was only meant to reveal what sin is) is spiritual adultery, as we are not depending on Jesus but on our own works. My husband was circumcised in his 50’s, grew a beard and shaved his head. He called me a “pagen and an idolater “for going to church on Sunday and rejecting these false doctrines. He married two more times after divorcing me. He died suddenly of cancer while married to his fourth wife. I hope he repented at the end as he rejected the Trinity and Christ verbally. I think these cult members need to be the center of attention and that is who they lift up, not Jesus.
Ok Gentleman i have read too much misunderstanding.
The HRM people that truly walk in the light of the Messiah know that the mosaic
Laws were done away with when Yeshua was Nailed in the cross .those were the laws that Paul said were against us. In the beginning God placed those laws on the side of the Ark of the Covenant. Those laws would go against men. Now we must understand that those same laws were given to Moses , that is why they are called mosaic laws. Yeshua for us to be saved by Grace took all those laws with him and became the sacrificial lamb. Now YHWH laws were put inside the Ark .those
Are the ten commandments. God never had changed them. ThoSe are still active today .they are perpetual. Everlasting. Those are the ones that HRM should follow. I. Fact we should all follow. Find in scripture where any of the commandments were abolished. You cant. In Fact the fourth commandment is God’s mark for his people in the end of days.
So you guys Are arguing about the Rabiinic laws the Yeshua took to the cross.
Shalom
Pastor Guill
Good discussion. Am studying this topic as well. One thing to remember is different gospels are being preached to different audiences. Paul’s was the gospel of grace to the uncircumcision… though he had jewish converts as well. Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God among men, and Peter, James and John a gospel to those of the circumcision. How do these gospels differ – if at all? One common denominator is the essential message of the word-made-flesh offering his life as blood atonement for the sin of mankind to make a way for us back to God… I am thankful to be Saved by grace through faith. The law of the spirit can be both freedom and restrictive in the sense that through relationship and obedience we may be asked to sacrifice some freedoms in certain circumstances, usually for the benefit of another…
So much division and heresy at work today. Scripture tells us there will be a proliferation of false teaching in the end times and destructive heresies. (2 Peter 2;2 Timothy 4:3-4; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Peter 3:14-18) We must stay strong in the face of delusional teachers who twist Scripture to suit their own needs and place themselves on the throne. The New Testament is filled with the love and peace that comes only from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (The New Testament). The Old Testament foreshadows and prefigures the Savior of the World. Giving Mosaic Law precedence over the Good News is simply delusional.
How does GRACE fit into all this dialog?
The Apostle Paul (Saul) was one of the most brilliant educated Jewish follower and teacher of the law, however was blinded by his passion for the complete following of the law. By his own admission, a Hebrew of Hebrew’s and flawless as a keeper of the law. A persecuter of the early church and one who destroyed homes and those of ‘The Way’. However, GOD Almighty (Jesus Himself) removed him from his ‘High Horse’ to humble him from the arrogance and pride he possesed because of the law. Once Saul experienced a personal experience that forced a face to face confrontation with his pride and ego (or ability to state his works and obedience to the law – self) resulted or produced a broken and humble – contrite heart. He was totally converted and freed from the law.
The real question that must be asked of each one of us is this.
If the law is a requirement for the restoration of the relationship between GOD and humanity, Who is completely able to attain and sustain this requirement?
If Saul (the Apostle Paul) was unable to meet these requirements, who is?
Until all of us come to terms with these questions, the remaining dialog regarding the hebrew roots movement and their ‘truth keepers’ understanding of GOD’s WORD will be as Saul came to understand as blinded by the law until GRACE was embraced and the ‘completed work’ of jesus Christ on the cross.
I pray that all on this blog will first and foremost come to that truth and reality. In the name of Jesus.
You asked, “If the law is a requirement for the restoration of the relationship between GOD and humanity, Who is completely able to attain and sustain this requirement?”
Then you assume an answer with the second question, “If Saul (the Apostle Paul) was unable to meet these requirements, who is?”
First, the answer to your first question is that the law (assuming you mean the Mosaic Law) is not a requirement for the restoration between God and humanity for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that no one can be “restored” to a relationship with God that has never had a relationship with Him. That includes all of humanity.
The second reason is that the Holy Spirit draws us to God. Innumerable individuals have come to God in full surrender that knew nothing about the ML. Certainly, all were essentially condemned by the ML because it was made for the unrighteous (1 Timothy 1:9-11). However, they knew nothing of the ML or its requirements. They were all convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the idea that one must “attain and sustain” the ML as a requirement for a relationship with God is an improper conclusion. Therefore, the question based on that conclusion is inessential.
The Apostle Paul in explaining why the ML was no longer applicable wrote the following.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24-25)
As he wrote in Romans 7, before the ML there was no knowledge of sin and mankind followed the dictates of the flesh without conviction. But the ML came and knowledge of sin awakened the conscience and brought conviction and torment. The ML did not provide deliverance in its sacrificial system and rules, but only awareness of sin and the battle to overcome it.
Grace is revealed in the fact that God extends the call to salvation to whosoever will. Grace grants a space for repentance. Even after we surrender and should commit a sin, grace allows a space for repentance and renouncing our sin.
When Christ atoned for our sin, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death (ML: someone sinned, and an animal died). Because of the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to walk by the Spirit and not after the flesh. As Paul wrote so clearly, what he and other ones struggled with under the ML was having the ability to overcome the sin that the ML revealed in him and them. The Holy Spirit not only reveals that sin, but empowers us to overcome it (Romans 6th chapter).
Therefore, if one wishes to go back under the ML, he or she is returning to bondage and the strength of will. History is strewn with millions that failed to walk that difficult path. Hebrews declares that their bodies are lying in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:17-19).
Finally, the “hebrew roots movement and their ‘truth keepers’ understanding of GOD’s WORD” is actually not understanding, but demonic deception. It is a denial of God’s New Covenant, His grace, and the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Anyone attempting to live under the ML today is in jeopardy of eternal separation from God. They are a debtor to keep the whole Law, which alienates him or her from the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and its empowerment to obey God’s will. Yes, that means keeping the sacrificial system as well. One cannot accept part of what Christ fulfilled and ignore the rest. Further, since the ML was fulfilled by Christ, there is no salvation in keeping in, but only “an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [n]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:23)
I dont think you understand the Mosaic law too well, for those who keep the law, blessings. For those who deny the law, it is sin and therefore death. Messiah came to do away with the curse of the law for those who love Him and confess His name. To love Him is explicitly defined throughout the scriptures as keeping His commandments. The messiah came to perfectly keep the law in order for the atonement of sins because nobody ever has been able to do this.
Jeremiah 23 was written specifically for teachers like you. Matthew 5 is so easy to ignore or explain away for people like you. There will be sacrifices in the millenial reign, it is specifically the job of the levitical (earthly) priest to perform the sacrifice in the temple. Messiah is the Melkizideck(sp?) Or heavenly priest.This is why we dont sacrifice animals today. But, of course,we all make sacrifice when we give to the poor, the widow, and the fatherless, thus the law of sacrifice is still functioning today.
What you are saying is that Christ did away with the curse of the Law for His followers, and then you circle back by saying that He only did away with the curse of the Law to the ones who keep the Law. That is like saying, “You are exempt from the rules as long as you keep the rules.”
God’s word is clear that in order to be exempt from the curse of the Mosaic Law, one has to surrender to the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It is clear in Hebrews (which you quote from) that the atonement of the spotless Lamb of God fulfilled the Mosaic Law. Paul taught extensively about this subject. In fact, it was arguably the primary theme of his teaching. There is no excuse to return to the Mosaic Law when a greater and higher Law (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) lives in us and makes us conformable to the image of Christ–our sinless pattern. The only reason people return to the Mosaic Law is that they do not want the deep and probing conviction of the Holy Spirit that deals with their sin much greater than the Mosaic Law could ever do. In fact, every individual that I know personally that has returned to the Mosaic Law is spiritual bankrupt, indulgent, and demonstrates pride in their law-keeping accomplishments. Not one is satisfied to partially obey the Mosaic Law (when they are debtors to do it all), but they insist on throwing a diabolical snare over every genuine Christian. In numerous ways they deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ by mutilating it to fit their heresy.
I advise you to simply read the New Testament in context without the deceptive interspersion from Hebrew Roots heretics. That heretical Movement is not a work of the Holy Spirit. It was not sourced from the New Testament. It is not included as a doctrine in the history of Christianity but has always been a heresy. It a deception that reappeared in this last day’s period of deception and apostasy. Furthermore, it is a revival of the Greek-speaking Hellenist Jews heresy, who divided from the Hebrew-speaking Jews that composed the early church. The Hellenist Jews not only opposed the Early Church, but opposed and tried to murder the Apostle Paul. The same satanic spirit that influenced them authored the modern Hebrew Roots Movement. It is a deadly heresy that is divisive and rejective of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Hebrew Roots doctrine is another gospel and those who perpetrate it are anathema–accursed. Individuals that accept the HRM are without salvation and are consigned to eternal darkness with everyone else that rejects Christ and His Gospel.
I further advise you to repent and accept the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His Gospel. This is not a game and you are in grave danger of coming under a great delusion. You can only oppose truth so long, and reject the Holy Sprit so many times, before you lose all possibility of being reached with truth and delivered.
I am currently involved with a small group of fervent judiazers and volunteer with the ministry. I’ve been a church hopper my entire life, so I feel as though I need to assuage my own guilt by being generous whenever I find a ministry I like. I didn’t realize until now how I was still living in the old covenant! At first, I thought all the Yeshua Hamashiach (Hebrew for Christ Messiah) praising was harmless curiosity about the books of the Torah, and culture of the Hebrews, but now I see that there is a sinister US vs. THEM mentality to it. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about participating in the ministry, but I know I cannot stay. Unfortunately, every other church is closed for the foreseeable future.
My sister has been entrenched in the HRM for a number of years now. All of what you said in this article is spot on. It is exactly what she has been taught to believe in this cult, despite what she was taught Biblically growing up. She now believes that the NT was ONLY written in Hebrew (not Aramaic & Greek…OT was in Hebrew) and you must use Jesus’ “Hebrew name” ONLY (she will use the name “Jesus” as a profanity word now). She disparages all the writings of Paul in the NT (how convenient, eh?), but still claims to be Christian and believe in Christ and salvation…but denies the work of it by believing you have to adhere to the Law to be right with God. The whole point of the Jews having & keeping the Law was to make them right with God UNTIL the messiah came! Well, He came & became the sacrificial lamb FOR US! Why would we NEED the Law after that?! It’s ridiculous. Oh, and I love the argument of “Jesus kept the law & the feasts”. Of course He did! He was JEWISH! There was no messiah to die for Him (HE WAS the messiah!), so He HAD to follow Mosaic Law prior to his sacrifice to live a ‘sinless life’ (meaning he kept the Law PERFECTLY….which NOBODY ELSE has done nor could!) She denigrates anyone that doesn’t keep the Sabbath on Saturday, celebrates Christmas or Easter (Resurrection Day in our house), etc. She celebrates all the Jewish feasts (which is fine, if you just want to take part or explore the ‘roots’ of Christianity in its Jewish beginnings with the early church….NOT the same as HRM). Somehow it’s convenient though for her to ignore ALL the Mosaic Law, including ALL the dietary (though she claims to eat ‘kosher’, i have seen areas she has made ‘exceptions’), clothing/dress (even down to HOW the fabric is made & what of!), sacrificial, purity and more (over 600 laws/rules in Mosaic Law), but she always has an excuse as to why not. HRM followers truly ‘cherry-pick’ the scripture to suit their cult. It’s truly sad that Christians are falling for this heresy because they simply haven’t read their Bibles, refuse to, or would rather believe someone’s blog post or youtube videos, having made these people ‘theologians by proxy’ by making up a cult that is DIRECTLY REFUTED IN SCRIPTURE (the WHOLE BOOK of Galatians, folks!), for unsuspecting sheep to follow! These false teachers will pay for their leading God’s sheep astray. He promises that in scripture as well.
Some of HRM don’t disparage Paul at all, while some call him a liar.
They do not all believe that all “law” in Paul’s writings are referring to Mosaic Law, like most of Christianity thinks. Talmud Law (that’s an anachronism, but that’s what it is, the oral torah), which Jesus broke, was a “law.” It required handwashing to prevent transferrance of ceremonial uncleanliness. That was also law that Paul learned at Gamaliel’s feet. Jesus broke that law. Paul declared us free from Talmud Law and becoming Jewish ourselves.
The Law of Sin and Death is another law: a law of nature like gravity, for the wages of sin is death, just as the wages of an action is an equal and opposite reaction. Or, one could postulate that the law of sin and death is indeed the temple sacrifice.
It is also a very, very bad idea to point to their being divided into schools to discredit them. Protestantism is condemned by Paul for factionalism on the same grounds. Church leaders are commanded by God to agree and be united in Christ. Protestants also ignore episcopal authority; Catholics usurp it, and the Orthodox got it right.
Simplicity of scripture is directly denied by Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). Stop asserting this lie. It’s unbiblical. Scripture is not perspicuous. It says so itself.
The HRM’s stupid vocabulary doesn’t change Jesus’ plain commandments. We are still under Jesus’ orders, and Paul only modifies them to his audiences. Nothing Paul says can be interpereted to supercede any of Jesus’ words.
This group confuses me so much. I thought it would be interesting to learn about the feasts and the festivals and see how they pointed to Jesus. Now I (sadly) regret opening that can of worms.
It is sneaky and I admit I fell for some of it apart from the: “We interpret Paul a little differently,” the subtle but distinct downgrading of Jesus and calling on the Father (Yah) so very often as if Jesus (Yeshua) was of lesser importance, and that I had to keep Passover and Torah for Salvation. I can’t even pronounce tzit-tzit or all the different spellings of Yahushua/Yahoshua/Yahusha, etc
I really just want to know what Jesus’s life was like and exactly what he did. I don’t feel that it’s necessary for salvation or some such thing (Paul makes that clear), but I want to know. Some books that helped with that were by Lois Tverberg, i.e. “Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus” and “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus.”
A group I went to once (but got a really bad feeling about so I didn’t go back) ended up denouncing all of Paul’s works and insisted he was a false apostle which ultimately led to the group believing the New Testament was not inspired and therefore invalid. I think that’s where this path ultimately leads. I witnessed the fruit of it all and it took awhile for it all to unfold, but I’m glad that it did because it woke me up. I am just exhausted and sad, now.