Further comment on Law and Grace
Part 2: (Please read the initial discussion of Mr. Corner’s mistaken view of Galatians)
Mr. Corner goes on to say:
One of their actual deceptive web sites that stresses the importance of the Torah for us today declared the following:
“Since the Bible was written by Hebrews, it is critical to understand their ancient culture and to learn about the many unique Hebrew words, expressions, and idioms found in Scripture.”
That is their distinctive which they present to set themselves apart and above others. They teach such Hebrew information is critical. If that is so, one must wonder why weren’t the new Gentile Christians taught such by the Lord’s disciples after they came to salvation in the New Testament?[1]
Mr. Corner is right about one thing. Those who understand the Bible as a Hebrew document claim it simply isn’t possible to understand what is happening in the texts of the New Testament unless we acknowledge and account for the fact that the authors of the New Testament were Jewish, lived in Jewish community, upheld Jewish practices and considered the Tanakh to be God’s authoritative word. He’s absolutely correct in his citation. The Bible is a Hebrew book!
But that’s where his understanding ends. I do not believe that Messianic Jews or Hebraic followers of the God of Israel consider themselves superior to anyone who is seeking after God’s heart. If they do, then they must repent of such arrogance. What we have discovered is that the Bible begins to make sense as a unitary message from God once we recognize that it is not two separate documents but one continuous story of God’s pursuit of men. God is the God of Israel, not the God of Europe or the West or America. His revelation to us comes in Hebrew format with Hebrew thought patterns and Hebrew authors.
Mr. Corner is absolutely incorrect to suggest by way of rhetorical question that the “new Gentile Christians” were not taught according to the Hebrew worldview. Of course, there is the problem with the term “Christians,” an anachronism we mentioned in the first part of this discussion. In addition, Acts 15 clearly states that James is unconcerned about the proper education of new Gentile followers because “they are taught Moses every week” in the synagogue. Now, if James says this 15 years after Pentecost, can there be any doubt that the early “church” was dedicated to the Torah of Moses? Gentiles were being taught the Hebrew culture through Torah. They were not being taught to ignore or deny Torah. Furthermore, a careful reading of the letters of Paul, Peter and John provide ample evidence that Old Testament theology underlies everything they proclaim. In fact, if the disciples no longer viewed Jewish and Hebrew understanding as crucial, it’s hard to imagine why they would continue use the Tanakh as their final source of authority. It’s even more difficult to understand why Paul himself claims to have been a fully-observant Pharisee years after his supposed “conversion.”
Mr. Corner’s view of Scripture is based on the church canon, not on Scripture. In other words, if I accept the teaching of the church from about 150 AD until the present, I will find ample support for Mr. Corner’s view. The anti-Semitism of the early church fathers provides considerable evidence that there was a deliberate attempt to remove all things Jewish from the church, including Jewish practices and reliance on the Tanakh. Most of the early church fathers expressed anti-Semitic beliefs (for examples, click here), a position that continued through the Reformation. Luther was one of the most vitriolic anti-Semites. This deliberate attempt to drive a wedge between Jew and Christian is unknown in the New Testament! It is a purely ecclesiastical invention. Nevertheless, if one teaches from the perspective of the church’s historical canon after 150 AD, then it is possible to justify Mr. Corner’s claims. The only problem is that these claims deny the declarations of the apostles and the historical records of their lives. Of course, this position makes the historical record of the Gospels and the life of Yeshua a fabrication.
So, we have a choice. We can go back to the Scripture and do our best to understand the message clothed in the culture it came from, or we can adopt the view that the church is the final arbiter of truth and accept its teachings without the original culture. One way brings us into alignment with the God of Israel. The other takes us on the path of the religion of Christianity.
[1] Dan Corner, “Deadly Galatianism Reintroduced” from http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/galatianism.htm
Frankly I find Mr. Corner’s comments offensive … and premised obviously upon a replacement theology ideology.
As a Messianic Jewish follower of “the way” (and a Gentile) I can from personal experience refute the broad based accusations (which seemed steeped in traditional anti-Semitism sentiment … my opinion) made by Mr. Corner.
The desire to get The Word right is premised upon a desire to enter into and grow the relationship with ELOHIM … on the terms and in the manner that HE chose! HE is The G_D of Yisrael … as such how can I really understand the deal if I don’t want to understand the ways of the family that I have been grafted into?
How sad that Mr. Corner’s view is actually a fairly predominant perspective within mainline Christianity! It would seem that the call to repent and reconcile with ELOHIM (a calling planned by ELOHIM to emanate via Yisrael) will be missed by many who have ears but can not hear!
Let us continue to pray for the sheep and rejoice as each sleeper awakens!
What a thorough and convincing work this is, Skip. I agree that it is church doctrine that some people cannot see past.
As I awoke this morning, I was thinking about the statement of King David, “I love thy Law!” and while I was meditating on that, I wondered, “What would make someone LOVE the Torah?”
My conclusion is that when you follow it, marvelous things happen. Unexpected graces and miracles occur, not usually seen (at least in modern Christian churches). When these things happen that take our breath away, and we stand in amazement, it is more convincing than any church doctrine that the Torah is the way of life for God’s people.
Amen Sister! So beautifully spoken.
How do I get into the archives to read Part 1 of this discussion which you mentioned in the beginning of today’s Today’s Word? (Part 2: (Please read the initial discussion of Mr. Corner’s mistaken view of Galatians))
It’s easy, thanks to the work of Patrick. All you do is put Law and grace in the search box on the home page of the website (skipmoen.com) and everything on the subject comes up.
I think we all dislike “defenders of the faith” (they, like all who have followed before and who will follow after, would call themselves “contenders of the faith”) who want nothing more than to somehow “win the debate” by using words and arguments that first demean the other side in a personal way. To “be right” becomes more important than “being righteous”, don’t you think? There was simply a tone to this man’s article that could only be described as an “I am right and you are wrong” attitude…so much so, that I had a difficult time even reading what he had to say because his tone was telling me that he hates those who would oppose his view…and not just their opposing views….Mindful of an article I read sometime ago titled “Convicted Civility.” Sort of a truth and grace exercise. Need to figure out what must be conviction (immoveables), stand on it (Truth), but then communicate to others in ways that are at least civil (Expressing truth in love)…..This was not civil; it was prideful. And whether it is his view or whether it is the “Hebraic Root” view that he opposes, if it is a view that comes at me like some sort of freight train demanding that I either “get on board” or be somehow “damned to perdition”, I’ll simply have to say no thanks. I’ll answer to my Lord someday – not to either side of this “debate.”
And when I approach God’s Word, I am not looking for God’s Word to give me “right answers” so that I can feel good about my “being right” and then somehow carrying His banner of truth for Him…as if He absolutely had to have me to defend His truth for Him….Yipes….no, my view is this when I come to God’s Word and I would suggest it be so for Mr. C and his debaters as well: “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word.” (Is. 66:2).
Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful insights. I have been a “Christian” for many years, yet I have long felt something was missing. I could not understand the scripture as taught in my churches. I have recently purchase a paraphrase translation of the Bible by David Stern called The Complete Jewish Bible. For the first time in my life I am beginning to understand the words. I don’t know how “accurate” this version is, but for now, as a beginner, it is very helpful.
Thank you, Skip. This was a necessary article for those who possibly, like me, are struggling with “coming out” so to speak. I do not say this in despair, but actually boasting in the Lord God Almighty who will direct our Way through His prescribed means, Initially through drawing us to His Son our Redeemer and subsequently through the ever-abiding Promise of His Presence in the Holy Spirit. One of the overwhelming issues throughout the Scriptures is obedience. God desires obedience of the heart. Inward obedience is expressed outwardly as pleases our Father. That is the prescribed order. God has gone so far as to tell us what that looks like, otherwise it looks kinda like what we see around us now…denominationalism, competition, and disunity.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
James 4:12
Amen!
It is interesting that people so often have the reaction that a person inculcating Hebraic foundations is holding themselves out as superior. I would guess that human tendencies towards wrong actions and attitudes is spread equally across various cross sections of believers.
Skip, as a Bible teacher and speaker who teaches from the Hebraic scriptures, I have often been called a “judiaser” and sometimes worse. The problem can be traced to the council of Nicea and Constantine, who, though he stopped the persecution of “Christians”, lead the way in a radical departure from the “Jewish” (actually Scripturally) way of doing things. If you set out on a true course, and are off just 1 degree, at the start, you will be many degrees off as the distance increases. I warn again, of the “STRONG DELUSION” that God send upon the people that they will believe a lie. (2nd thess 10-12). They will THINK that they are saved and are NOT. To reject the instructions of your Father is to invite serious consequences. We are commanded to DO the will of God. Not “just believe”. Very dangerous ground for believers today, especially those who listen to false teachers.
Ron,
I especially appreciate your point of being one degree off target at the beginning, and more as the distance (or in my mind, TIME) increases. I have been pondering for several months, how to construct a graphic illustration of this for the teenage girls I teach. Perhaps, an outdoor activity with a bullseye target would be appropriate, at a certain distance (say 40 feet), with them blindfolded before aiming at the target.
A few years ago (when I realized what ‘miss the mark’ meant), it became obvious to me that the farther we go along the incorrect path, the greater and more EXTREME will the needed correction be to get back on target. That is probably one reason why it will be unlikely that most people will do it. ‘Too radical.’ Even for those of us committed to correcting course, it is a struggle in the current culture.
Your insight into this enormous problem of correcting the course is very helpful. Consider this: the original influence to move away from the Hebraic worldview began with the church fathers in about 150AD. At first, the push came from political pressure and an anti-Semitic bias by just a few men, but soon the idea was encouraged and spread from one theologian to another. Within a hundred years, the position was endorsed by most of the ruling clergy. Constantine brought closure to the view, branding all those who opposed it as heretics, subject to death. So, only those who were willing to die for the truth remained as dissenting voices – and they were soon eliminated. That small shift over 200 years has resulted in a nearly monolithic acceptance of replacement theology. Now, some 1800 years of theology which began with a few men, has become the accepted norm of the Church and is used to interpret and translate the Scripture. This is now the CANON – the rule of faith and practice. No wonder going back to the original is so difficult. The entire ecclesiastical structure depends on this position. Billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, millions of believers and enormous POWER depend on this position. It has every nuance of prideful appeal you could ever wish to have. Furthermore, no one teaches the real story. Church history is rewritten to eliminate the anti-Semitic theme. Theology is taught without consideration for the Jewish culture and background of the authors of the text. And most importantly, believers are told that if they actually practice Torah, they are denying Jesus and becoming legalists.
Few will see the light in such a dark place. But it is still light and some will find it.
Did this catch God by surprise? I don’t think so. Times are changing.
There is a hint of this in the prophetic life of Joseph. The Jewish savior in pagan garb is not recognizable until He reveals himself to both the Jew and the gentile.
Skip, work like yours is part of this process. Keep it up!
Christ is the END of the LAW. This verse has been used much to “prove” that the Torah (law/Nomos) has been “done away with”. A close reading of the Greek text makes it clear by the word translated as “end”, or Tel’-os, that Christ (Messiah) is the GOAL, the point aimed at, or the one to be imitated, for ALL who believe. He sets the living example of how to live by the teaching and instructions of God. Many such verses are misinterpreted, as you have stated, based on the CHURCH CANON, and NOT on the scriptures themselves. I myself, observe the Friday evening-Saturday evening Sabbath, the feasts as stated in Lev ch 23 and I don’t eat the things prohibited by Lev ch 11, NOT because of salvation, but because my Father said so. Eating the “garbage eating creatures” of the Earth can’t be good for me anyway. I CHOOSE, to believe in, and follow the instructions of the scriptures as best I know how. God is continually teaching us, if we will only listen and heed the instructions. Salvation is a JOURNEY that begins with your spiritual rebirth and ends ONLY when you get home, and you will KNOW, even as you are KNOWN. Completely. Until that time, we must follow the road map home. Blessed are all who follow the LORD.
We must not blame darkness as something totally bad, and it is this way because without darkness nobody can see the light. It is darkness what made possible to recognize what light it is. Paradoxically, this is the way things are in planet Earth. Of course darkness is not the state where we would like to be, but without them we cannot distinguished what is light and where is light shining.
Shalom…
Paradoxically? Indeed Ismael … very good point! Despite standing in opposition to ELOHIM it is not as if darkness emerged external to the power of The Creator. Before any lights were placed in ha raki’a on Yom Revi’i (the Fourth Day) ELOHIM had already separated Ohr (light) from the choshech (darkness) on Yom Echad (Day One). There were no unplanned mistakes by ELOHIM!
We may not like to ponder the rationale for even the existence of darkness but as you depict … darkness provides the back-drop for the revealed Glory and Love that is The Light … Yeshua!
Isaiah 60: |1|Arise, shine; for thy [Tziyon’s] ohr is come, and the kavod Hashem is risen upon
thee. |2| For, hinei, the choshech shall cover Eretz, and gross darkness the nations; but Hashem shall arise upon thee, and His kavod shall be seen upon thee. |3| And the Goyim shall walk by thy ohr, and melachim by the brightness of thy shining.
Thank you. Well, it is quite easy to understand if we can deal with our own ideological framework.
Shalom
“if we can deal with our own ideological framework.”
Hi Yishmael,
Are you implying that we must first demystify our Greek ideological framework (Christianity) before we can reconstruct a Hebrew ideological framework (Messianic Judaism) based on valid interpretations of the Biblical texts?
Hi, Michael. I really appreciate the way you used words to ask these questions. Few years ago I learned to distinguished between being wrong and being incomplete. I think that the Greek thought don’t have to be label as wrong, but as incomplete. But if this way of reasoning is incomplete, who or whom has the ” piece” that make it whole??? Please take in consideration that the Greek thinkers appear on stage during the period of time that we called “prophetical silence” or in the intertestamentary period. Can we see that when we don’t have Hebrew prophets appears the Greek philosophers. Why God did it this way?? (Of course, I think that HaShem is complete, is whole.) But, as I said: we must established the difference between be incomplete and be incorrect. (Or, I have to let space to the reasoning that try both concepts as synonyms.)
Maybe now you have more questions, but questions are wonderful; and I really enjoy it. Let’s keep on asking.
Seemingly this “demystification” is taking place for some through this venue. The knowledge of good and evil has certainly come a long way, hasn’t it? Sheds “new/renewed” light on the “new/renewed” covenant and why the truth that came to set us free has been under such assault from the beginning.
Matthew 6:22-If you eye is right your whole body will be full of light. Luke 11:34 goes on to add this-i…if your eye is evil your whole body is full of darkness.
Brothers and Sisters, let’s be thankful for the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts that He has shown mercy and GRACE to us and continually guides our Way as we yield to Him. Blessings to all.