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You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 NASB
Add/take away – “Finally, there came a movement that made our lives bitter with all the methods it took over from both groups. It proclaimed a new prophetic teaching and alleged that both our old and their new doctrine were given by God. This created a dismal confusion in our people: two conflicting doctrines and both from God?”[1]
One of the key elements in understanding the emergence of Christianity as a separate religion is the Roman requirement of antiquity. In the first and second centuries, no one would have adopted a religious way of life that did not have an ancient historical foundation. “New” was not an attribute of truth. The world was filled with gods and men lived in fear of their reprisals. If someone converted to a different religious persuasion, that conversion had to be grounded in a venerable tradition to insure that it was not simply the invention of men. The risk, i.e., incurring the wrath of a god, was too great. If your faith didn’t have a long reach into the past, it wasn’t worth considering.
Christian thinkers in the early days realized the necessity of this ancestry, but they had a significant problem. They claimed that their faith began after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a few decades before. Such a claim was tantamount to instituting a completely “new” religious path, and consequently would have been summarily rejected by the masses. Early Christian Gentile church fathers tackled this objection by usurping the historical veracity of the Jews. In other words, the Gentile Christian Church claimed that the God of the Jews, an ancient deity, was their God, that His teachings were their teachings and that His people were the people of the church. Christianity commandeered Jewish antiquity as its own in order to give it Roman credibility.
The move did not come without consequences. Claiming the same God and the same history naturally leads to the conclusion that the two religious paths are actually the same! But this would not do either. Gentile Christian thinkers wanted to proclaim Christianity as different from Jewish belief so they had to alter some of the fundamental Jewish claims just enough to create a new self-identity without disrupting the claim of historical continuity. Thus, Christianity rejected Torah obedience. In particular, Christianity accommodated itself to the Roman way of life by denying the necessity of abstinence from pork, circumcision and Sabbath. Christianity modeled itself as Roman rather than Jewish.
A thousand years later, Maimonides issued the challenge anew. How can one God declare two contradictory ways of life? How can God deny His own fundamental life-giving instructions? How can God break His own commandments by adding and taking away from His eternal message? Jews rejected this Christian claim, and rightly so. Christian theologians appropriated Jewish history without Jewish exegesis in the hope of becoming acceptable to pagan Romans, but they did so by creating a schism in the very character of God. Christianity did not grow out of Judaism. Christianity grew out of the denial of Judaism.
Perhaps you haven’t investigated the ancestry of your faith. Perhaps you have only read redacted records. Perhaps you have never asked why one God could issue two contradictory commands. Perhaps you actually only serve the God of the “new” testament and have left the God of the “old” covenant behind. Perhaps you are still pagan in your real heritage, but never knew it.
Topical Index: history, Maimonides, new covenant, add, take away, Deuteronomy 4:2
Bipolar Christians. Hmmm
If you break down the Ten Commandments, it is pretty clear that at least nine of them can be generally agreed to on moral grounds alone. Nine of them, in fact, can be found at least in partiality in other faith systems. There is only one that identifies the follower as a follower of That God; you know, the One that the Jews claimed created the heavens and the earth. If you deny your obedience to the only completely distinguishing feature that identifies you as a follower of That God, then don’t you risk ending up finding yourself a double-speaking, double-minded joke? Oh, wait; worse; you put it off on Him, and claim that He contradicts Himself, thus making a joke out of Him. Who was it again that they claim they worship? The One in the beginning that created the heavens and the earth, and rested on the Seventh Day?
It makes me sad to know that even this day, I still struggle with the obedience to this command. Our entire society has it set up for failure. Everything closed or quiet on Sunday and Saturday is the hustle and bustle of everyday. Perhaps if I lived in Israel, is it different there?
I had a friend who had lived an extended amount of time in Israel (over ten years, came home on visa issues) sit me down and explain to me some of the facts of life on living in Israel, especially living as a Christian in Israel.
Evidently it’s not the utopia we hope it would be. Some of the things she described were just heart breaking. And then she said “You still want to go, right?”
I said right. She just smiled. Yeah, she said. “and i would go back in a heart beat.”
Obedience by edict of the Pharisees is still the burden of law.
SO FUNNY Laurita! I hardly ever comment, but here we are.
Adoptees often time struggle with their identity.
I’ve often thought about this Scripture in line w/the Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Revelation was added to Scripture. What is the standing of this verse?
I would surmise that Deuteronomy has precedence, therefore, ….does that make the NT (aside from the only authorized commentary on the OT) equal to or less than the Apocypha. Seriously. I wonder about this.
I don’t contend the veracity of the NT (ok…some of it i wonder about, but accept anyway) or the authority it bequeaths the believer, and by bequeaths i mean explains. However..I do not read “thus sayeth the Lord” (or YHVH) anywhere therein.
Christians purport to follow YHVH, but in reality they follow Paul (and/or their interpretation of what they THINK he said and his intentions, which vary greatly on any number of topics, except, interestingly enough, on women. Paul was seriously against the liberation of women or their ability to function outside of male direction. Roman. Er…christian.)
Nicely done. Of course i had to explain redacted to a couple of young people. But they got it.
Very good word, Skip! As one starts studying Torah, the times are so precise that I know which month , every year,( give or take a few days because of the Jewish calendar) which one of the five books will be read. Awesome! The timing is so , that if you look back you could find out which month and Torah portion was being read at the time of the Messiah reading in the synagogue from the book of Isaiah 61:1 He was reading from the Haftorah portion from Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 which will be read this year on September 13, 2014. This is absolutely amazing and why we don’t follow this prescribed method of reading God’s Word amazes me even more…
“How can God deny His own fundamental life-giving instructions? How can God break His own commandments by adding and taking away from His eternal message?”
I am always grateful to see the truth placed in such a straight line to an idea that could have ongoing ripple effects in a person’s understanding. To me, each one of us has a unique background that would be impacted by a seemingly innocent question. And we don’t forget it. The knowledge that we might have missed something important lingers until we are driven to find our own answers.
Very well put, Skip.
Bipolar Christians Hmmmmmmmmm Great analogy!!!
I have a bipolar child. It’s a perfect picture of what happens when to the Psyche when the maintenance manual is ignored and the mind is altered to the point of total instability. Every tiny nudge in any direction causes it to collapse. Every attempt to rebuild it according to the altered pattern is simply another lesson in futility resulting in a more fragile structure each time as more and more pieces go missing with every collapse.
The Right Stuff
First, the question – “What must I do to be saved?” (If you are not familiar with the context of this question, read this man’s story in Acts chapter 16).
The Philipian jailor was witness to something wonderful that day. He wanted whatever “it” was that these men (Paul and Silas) had. His question was very similar to the question of the “rich,young ruler” who asked of Christ (Himself) – “What must I DO to inherit eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16-22)
And even still today, many might ask this very same question: -What must I “DO?” My “proposal” would be this: In order to get the “right answer”, we must as the “right question.” No student would learn the capital city of Montana by asking the teacher -”what is the sum of two plus two?”- We must simply and straightforwardly – ask the right questions to find the right answers.
Now for some good news. (some refer to this “good news” as the “gospel”). Salvation is no longer spelled “DO”. It is spelled “DONE.” God offers (unto all, -unto “whosoever will”) a free gift. It is the gift of God, (not of works or “Do”) lest any man should boast. Jesus (Yeshua) the Christ (HaMashiach) paid it all. “It is finished”- “tetalesti”- one of the most beautiful words in the (yes) Greek language. “Paid, or accomplished,- in full!” (John 19.30)
Jesus (has) paid it all, all to Him I owe ,- for sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow. This, dear brothers and sisters, – this my wonderful family is the “gospel”. The salvation and deliverance and redemption of every man (Adam included) has been “paid in full.” This also, dear ones reveals to us the necessity of the cross. “How I love that dear cross, where the dearest and best- for a world of lost sinners was slain.” Now the preaching (or proclaiming) of the cross is to them which are perishing- foolishness, but unto us which are (being) saved, it is the power of God unto salvation. (1 Corinthians 1.18) Yes, friends – we must, we must, we must- include and conclude the cross of the Christ as central and vital to our relationship with Elohim, for it is the only Doorway by which we can enter into a new relationship with our Creator. We must return (again and again) to the tslav, the execution stake, the cross. I do not know how to approach this any other way-
“Salvation,” (deliverance) – our liberty- our freedom, was purchased at a cost none of us will ever fathom- the precious blood of the Lamb of God “which takes away the sins of the world.” (-and Hallelujah- that Man died for me and in my place- a propitiation/peace offering/atonement for (all) my sins. Praise His Name.
Okay- wonderful. I’m “saved.” (to be blunt)- Now what? Here am I- today, a born-again, blood-bought, child of the King. (do you “feel” as I do?”). I’m “all dressed up” with nowhere to go.. (lol!) Heaven born, heaven-bound, but what about “Monday morning?” lol!I am just like you. I just don’t know “all that I have” and “all that I am” “in Christ!” I am like a kid on Christmas day- “discovering” day-by-day the gifts that each day holds. (Shall we start a list?) Here am I. I’m out of bed and vertical. I’m breathing in and out. I have all my fingers, all my toes- and all my natural born teeth. (for a guy from Tennessee- that’s pretty good!). I’ve been blessed with an awesome wife and three amazing children. I’ve had a splendid cup of coffee and today I have the day off from work. It’s a beautiful day out there and I soon will exit my door to become part of it. But first, I must spend some time with the Giver of all good gifts. My Creator, Redeemer, Lover and Friend. Do you know His name? “Discover” tHis Name. It is (not only) the Name of salvation, but it is the Name above all names! It is the name of shalom. It is the name of sanctification. It is the name of satisfaction. His name is Wonderful. And dear family- we are “called by His name!” We belong to Him!- Lock,stock and barrel- we belong to Him! All my towels are marked- “His!” My personal “claim-to-fame?” I belong to the Shepherd of the sheep. I am a “kept” man. Hallelujah!
If I were to ask Him to enable and empower me to do, to say and to think only those things which are pleasing in His sight, this day, would He answer such a bold prayer? If I were to ask Him for a change of heart, a change of desire- a new world-view and mindset- how would He answer? (Does God hear and answer prayer?) -I’m just trying to ask the right questions here.
How may I live, this very day, Abba Father- so I may please You in every thought, word and action? In the name of my Savior, Redeemer and Friend, One who is closer than a brother, I ask that You through the power of your Holy Breath, now living and residing inside of me, because of the new birth, and because of my adoption into Your family, would You, the Source of everything good, cause this to happen today?, -As I go about the duties and necessities of this day, be near and be available unto me, dear Father. I know You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. And because of Your invitation for us to pray, and because Calvary made this possible, I bring this request before Your throne of grace, and look forward with great anticipation and confident expectation to see this prayer answered. Amen.
Hey Carl,
I say this prayer everyday. And God does answer it!
(But you know that!)
My experience seems to have been a little different, because I never knew what the Jews believed
My experience was mostly Catholic and the only thing I ever heard was that the Jews didn’t believe Jesus was God
As a Catholic child that made perfect sense, because how could a dead man be God?
As part of the Trinity, that seemed sort of like logical, religious, thought; but not of much value
What is still a little ambiguous to me Is the role of the Rabbi and the role of the Jewish priest in the creation of Christianity
One of the key concepts of Catholicism is the notion of the Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience of God
My understanding is this idea comes out of the Rabbinical Talmud
Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi so presumably this concept of God would not be alien to him
But the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost was probably not known by the Son
In the movie, Son of God, it is very clear to me that the aristocratic, Jewish priests were aligned with the Roman ruling class
And Catholicism was born out of this alliance
Early Christianity must have been, with the notions of Melchizedek, the dying God/King, etc
Very different than the Judaism in which Jesus believed
The One True God and the very God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the very ONE who became a Man, lived among us, spoke with us, ate our food, healed our sick, cleansed the lepers of their diseases, (though only one returned to thank Him), walked on water, stilled the storm, was falsely charged of wrong-doing, and although this One Man lived a Perfect life, ( a perfectly Torah-obedient life),what was His “reward” for all this (and much, much more!)?
Crucifixion upon a Roman cross.
What was the will of the ruling class Jews in this? What was the will of the people in all of this? What did Pilate pronounce? What did His own talmudim/disciples do? Was He despised and did we esteemed Him (or not)? Did He give His face and His back to the smiters?
Who, sir, (or m’am) was it upon the tslav? I’m am not asking anyone but you. Answer this, – please, if you will.
Was Christ a Jew? Absolutely. God’s covenant promise to Abraham was (and will ever remain) “in you shall all nations of the world be blessed” Did I “understand” God to say- “ALL Nations?” Does this include all the nations AND the people of Israel? Is Christ The Messiah- the Savior of the WORLD? Or is He a Redeemer-Savior-Wonderful Counselor for Israel only?
He came unto His own.. and His own received Him not.. (not all!- ‘some’ received Him not!) There were those (seemingly) few who confessed, “My LORD AND my God!” And there were those whose heart-felt cry was, – “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” –
We all have this promise straight from God’s Book: “That “WHOSOEVER” believes on Him..
May I? “Selah.” Stop.- and think about this!
Who? (EXACTLY) IS- “whosoever?” Does “whosoever” really (really) mean “whosoever?”
Who is it “whosoever is a Jew?” – or “whosoever” is a Gentile- or is it “whosoever realizes and recognizes his or her sinful condition and state and need of a Savior and a Redeemer and Creator and Sustainer and Source of all life? (ALL life!) Yes, friends.._ ALL life.
In Him was life and the life was the Light of Men. (ALLLL Men) All men – everywhere. Jewish men, Gentile men. Men who live in the country. Men who live in the city. But only men and women who are sinners and have transgressed (in any way, form, shape or fashion) any (just one is all it takes) of the commandments of YHWH. Either “You shall not” or “You shall”- (For ALL have sinned!
Another question for “any man.” Is there ONE among us- right now, (or ever) who has kept every known command or instruction of Elohim “perfectly” since he or she drew the first (God-given) breath of life? Yes? No?
Me? I know of only ONE Man (ever) to have done this. Only One and it is NOT me! I do seriously hope by now we ALL know this one Perfect Man and Who this is..
and? ~ If ANY MAN be *in Christ..* ~ Any man. Any woman. Or any boy or girl.
~ let the little children come unto Me and forbid them not- for of such is the kingdom of God ~
Why? Why would “any man” come unto Christ? For what reason? Is He able (does He have All authority?) to forgive? Then, if “any man” needs forgiveness- this would be the One to ask. Does He have authority (on earth AND in Heaven) to forgive us our trespasses? Have we so (readily or conveniently) forgotten these, His words?
~ All authority/all power/all dominion has been given unto Me in Heaven AND in earth? ~
We gain far more *in Christ*, (the second adam), than we ever lost in (the first) Adam.