Straight Talk About Head Covering - Part 2 - My Experience

I find it very interesting that so many Christian women seem to be running head-long into 1 Corinthians 11, and, for the first time in their lives, wrestling with YHWH concerning covering their heads.  Personally, I fell this is one of several areas where I have noticed YHWH bringing His people back to His ways!!!

If you have not read "Straight Talk About Head Covering - Part 1,"  please do so before continuing with this post.  In the first segment, I discussed the biblical passage in 1 Corinthians and what is does and does not say about the issue.  That post was intended to be as straight-forward as possible and to stick solely to scripture.  After all, in the end, our experiences, opinions, cultures, etc. are no match for YHWH's Word.  While those things can and do provide valuable insight, ultimately, His Word alone is the authority.  It is always the bottom line - the last Word on any subject!

In this post, I want to discuss my personal experiences and feelings while and about head covering.  This post is much more subjective, and much less authoritative, but I hope to share something that may either be beneficial or encouraging to you.

Personally, I feel that the admonition for a woman to cover her head when she prays/prophesies to be biblically valid.  I always try to remember to grab a scarf when I pray or when I go to church.  I have come to this understanding because of the biblical passage and reasoning I shared in the first post.

However, as a woman, it still remains for me to make sense of the whole thing!  Because I did not grow up in a culture where head covering was normal (I never saw it until I was an adult.), and because there is so much discrepancy in modern teaching on the subject, it really came down to me trying to figure it all out on my own.  Internet research and YouTube videos were helpful but not concretely decisive.   I found myself working through many of the questions and considerations I have heard other women discussing and trying to talk it through with YHWH to come to an absolute understanding.

One example, which helps me to understand better, is this...

When Kings ruled Europe, they held court.  Court has protocols, certain behaviors and standards which are considered proper and are expected to be adhered to.  You can read about this in Esther when she goes before the King uninvited, taking her life into her hands.  The point is, you don't just go into a King's presence any-old-way you please!  Even today, if visiting the Queen of England, there are proprieties to be adhered to.  If this is true of earthly Kings, how much more would it be true of YHWH - the King of the Universe, the King of Kings!  Scripture mentions the head covering for women who are praying or prophesying.  In my understanding, you have to come into His presence for both - to speak TO Him and to speak FROM Him to others.  The head covering, then, becomes proper attire!  It shows our place in His created order, submission to the authority structure He has put into place, and it covers "man's glory" in deference to YHWH's glory!  (Please see 1 Corinthians 11 for clarity on these points.)  Even the creatures before His throne cover their heads and feet in His presence and sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy!"  Incidentally, I also consider head covering proper attire for worship, based on this same understanding.  While it isn't directly mentioned in the scripture, it follows logically in my mind.

Also, consider this....

1 Corinthians 11 refers to head covering (on a  woman) as a "sign of authority because of the angels."  I don't know anyone who fully understands this verse and can explain it to me, nor have I found anyone online.  The details of this are pretty much a mystery.  However, we know what a sign of authority is!  If a man knocks on your door, claiming to be a police officer, and asks for entry into your home, you would ask to see his badge!  This is the symbol of the authority he has as an officer of the law.  Without it, you may rightly doubt that he is who he says he is or that he has such authority!  If an officer came into work without his badge, could he even work???  (I don't know, just a thought.)  Part of the reasoning given by scripture for women covering our heads is authority to angels!  The passage clearly spells out the authority structure for us - YHWH, then Messiah, then the husband, then the wife.  When we wear our head coverings, it is the symbol that we are in line under our husbands, and therefore, we are operating according to the proper authority structure!  I can't help but wonder if prayer would then be more effective!!!  Remember, angels serve us, and the evil spirits are fallen angels and their offspring! (We won't go into all that here.)  The point is, whatever reason for your prayer, it will most certainly involve angels in some way!

So, that's it for my understanding of head covering.  I have many questions to which I would love to have answers, but I don't.  Maybe the Father will bring some of those answers to me as time goes on.

But what about my experience?  Well, my husband is supportive of my decision either way.  If I wear it, he likes it, if I don't he's fine.  It's pretty much between me and the Father.  Not all women have it that easy; some husbands aren't very supportive, and this causes the woman herself some issues.  Because that is not my experience, I won't try to discuss those, but if you are a man reading this, please prayerfully consider what I'm saying.  Your wife is more dependent on your leadership and support than you know.  Most women face opposition from family, friends, and the public at large when making this change, and your support could be everything to her!

As for style, I have worn a few.  I haven't tried any that are associated with a particular group, such as the Amish, and I certainly steer clear of Muslim hi-jab styles because I do not wish to be associated with Islam.  My preference is to cover my hair completely in an up-do, kind of way, much like Jewish  married women sometimes do.  If you're interested, find "Wrapunzel" on YouTube to see what I'm talking about.  I typically wear my hair up anyway, so this is a natural fit to me.  I have also worn my hair down and covered, but not as often.  The scripture indicates we should cover our heads, not our hair, so, in my view, as long as your head is covered, you are within the "code".  I consider a headband a covering as long as it is wide enough to cover the crown of my head as well as the top.  As mentioned in the previous article, modesty is not the point!  It is a great side benefit, but not the point according to 1 Corinthians 11.  I say that not to encourage wild, immodest coverings, but to say that different styles can meet the requirements of scripture.

As I stated before, however, head covering is not a part of my culture - either in society or in my family.  As such, many people I've encountered have had many reactions.  I have come to understand, however, that ALL of the reactions are based on ignorance!  Not one person has asked me to explain or tried to understand my views; and because these views aren't common in today's world, they don't understand what they are seeing.  That, for me, is the most frustrating part!  I don't mind if someone disagrees with me, but it irks me when people assume or jump to conclusions without seeking to understand. It's a personal pet-peeve of mine.

That being said, reactions have varied widely.  I often get glances or stares.  People seem to almost fear me or at least want to stay away from me.  This is uncomfortable, of course, but there's not much I can do.  Some, usually family, are more bold and make pointed remarks about not having washed my hair or something.  If asked, I try to offer a short, concise explanation.  If not asked, I don't offer.  I don't feel anyone is likely to be open to the reasoning if they aren't open to asking the question.  It's a mix between respecting their wishes/boundaries and not wasting my breath!  I have found that when I cover, I am put into the position of being "set apart".  It's uncomfortable (socially speaking), and I have to basically hold Daddy's (YHWH's) hand.

Personally, though, I enjoy covering, and I would like to do it full time.  I am certainly free to do so, but I still find myself struggling with some of the tension it causes, especially in my family.  I am still at a stage where I feel torn, in a way.  This is a very personal struggle, and I'm sure many women face it.

I have to admit, though, it can be lots of fun!  I don't make too much of a fashion-thing out of it because I don't want it to lose it's significance or become unseemly in YHWH's eyes.  However, it can be just as much fun to match your scarves for covering with your outfit as your shoes!  I was never one to spend much time on my hair anyway, and now I have physical limitations in my shoulders due to a nerve injury, so this gives me a quick alternative that looks nice and coordinated.  I do want to caution, though, while head covering isn't about modesty, modesty should still be maintained.  While matching and coordinating to look nice are fine and good (in my opinion), being flamboyant or going "too far" can defeat the true purpose!  In fact, it is believed that head coverings fell out of practice in the western Christian churches after the tradition "morphed" from scarf/cloth coverings to hats.  Those hats because increasingly fancy, and it became a "fashion thing".  Once the fashion faded, women went uncovered all-together.  Even little deviations from the true purpose or expression of a thing can lead much further than we imagine!

If you are a woman reading this, and you are wrestling with the idea yourself, my advice would be this:

1.  Lean on YHWH above all.  Not all people will understand, like the change, or support you, but they are not the King of the court!

2.  Make an effort to understand BIBLICAL headship, not male-dominance (there is a BIG difference)!  This will help you to understand your value (which is very high) and your position (which is one of honor) and allow you to cover for the right reason with joy instead of shame!

3.  Stick with the scriptural requirements as well as any convictions YHWH has given you personally.  Do not feel like you have to fall in line with every opinion given - even those of other covering women!

4.  Be supportive of all women!  We are all in this together!  When given the chance, share your convictions and reasons for covering in love.  You may be the one to plant this seed in another one of YHWH's daughters!

5.  If your husband is not supportive, honor him.  Find out what he is OK with and what not.  Maybe ask him to study it through with you, and pray the the Father will set his heart on the right decision.  However, the whole thing is about authority, so don't dishonor authority in your attempts to honor it!

6.  Try what speaks to you and go find yourself!!!

Thank you for listening to my personal rants on the subject!  If you have any perspective or input to add, either as a woman who covers or a man who supports covering (or not), please feel free to let me know!

May YHWH bless you abundantly as you honor Him in all your ways!!!

SHALOM!

Straight Talk About Headcovering...Part 1

Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered [them] to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head.
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
For this cause ought the woman to have power on [her] head because of the angels.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
For as the woman [is] of the man, even so [is] the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering.
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16, KJV

     There is much discussion today (and seemingly always has been) concerning the Christian woman and whether or not she should cover her head.  Some women are deeply convicted of this and do so 100% of the time, while others are passionately against it and refuse.  Still others fall anywhere along the spectrum between those two extremes.

     It is my intention here to offer a straight-forward, no-filler look at what THE BIBLE has to say about the subject.  There are many opinions floating around, but no one has the authority to command or require of us anything that scripture itself does not command or require.  We are held accountable to the authority of scripture, not man.

     As such, however, it is our responsibility to understand what the scripture says on the subject and to behave accordingly.  Anything less is both unwise and unfaithful to our King and Bridegroom.

     First, I'd like us to look at what scripture says.  The one and only passage where this is discussed in the Bible is above for your reference.

     The passage begins by reminding us of Adonai's order in our home.  The head of the man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man.  This traces back to the creation of woman from man, as also referenced in the passage.  This is the reason given for head-covering - that it would be a symbol of this order.  Thus, a man covering his head in prayer would be dishonoring his head/authority, Christ.  A woman who does not cover her head in prayer dishonors her head/authority, the man.  The rest is pretty much explanation and illustration.

     There is, however, one more thing the passage tells us.  Apparently, the head covering has something do with the angels.  This is not explained, so it's not possible to be dogmatic about what that may mean, though some inferences can be made based on history, apocryphal writings, etc.  However, this does indicate that there is much more going on that meets our eye.  There is somehow a significance in the spiritual realm, and this affects not only ourselves, but also the angels.  When we consider that it is specifically prayer and prophesying that we are discussing in the passage, it is safe to assume that this spiritual-realm-significance could very likely have a bearing on what it is we are trying to communicate or accomplish.

     Now, some brief notes about what scripture does NOT say.  I mention these because you will hear many of these things mentioned when you do your own research on this subject.  Again, my aim is to be straight-forward, clear, and balanced, so I'd like to point these out from the start.

     Scripture does not mention modesty!  Many people cite modesty as a reason for the practice, and while it is certainly modest (and while modesty is right and proper and important), that is not the reason given by scripture for women to cover our heads.  Scripture simply indicates head covering as a symbol of spiritual authority.  That is not to say that modesty points are invalid, and I especially value a man's input on how a woman's hair is viewed (and often lusted after) by men.  You can look for The Health Watchman on YouTube to find a man's point of view on the subject.  Head covering is, indeed, very modest, and that's a very good thing.  It simply isn't the reason Paul tells us to practice this is the Bible.

     Scripture also does not say "hair" covering.  Some teach that your hair cannot be visible at all or only a certain amount of hair can show.  This seems to me to be personal preference or opinion, but not based on a scriptural requirement.  We are not required to obey commands not found in scripture!  If you prefer or have a conviction of a certain style of covering, that is fine, but that cannot be imposed on others biblically.  The scripture says the head is to be covered.  Past that, it's pretty much left up to us for the details.

     Scripture does not indicate that a covering must be worn at all times.  We are told to wear them for prayer and prophesying.  Many women choose to wear them full-time because of personal conviction, or because of the biblical command to "pray without ceasing."  (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  And while I find these views valid, again, we cannot command anything beyond what scripture commands.  I would ask you to consider, however, since Paul was speaking to a congregation if this might not also include worship...  Just something to think about.

     Also, the scripture does not say that this applies only to certain women.  Many teach that this is only for married women.  However, the word used here for woman in the Greek applies to a woman of any age, whether virgin, married, widowed, whatever.  You can simply reference your Strong's Concordance to see this or visit www.blueletterbible.org to view it online.

     This is certainly not an exhaustive study of the verse, but it should hopefully give a clear platform from which you can study further online.  There are many videos on YouTube as well as independent websites that discuss this matter.  Have at it!

     I would be remiss, however, if I did not mention the last verse.  This causes some stumbling because Paul seems to indicate that the churches do not have this custom.  I admit, this verse confuses me a bit, too, but we should be very careful about being dismissive.  That final "dismissive" verse speaks of those who would be contentious.  As children of the Most High, we are certainly not meant to be in that group!  Furthermore, it doesn't otherwise make sense for Paul to give an instruction for the church to follow, then wipe it clean in the next verse.  Don't be contentious!  Seek Adonai for yourself concerning this matter!

   In part 2, I will share with you  my experience in head covering - good and bad.  In the mean time, go to YouTube and look into some of the many videos on this subject.  You might be surprised what you find!  Also, give it a test drive!  Just drape a scarf or bandana over your head when you pray tonight.  See if it makes a difference and ask the Father to speak to you about what He thinks! :)

The Mountain In Our Way

In the book of Exodus, we read how the Children of Israel were delivered by YHWH from their bondage in Egypt.  We read about the lamb's blood that was applied to their door posts as a sign to the death angel to pass over that house.  We know that our Lamb is Yeshua (Jesus), and that His blood likewise covers us and saves us from the curse of death, preserving us to be delivered by YHWH.

Years later, we read how Israel is being escorted into their Promised Land.  They are crossing the Jordan river with YHWH's help, and finally settling into their home, their promise.  As believers, we know that our promise, too, is waiting.  We will one day cross into that promise and our true home.

We are aware that the story of God's children in the Old Testament is a shadow of the story of His children in Messiah.

What we do not seem to be aware of, however, is the mountain in the way.

You see... The children of Israel were not delivered directly out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  There was a very  long journey through which they were drawn closer to their God (YHWH) before receiving their promise.

The first stop on the journey (after being delivered through the Red Sea)?  It was Mount Sinai.  At Mount Sinai YHWH spoke directly to the people until they, not being able to stand in the fearfulness of the event, asked Moses to be their spokesman.

We are taught that the Torah (meaning "instruction" but misrepresented as "law") of YHWH was given at Mount Sinai, and indeed it was.  But that was not all.

At Mount Sinai the blessings were pronounced; blessings that YHWH's people would receive as a result of obedience to His instructions.

At Mount Sinai, likewise, the curses were pronounced that they would receive through disobedience.

But most importantly, at Mount Sinai, one question was asked of them.  Do you accept the terms of this covenant?  Will you be My people and I your God?

They answered unanimously, "Yes!"  They agreed to the terms - Torah.  They agreed to the benefits and the consequences that YHWH laid before them.  They CHOSE Him to be their God and they CHOSE to be His people.

Why have we as believers today chosen to ignore this part of the story?  The mountain lies between Egypt and the Promised Land.  The covenant lies between salvation and promise.

It seems we always make one of 2 fatal errors...

Either

1.  We appropriate the blood of the Lamb to ourselves (apply it to our doorposts) and claim our salvation believing from that moment that we are free and without "masters".  We then walk a spiritual desert throughout our lives and wonder where this promise is.... Where are all the blessings we are supposed to have?

Or..

2.  We find ourselves at Sinai and we, too, answer to YHWH, "You will be my God, and I will be yours," but yet trample the terms of the covenant we have just made.  We are told (and it is a lie) that these Instructions (Torah) no longer apply, so we live how we see fit never once realizing we are heaping curses on ourselves because of the commitment we made with our words.

We would do well to consider a few points.

1.  The covenant was NEVER without condition.  Covenants never are.  Have you ever known a marriage without conditions?  No!  When we marry we commit solely to one another.  We can not do as we please, breaking our commitment, and then act as if we don't know what the problem is.  Likewise the Word of YHWH has made His covenant clear, though we may chose to disregard its teachings.  In doing so, we commit adultery against our God, and we act as though we are entitled to our own ways.

2.  The covenant was NEVER changed.  This is often taught today, but it is a lie.  Scripture clearly says otherwise.  When YHWH Himself mentions the "new covenant" He will make with men, He says He will put "My law on their hearts." (See Jer. 31:33)  The covenant was renewed with the blood of Messiah, but not rewritten.  All conditions still apply.  Messiah's blood allows us to be delivered from the world (Egypt) and return to the God that we betrayed.  That is the meaning of "redeem" - to bring back to the original owner.  Messiah Himself warned us against teaching the law was not longer valid in Matthew 5:17-18.  He also warns against lawlessness in the context of final judgment. (See Luke 13:27)  Ask yourself this.... Where in scripture does YHWH give us the option the 2nd time?  Where does He ask, "Do you accept these new terms to be my people?" and give the people the chance to respond?

3.  Exacto knives are not for scripture!  To accept the exodus story and the account of the Promised Land as pertaining to us then reject Mount Sinai is to simply accept only the parts of scripture we like.

4.  Scripture itself speaks many times on the law of YHWH being perfect and wonderful and a blessing.  Yet today, we teach it is a curse and we reject it outright.  Could it be that the enemy has tricked us into rejecting the covenant itself or at the very least being cursed by it?  Our teachings do not echo the teachings of scripture.  It is time to re-think them.

We are saved by faith in Yeshua, His blood having redeemed us to YHWH.  There is nothing we can do to earn that or repay it - it is a free gift.

But we are redeemed into the covenant!  Do you think it is coincidence that scripture speaks of us as his bride?  Does the King's bride act in any impetuous way she pleases?  Or does she please her husband?  Think of Esther!

I believe YHWH is bringing His people back to Mount Sinai.  This is the time where we are given the terms and asked, "Will you be mine?"  We will all have to answer that questions for ourselves, but we will live with the answer we give.

It is time we put erroneous teaching aside and got back to seeking our God and coming to know Him.  We need to get back in His Word, back into prayer, and back into covenant.  Only then will we be pleasing to Him and will we rightfully be able to claim the blessings of scripture.

Be blessed, my friend.

Time to Take a Stand!

As believers and disciples of Yeshua (Christ), we are called to "be holy as He is holy".  Our words and actions should bring honor and glory to YHWH our Elohim and Yeshua our Messiah.  ANY conduct or habit which we have that is dishonorable or unholy should be done away with in our lives.

There are few (none, I hope) who would disagree with these statements.  However, I will share my frustration with you tonight that statements are all they are.  When I look around at the BELIEVING community in our nation, I do not see this!  In fact, I see the opposite.  If you are one of those "double minded", let me warn you that you will likely find offense in this article.  If so, just be aware that you are finding offense at the truth of YHWH - His scriptures.  Although many teachers, preachers, pastors, and so-called prophets do so, I will not attempt to sugar coat His truth.  It is meant to shake us up, and it is time we allowed it to do so.

Halloween is just over a week away.  Even Christians get excited in preparing for, decorating for, and participating in this holiday.  Are we not aware that Halloween is the holiest day of the year for witches, satanists, etc?  Are we seriously deluded enough to believe this is somehow an "OK" or "innocent" thing for us to participate in and pass down to our children?  Scripture asks us, "What fellowship has light with darkness?"  HALLOWEEN IS OPEN DARKNESS - OPEN EVIL!  And we are celebrating it every year!  Even our churches' "trunk or treat" or "holy-ween" celebrations are cowardly compromises with evil!  We have become weak and ineffective in our world, and no wonder when we can't even stand up to this nonsense!  Do we not have enough power to say no and take a stand against blatant evil?  We serve a living, powerful, victorious God, but we have become weak and complacent.

Let me just say that YHWH leads His people step by single step.  (Refusing to participate with obvious darkness is step 1.)  He calls us to a step, and we decide whether or not we take it.  What we think does not matter.  Whether we like or understand it does not matter.  He is God and we are not.  We either step or we don't.

If we don't, we are in rebellion.  This is not a good place to be - just ask your Bible.

If we do, then we must stand.  Stand in that new place, on that new step, for as long as He leaves us there.  It's usually uncomfortable.  This is the part where we have to pay the price in the natural.  This is the part where we are accused of being radical, legalistic, cantankerous, you name it.  This is the part where "friends"  and sometimes family turn away.  This is where we are refined, shaped, and tested.  Will we stand with Him?  Or will we back down?  Every day and every moment we must choose either Him or the world.  He has drawn a line!

Once that time has passed, He shows us another step and the whole thing begins again!  Our whole lives are a testing ground on whether we will follow Him or stand with Him or at what point we dig in our heels and go no further.  These steps are designed to work HIS purpose in us - not our purposes or plans.  It is rarely comfortable or pleasant - until it is finished.  When we stand and come through on the other side, we are ALWAYS glad we did!  Our God is merciful and loving and every step is for our good!  He is not, however, permissive or tolerant of rebellion - don't get those mixed up.

Like it or not, scripture tells us repeatedly that we show our love to Him by obedience.  Yeshua Himself taught this!  Churches today won't touch it, but it's scriptural and it still stands as Truth in YHWH's kingdom!

So, step 1.  We must (always but especially now) reject evil and darkness in ALL FORMS.  This means Halloween.

Are we going to be obedient?  Are we going to repent (be broken over and TURN AWAY FROM) our wrongdoing up to this point? Are we  going to follow Him or the world?

We all have to choose.  Please be prayerful and wise in your decision making.  Steps 2, 3, etc. do not ever get revealed to us if we rebel at step 1.  It is painfully obvious that time is running out.  Play time is over, and the real disciples must rise up and serve.  Is this you?

If so, let your voice be heard!  We are hosting a "Take a Stand" Facebook event.  Join us in reaching believers everywhere and taking a stand against darkness.

Here is the link: Our Facebook Event Page - Take a Stand!

We will be fasting the day of the 31st and praying during trick or treat hours!  Join us!

The Old Covenant - Replaced by the New!

Most of you will be surprised to read this headline on this blog, but I promise you... it's true and I fully support it!  This is the number 1 reason believers give for not obeying Torah, "law", but is it valid?

What is a covenant???  A covenant is a contract between 2 or more people.  Marriage is a great example.  My husband and I are in covenant, and there are certain responsibilities, rights, and expectations that come along with that.  The covenant is between him and me and no one else.  No one else has the same responsibilities towards me or has the right to expect the same things from me because my covenant is not with them.  A covenant only involves the people who enter into it.  Many believers are familiar with the covenants of scripture - blood covenants being the most prominent.  In Genesis 15, YHVH made a covenant with Abraham by passing between the animal parts.  In the tabernacle, animal blood sacrifices kept the covenant between YHVH and the children of Israel.

In Hebrews 7 and 8, Paul describes for us the how and why of the Old Covenant being done away with.  He clearly states that the New Covenant has taken its place!  But when we read these chapters and take his statements in context, we see where we have been so wrong for so long...

Paul makes it clear that the old priestly system and sacrificial system have been replaced by our High Priest, Yeshua (Jesus Christ).  He makes the distinctions between blood sacrifices that had to be repeated yearly and the One sacrifice that did the job once and for all; between priests that first had to atone for their own sins and the High Priest who is sinless and perfect; between the earthly sanctuary (a mere copy and shadow of the heavenly things) and the heavenly sanctuary in which Yeshua currently intercedes for us.  He makes it clear that the old is obsolete.

However, the major confusion with this teaching is that, somehow, God's law has been done away with as well.  This is error, and the body of Christ needs to be aware of the truth!

What is law?  Is it covenant?? No!  Law applies to everyone within its jurisdiction - no agreement or contract is necessary.  You are ruled by law because of where you live, and laws differ from place to place.  Scripture defines sin as the breaking of God's law.

Has Paul told us that YHVH's law was replaced by Christ???? No!  But that is what is commonly taught today.

The word "law" in the English is used in these chapters quite frequently.  However, according to Strong's Concordance (G3551) the word means "regulation" when used generically and "THE Law" (of God) when used specifically.  In order to know which meaning is intended, we would have to look at the original text and see the original usage.  We have to remember, our Bibles were translated into, not written in, English.  Languages do not translate seamlessly, and every language uses words and grammar in different ways.  The presence of the word "the" in the English translation is simply due to the structure of the English language, not the original intended meaning of "law."  Because of this, we cannot be sure of the original intent for the purpose of this writing.  However, it has to be understood that either meaning is possible.

So, how does that help us?  We still have context!  When we read the entirety of chapters 7 and 8 of Hebrews, we hear Paul's words.  We know from this that he is discussing the old priestly system vs. the new priestly system.  Never does he discuss a behavior or expectation of a group of people, only covenant agreement and Levitical tabernacle protocol.  The law in the sense of the commandments and precepts of YHVH is not part of the explanation at all!  In order to come away with the understanding that God's law is now obsolete, we have to place meaning into the text that isn't there.

When we understand this, we understand that scripture is not contradictory when it tells us that "we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says 'I know Him' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar." (1 John 2:3-4)

Furthermore, we are told to "WALK JUST AS HE WALKED". (1 John 2:6) We are to live as He lived and be Christ-like.  Every believer knows this.  If He kept God's law (and taught it), why don't we??? If He kept the biblical feasts and sabbaths, why don't we?  How can we say that we are walking as He walked???

One last point... In Yeshua's own words, he said that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.." (Luke 24:47)  If there is no law, there is no sin to repent of or remit.  If He were doing away with law, He would know that and would have given a different command to his disciples.  It is our sins which are remitted, not the law.  It is the difference between me having a speeding ticket forgiven or the speed limit laws being revoked so as to erase any possibility of guilt.  My forgiveness does not erase law, and it does not grant me permission to live lawlessly.

The Old Covenant which is done away with is NOT  the law!  Throughout the New Testament, you will read that believers are exhorted to holiness and keeping law, not breaking it or throwing it away.  Under this New Covenant, incidentally, Paul (in Hebrews 8) quotes from the Old Testament that the law will be written on our hearts, not done away with.

Throughout scripture you will also find that the lawless are rejected by YHVH, they are not His people.  He values obedience and, yes, grace and mercy.  You are forgiven of your sins, but you are not excused from His law.

Remember, covenant applies to willing participants, law applies to jurisdiction.  Our entering into the New Covenant brings us into YHVH's Kingdom.  YHVH's Kingdom is governed by His law.  Being disobedient is being sinful, and..

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26-27)

For more on this, please see our article, "Messianic Misconceptions #3: Legalism!"

To Chose Him as our Lord....

What does it really mean to choose YHVH as our God/Lord???  I'm sure different denominations teach varying definitions, but I came across something in scripture today that struck me.  Today, most are merely taught decisionism - simply decide He is your God, and He is.  This is not entirely true!  YHVH tells us in scripture in detail what it means to choose Him.  In fact, He lays out for us both sides of the agreement!

"Thou has avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:  And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; and to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken." (Deuteronomy 26:17-19

Image courtesy of : www.freedigitalphotos.net

Even though we choose YHVH ourselves, (and yes, we are saved by faith through Yeshua, our Messiah), we must recognize that we are choosing to enter into covenant with Him.  Just as we choose our spouse, but entered into a covenant where we were expected to hold up our end!

If there is any doubt that this is applicable for believers today, please see 1 Peter 2:9 ...

"but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of his who hath called yo out of darkness into his marvellous light"

Notice the similarity in the language??  We gladly claim these promises today, but we fail to acknowledge that we are expected to hold up our end of the bargain as well!!  These words were written by Peter, who walked with Christ himself!  In this very letter, he addresses his audience (the "strangers scattered throughout" referring to the lost house of Israel in the diaspora) as:

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

Many of us as believers today have been taught only a "piece and parcel" approach to scripture.  We are given snippets, which have been torn from their larger context and intent.  If we are to truly understand our Bibles and truly be YHVH's people, we MUST know Him and His Word properly - as it was written and as it was intended.  Read the Word in it's entirety!  Don't take my word for it - or anyone else's.  Read it for yourself and hear what He wants you to hear.  Then, dig in!  Study to the best of your ability, and you'll begin to see a clear picture emerge of who YHVH really is and what He wants for and from His people!

As usual, I'm begging you.. PLEASE... if you call yourself a Christian, one of YHVH's peculiar people, MAKE SURE you are His according to the standard that He places on us in scripture.  Don't simply go by what anyone (and I do mean anyone) tells you.  There are those out there who will knowingly lie to you, and there are those who are sincere but have been taught wrongly themselves.  In the end, we are all accountable for ourselves, and we must seek HIM ourselves if we hope to be His people.

********

Please note:  The scriptures in this article are from the KJV translation.  When LORD appears in capital letters, it is an indication given to us by the translators that this is where the Name of God appears in the original text.  When you see this, you know that at that point in scripture, the original reads YHVH (yod-hey-vav-hey), the four Hebrew letters which spell His Name.  We sing songs about praising His Name, it's time we knew that Name and began to truly Praise it!

Response to Facebook Post:

After sharing a picture on Facebook which stated, "The Messiah wore Tzit-Tzit, ate kosher, celebrated Passover, kept the Sabbath, and obeyed Torah.... Which Messiah are you following again?", I received a comment from a woman whom I personally know to be genuine in her faith and in pursuit of Christ.  (The post can be seen on our Facebook page, but cannot be reposted on this  blog.)  Her response to this post was genuine and honest, and thoroughly in line with the modern understanding of Christ's gospel.

However, I believe this needs and deserves an honest response, which is much too long for a Facebook post, so I am responding here.  Again, this comes from someone whom I personally know and have worshiped with, and my intent is not to attack in any way.  This is not the case of a luke-warm believer trying to pick a fight; these women are truly seeking God.  The comment was as follows:

We Support Jesus Christ He fulfilled all them, my Messiah is the Messiah who came that I might live and be apart of the new covenant that He established with His Death, Burial and Resurrection. He began the Church age when He said on the Rock (meaning Himself it would be established) It began on the day of Pentecost and continues today, He removed the traditions and requirements of the law according to the book of Hebrews, and the book of Galatians, I live under the new covenant and my desire is to walk according to Him, He has written His law in my heart. What Messiah do you think you are trying to impress with your constant proclaiming of the law, the Sabbath, etc. ?

Many of these topics have been covered elsewhere in this blog - particularly the topic of the law having been done away with.  For this reason, I will not spend much time on details here, but I will lay out some considerations I believe to be very important.  We must remember that no church or denomination will get us to YHVH (God), Christ has told us we can only come to the Father through Him. (John 14:6)  In the end, we must all seek Christ (Yeshua) the Messiah for ourselves!  It is His Truth we must understand, not the teachings of man!!!

Consideration #1:  We must stop dividing the Word of God into 2 parts.  The "old" testament and the "new" testament.  This is a misunderstanding of the covenants!!!  What we consider to be the "new" covenant is not a complete do-over, but a re-confirming of the covenant we've had with YHVH all along.  Consider how many times Jesus is quoted as saying something to the effect of "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30) How can they be perfectly unified if they each have their own 1/2 of scripture and the teachings/requirements are contradictory to each other???  Doesn't scripture tell us that Jesus is "the same yesterday, today, and forever", that God never changes  and "does not lie"? (Heb 13:8, Num 23:19, 1 Sam 15:29)  How then could His Word change 1/2 way through? How could He completely change what He expects from His people, expecting one kind of faith from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, Joseph, etc., but another less obedient kind from us???  I believe that we have completely misunderstood the true nature of Christ's gospel!  He is our Savior, Redeemer, Messiah, and we are saved by grace through faith in Him alone.  But His teachings have been hijacked over the course of centuries and turned into something they never were.  If we are to follow Him, we must understand Him, and we can only do that by knowing Him and His Words ourselves, not what has been passed down through others.

Consideration #2:  God is not the God of confusion! (1 Cor 14:33).  Why would Jesus say things like, "not one jot or tittle shall by any means pass from the law"(Matt 5:17-18), "If you love me, keep my commandments,"(John 14:15)  and "it is easier for heaven and earth to fail that one tittle of the law" (Luke 16:17) if He came to do away with it?  Why would He keep it to the very letter, and then ask us to seek to be like Him, if we weren't to keep the law?  Why would He not explain to us the change or the difference between 'His law' and 'God's law' if one existed?  Why would He claim to be One with His Father, if He were not???  We must remember, Israel was God's covenant people, and many were divorced from Him because of idolatry and disobedience.  The promised Messiah came through the covenant people to restore the covenant for all!  If He was trying to break this "old" covenant, He would have broken it in some way, instead of fulfilling it in every way!  We are invited to return to our original covenant with our creator through Christ, not to create a new one!

Finally, how logical are these statements?:

1.  "The law is written on my heart, so I don't have to keep the law."

2.  "The law is done away with, it is written on my heart."

These statements don't even make sense.  The only part of these statements supported by scripture is that the YHVH will write His law on the heart of His people. (Jer. 31:33)  The rest, I believe is a misunderstanding of the gospel.  Why would God write a done-away-with law on your heart?  Scripture exhorts us to obedience and wisdom (Proverbs is a great example), we cannot accept illogical and inconsistent beliefs such as these, and we cannot live and do as we please and think we are serving Him.

The points made here are only to be a starting point.  Please see my other posts about the Law (Messianic Misconceptions), Cancelling Christmas, A Line in the Sand,  and the video I shared, "Identity Crisis" for full information and explanation.  I'm begging every believer who ever reads my words to stop and take an account of your faith before YHVH using ONLY the standard of His Word.  There are thousands of denominations of Christianity teaching thousands of varying "truths", but the only true Truth is God's Word.  You HAVE TO know it for yourself and FOLLOW Jesus in OBEYING YHVH, not in man's traditions!

May YHVH bless you all as you continue to seek Him in Truth! 

Photo courtesy of: www.freedigitalphotos.net

A Quick Note on Sabbath....

I have to admit that only a year or so ago, I would have said that keeping a Sunday sabbath was just as acceptable as keeping the original seventh day Sabbath.  I was under the impression (as many are) that giving one day a week to God was all that was really being commanded, and since Jesus (supposedly) rose on a Sunday, God was honored either way.  After all, I live in the Bible belt, and even though I've cruised through a few different denominations in my day, they all worshiped on Sunday, and no one ever questioned it.

I find this amazing, now.  If you've ever read an old diary or in some way took a good hard look at yourself "back then", you know what I'm talking about.  It's eerie, in a way, to see such glaring error in myself - and error that I clung to so passionately!

In a moment of Bible reading today, I came across these verses:

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you; every one that defieth it shall surely be put to death:  for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.  Six days may work be done but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD:  whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." - Exodus 31:12-17

In these 6 verses alone (not to mention in the rest of scripture) God answers all of our arguments!!! Are we so dense and rebellious as to completely ignore HIS view on the matter????  Here are my notes:

1.  "children of Israel" - This phrase does not mean "the Jews"!!!  Jew is a term derived from Judah (only one son of Israel), and the Jewish people are basically the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (only 2 sons).  ISRAEL HAD 12 SONS!  The other 10 tribes are scattered throughout the nations today!  (For complete information, click here.)  Whether we are genetically part of Israel or not, who knows, but we are grafted in by Yeshua!!! Either way, we are in this family.  We are a part of the children of Israel.  After all, do we not claim the promises that YHVH made to Israel???  YHVH is still speaking to us today! And how many times in these verses does He use this phrase???

2.  "my sabbaths" - Here there are 2 things to notice.  Firstly, He calls them "my" sabbaths.  There could be other sabbaths, which belong to someone else or some other god.  Secondly, this is plural!  Do yourself a favor and research the biblical sabbaths.  

3.  "throughout your generations" - It's pretty obvious that we are still "in" our generations.  I don't know why we ignore this phrase in scripture.  This is a way of saying forever!!!  YHVH knew what Yeshua would do and what the New Covenant would be.  He never operated from a position of ignorance - He is all-knowing!  If He intended for us to drop this after Yeshua, why would He command it forever???  And by the way, Yeshua (Jesus) kept the Sabbath.  That fact is recorded in the gospels.  If we want to be Christ-like, then why wouldn't we?

4.  "the seventh" - Here it is clearly spoken which day is His sabbath (and not someone else's).  The seventh day is Saturday!  Sunday sabbath was instituted by man (Catholic church).  The church clearly documents and acknowledges this fact. (Here.)  Are we commanded to keep a man's sabbath or YHVH's???  Are we obedient if we just go with the norm or with what we are used to???  Further down in these verses, it is explained that the seventh day was YHVH's rest from creation.  We keep this day as a memorial of that day!

5. "perpetual covenant" - The Bible is full of covenants!  This one is forever!  It was not done away with at Calvary.

6. "forever" - Forever means forever.

Please, please, if you are a believer, please search this out in scripture!  We do not honor our God and King either by breaking His commandments or by remaining obstinately in ignorance of them.  He calls us higher, closer to a more intimate and honored position with Him!  We claim spiritual authority and privilege, but those are bestowed upon us by YHVH Himself!  How can we ask for such treasures with hearts that are disinclined to honor and worship and disinterested in truth???

Share this article, this is a serious matter of our faith!  Every believer needs to wrestle with YHVH on such issues and gain an understanding and appreciation of His Truth for themselves!

Be blessed!

Image courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net 

Video Share: Evolution vs. God (Ray Comfort)

   
Ray Comfort seems to have declared war on evolution!!!  I have thoroughly enjoyed his material in the past, and his new video Evolution vs. God is a great continuation!  It's a little more than 45 minutes; take the time to watch this - you'll be glad you did!

Messianic Misconception #3: Legalism!

     This is by far the most common and vehement objection to the Hebrew Roots movement that I have encountered!  I've heard it preached in sermons, seen it written in articles, and everyone I've met who is part of this movement has had this accusation tossed at them at one point or another.  There is a great fear that this movement (because we choose to observe Torah) is an insidious plot to bring believers into bondage to the law.  I will attempt to address this concern without making this post overly lengthy, but there is much to say.  It may be that this will be continued in a second post in the interest of both time and space!

     Because this is the most serious objection to the movement, please take some time to "get ready" for what is about to be said.  Most importantly, pray!  YHVH Himself will lead you and guide you in your search for truth, so ask Him to make the truth clear to you while you read and study.  Also, please take the time to read a passage of scripture - Hebrews chapters 8-10.  These chapters will be critical in this article, and it will help you to have them fresh in your mind.  Of course, there are many New Testament scriptures concerning the "law", and you may want to peruse many of those as well!  Below, I've quoted a fairly good-sized portion of Hebrews 10 for you. Please, however, be sure to read the few chapters I've suggested to get the context of what is being said.  Also, This is a cut/paste job from a Bible study software, KJV, with the verse numbering removed for more fluid reading.  Please excuse the odd capitalization, etc., as I did not want to otherwise alter the text!

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:1-29 KJV 

   It is well understood by the majority of Christians today that Christ's sacrifice on the cross (His blood) cleansed us from sin and that ONLY through His Righteousness are we righteous in the eyes of YHVH.  He paid the price to redeem us!  The Hebrew Roots Movement, as well, holds this to be true.  It is, however, our view of the law that has many concerned.

   It is widely believed that Christ redeemed us from the law.  Therefore, when we are in Christ, the law no longer applies to us - we are free in Christ!  Because of this belief, many are concerned about our teachings.  Namely, because we emphasize obedience to the Torah (law) of YHVH (God).  It is feared that we are "bringing believers into bondage to the law", "promoting legalism", or "refusing/denying grace".  If this misunderstanding alone could be cleared up, it would greatly impact both our movement and the church at large!  This will by no means be an all-out dissertation on the subject, but, hopefully, I can shed a little light!

    First, we must differentiate between being redeemed from the law ITSELF and being redeemed from the curse that comes from breaking the law.  If I break the law (and we all have), then I am guilty and will be punished.  The punishment for sin (defined biblically as "breaking the law") is death.  (1 John 3:4/Romans 6:23)  Now, Christ redeemed me by taking my curse - death.  Now, because of Him, I am seen as righteous and reconciled to God (YHVH).  We all agree on this!!!  However, if I am redeemed and counted guiltless, do I thereafter live lawlessly????  Am I free to walk out of the courtroom, down the street, and begin breaking laws again???  NO!!!  This is where the two views differ!  While it is claimed that we teach salvation by works (i.e. by law), we do not!  We do, however, believe that as born-again believers and followers of Yeshua (Jesus) we are not to live indifferent to, ignorant of, or in rebellion against God's law!  Why?  Because Jesus Himself kept the law, taught the law, fulfilled the law, and warned us against lawlessness!  To be Christ-like, we must be law-abiding citizens of the Kingdom of God!

     However, because some of Paul's statements in his letters can be confusing, and because they are often taken out of context, we have been led to believe that being "not under the law" (Romans 6:14) means we do not have to abide by the law.  But, this theory falls apart when you begin to look at ALL of what Paul taught about the law!  In Hebrews 8-10 (I hope you read those!), Paul explains fully what Yeshua's sacrifice did.  The sacrificial law (which dictated what was to be sacrificed for sin and how) could not redeem us.  The blood of those animals, covered Israel's sin for a year, then the sacrifice had to be repeated.  Why?  It was insufficient!  Yeshua (Jesus), the LAMB OF GOD became the once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins.  Now, we no longer need to offer yearly sacrifices.  He fulfilled the law and redeemed us from our guilt/curse!  In these chapters, he fully spells it out for us!  He describes the temple, sacrifices, priests, etc. and explains how Christ (Yeshua) has done away with all of those! The moral law (which defines right/wrong for us) is not mentioned once.  Yeshua KEPT THE MORAL LAW PERFECTLY because if He didn't He would be spotted with sin Himself, His death would have been deserved, and He could not have redeemed us!!!

So, are we trying to bring you into bondage???  NO!  In order to do that, we would have to somehow nullify Christ's sacrifice and bring the curse of your sin back upon your own head.  We have neither the desire nor the power to do such a thing!  We are, however, trying to warn believers that one of the most popular doctrines in Christianity today is a dangerous misunderstanding of scripture, and may actually distance you from God (YHVH) more than draw you closer!!!  STUDY THIS FOR YOURSELF!!!  Please, this is too important for you to simply adopt the answer you like best or believe whatever your favorite preacher says!  Remember, Yeshua WARNED us that not all who call Him Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who DO THE FATHER'S WILL.  (Please see my "Faith By Default" article here.)

    So, the bottom line is, we keep the law (as best we can).  Why?  To honor YHVH!  To be obedient to HIM!  Not to earn salvation, but to please our Father!  Plus, in our attempts to keep His law, we see vividly how much we need our Savior!  The law is our "schoolmaster" (Paul said that) to show us our sin so that we will seek His grace!

 I'm going to leave you with some things spoken by Paul in scripture concerning the law.  Try and reconcile these with the popular church teaching that the law doesn't apply to us! (These will be paraphrased.)

Romans 6:15 - Should we sin (break the law) because we are not under the law?  God forbid!

Romans 7:7 - Should we say the law is sin? God forbid!

Romans 2:13 - Those who hear God's law are not justified, but those who do!

Romans 6:12 - Don't let sin control you that you obey it!  (There can be no accusation of sin if there is not law.  Sin is the breaking of the law!  If the law is truly obsolete, then sin does not exist.)

Romans 7:12 - The law is holy, righteous and good! (Why? Because it makes us aware of our sin!)

1 Timothy 1:8 - The law is good when used rightly.  (Remember it does not/can not justify us.  That does not mean it has no place!)

Now, Yeshua's words:

Matthew 5:17-19 - I have come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it.  Not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until ALL be fulfilled.  Those who break the commandments will be least in the Kingdom!

Luke 16:7 - It's easier for heaven and earth to fail than the law!

Matthew 15:3 - Why do you break the commandment of God for tradition??? (See also Mark 7:8-9)

John 14:15 - If you love me, keep my commandments! (See also verse 21).


Can the law save us? - No!
Can we be "good enough" by the law's standards to be righteous? - No!
Can we earn our salvation or pay Jesus back by keeping the law? - No!
Are we under the law? - No! (If we are truly His, we are under grace.)
Are we redeemed from obeying the law? - No! We are redeemed from the curse punishment for our breaking of the law!
Was the law important to Jesus/Yeshua? -YES! See above!
Will obedience to the law put us in bondage??? - NO!!!  Breaking the law puts you in bondage to it, not keeping it! In fact, God's blessings are contingent on keeping His laws! (Deuteronomy 28)
Is keeping the law legalistic? - NO!!!  Legalism is an attitude that is overly focused on the letter and minute detail of the law with no room for error or grace.  Just as obeying speed limits is not "legalistic", neither is obeying Torah!


Don't Forget - YHVH (God) gave us the law!  Our perfect, all-knowing, loving creator Who NEVER CHANGES and DOES NOT LIE!  The law is good!  Why would He die to redeem us from something good He gave us???  We need redemption because we've broken His law, not because His law is a burden!  King David (you know... "man after God's own heart") delighted in the law (see Psalms 1:2, 40:8) and the book of Proverbs (all the wisdom stuff) exalts God's law! (See Proverbs 28:7, 7:2)

Draw closer to God - in obedience!  No minister would ever tell you that murder or adultery were OK, would they???  His law is a blessing - to teach, guide, and bless us as we obey!  Your failures are already paid for - thank you, Yeshua - so you don't have to panic!  If you belong to Him, seek to please Him!

Be blessed!

Messianic Misconception #2 - New Names

     This misconception I've only heard once, but it was from an online video, so I'm sure there are some who have this same concern.  I choose to address it now, however, not because it's so widespread, but because it will explain a very prominent feature of the Hebrew Roots movement - the "new" names of God and Jesus.

     You won't have to look far into articles, teachings, or websites of the Hebrew Roots movement before you start to see/hear the names YHVH/YHWH (pronounced most commonly as either "Yahweh" or "Yehovah") and Yeshua (Jesus).  The concern has been voiced (especially when it comes to these names being included in Bible versions) that we are replacing "God", "Lord", and "Jesus" with our "new" names.  It was hinted at that we were promoting new gods and, therefore, undermining the true scripture and faith!

     This could not be further from the truth, and most, I think, understand what these names actually are.  I will explain here, though, so  that there will not be any confusions going forward - escpecially since you will see the usage of these names in this blog!

     YHVH (In Hebrew: yod-hay-vav-hay)  is the tetragrammaton, or the PROPER NAME of the God of the Bible!  He revealed His name to us (see recommended reading for "His Hallowed Name Revealed Again"), and it has not been faithfully translated for us in scripture.  The original texts are clear in this matter.  When you see this name used in Bible translations in place of God, it is simply a more faithful translation of what was really there to begin with!  We are still referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!  Also, you will hear this name pronounced differently, as there is some debate as to its proper pronunciation.

    The same is true for Yeshua.  "Jesus" in an anglicized version of a Greek translation of a Hebrew name!  That name is Yeshua.  If you watch the Passion of the Christ, you will hear this name!  We are still referring to the same Messiah.  We are not preaching a "different Christ".  We're just calling Him by His given name!  We do this out of respect and a love for the original Hebrew origins of our faith.  (Also, we do not feel it is "wrong" to call Him Jesus.)

     There are many other Hebrew words you will see used often in this movement.  Often times in translation, a word from one language will not have an adequate equivalent in another.  Translators do their best, but there is usually some meaning and much beauty lost when something is moved from the original language to a second, third, and so-on.  Anyone who speaks multiple languages can attest to this!  Our choice to use Hebrew words can be based on love of the language, nuance of meaning, or other factors.  While it can make our "stuff" sound very different, you'll find we strive to remain true to scripture!

  There it is - short and sweet! Don't forget... if you have concerns about this movement you would like to see addressed, reply here or send us a message on Facebook!

   May YHVH bless and keep you!

Messianic Misconception #1: Apostasy!

One of the chief and most common objections to the "Messianic Movement" or "Hebrew Roots Movement" is that we are in apostasy. This means, put simply, that we have moved out of the realm of the teachings of Christianity and into something foreign and WRONG! This is backed up with other objections, which will be discussed in more detail in later postings. For now, we'll just cover apostasy by itself.

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Regardless of the reasoning behind it, if this accusation is true, it is to be taken very seriously. To move outside of the teachings of scripture and apart from what YHVH (God) has commanded or taught us is to move outside of our faith altogether and to separate ourselves from YHVH. In this life, this leads to bad doctrine (of varying degrees), sometimes even as far as cultic practices and behaviors. Worse, all the while believers usually have a false sense of security about where they stand. (Matt 7:21-27) Still worse, we will spend eternity without YHVH. Many times, those raising this accusation against us are simply trying to protect those they love, as they should!

So, is this movement apostate??? I certainly don't believe so. Here's why....

Firstly, we are not moving away from scripture. It is a major part of the Hebrew Roots movement to dig into scripture as much as possible - especially the original language. Because of this digging, we have a new understanding and appreciation of the Word of YHVH. We have, however, found the teachings of scripture to differ from what is widely taught today, and this is where some of the confusion may be setting in. (More about that in a moment.) Also, we do not have "other scriptures" as many apostate groups have. We do not claim special revelation, we're not following a prophet, we are not restricted to what books we can/can not read, and we interpret scripture with scripture - not with other "writings". Some of these issues will be covered in future posts as well. It is common within the movement to hear other sources quoted (such as The Book of Jasher and the Book of Enoch), but these are not held in the esteem of scripture. We consider these to be historical sources (much like Josephus), and we consider them to be trustworthy because they themselves are referenced in the Bible!

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Secondly, we are not leaving our faith. On the contrary, we are growing in our faith! Because of what we've learned in scripture we choose to practice Christianity differently than most, but we are in no way abandoning Christianity! This, I believe, may also be a confusion as a result of many "messianics" leaving their churches. Here is where we need to begin defining our terms! For the purposes of this article, I chose to use the biblical definition of a Christian - one who is following Christ. (I believe this is the only true definition! If we define Christian as someone belonging to the Christian church, then the disciples and other 1st century believers weren't Christians!) We still follow Christ, and we try to follow Him as closely as we can. Therefore, we are still Christians! We simply see and practice the faith from a different perspective. It is common for messianics to leave their churches, however, which often causes controversy and misunderstanding. We often find it difficult to remain in churches because of our differences in doctrine and practice (holidays and such). It becomes uncomfortable, and many seek out messianic congregations with whom they have more in common. Leaving an organization, however, is not the same as leaving the faith, something we have no intention of doing. In fact, leaving the church is often difficult for messianics because of the relationships we have built there!

My third and final argument against an accusation of apostasy is this...We are held to a standard of right/wrong (be it in doctrine or action) by scripture itself. While a relatively young movement and its people are bound to make mistakes, we seek to be true to scripture and no other standard. Whether we adopt or reject any teaching or practice, the decision is made on scripture; and if we later discover any mistakes, we seek to rectify those. Are we perfect? Of course not. Do we always get it spot-on? No. Are our hearts in the right place? Yes! My point is simply that we are not "governed" by people, groups, weird experiences, other writings or anything else. We hold ourselves to the best of our knowledge and ability to scripture - the same Bible used by the church!

This just scratches the surface of what will be addressed as these posts continue. There are certainly other defenses of our faith for you to find, and many may go into more detail. I hope, however, that I have given you enough for you to begin accurately assessing the Hebrew Roots movement. If you weigh the arguments, and you still think we are apostate, then by all means you must reject our teachings and defend your own faith. If you find, however, that we are teaching truth, embrace it! Yeshua (Jesus) taught that the truth would set us free (John 8:32), but He also said that truth would come from following Him and living in His Word (John 8:31)! We must be careful to make sure we find the right truth!

In future posts, I will address other concerns about this movement. If you have specific concerns you would like to see addressed, please comment here, on the post "Messianic Misconceptions - Intro", or leave us a message on our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you! Be blessed.

Messianic Misconceptions - Intro

  Since coming into a Hebrew Roots perspective of the faith less than a year ago, I have heard many objections to the movement and its teachings.  Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish if someone is objecting from a standpoint of sincerity or attack, but either way many are voicing their concerns.  I feel it is important for us to listen to these concerns and take them seriously.  After all, anyone (including ourselves) can be mistaken about something, and there is always room in everyone for growth and learning!  I would certainly not expect anyone to "jump on board" any belief system or movement without doing their homework and checking everything by scripture, so I am glad to hear objections and challenges!  However, when these concerns are voiced, we need to answer them.  Any true believer and seeker of truth will want to hear our answers in order to weigh the evidence and decide for themselves.  In addition, many of us will face these and other concerns among our friends, families, and even churches.  We should always be ready and able to accurately communicate our faith to anyone asking! (1 Peter 3:15)

  For this reason, I am beginning a new series - Messianic Misconceptions!  Each article will address one misconception or concern that I have heard voiced about our teachings.  You must, of course, weigh the arguments for yourself to decide, but I will do my best to provide an accurate and clear representation of both the argument and its response.  There are, naturally, many other resources you can find to support and defend both sides of the argument, and I hope you will do your homework.  It is a passion of mine that all believers take their faith seriously and give YHVH (God) the devotion and due diligence He deserves!  Don't stop here!  Take your search as far and as deep as you can until you are fully convinced in your own mind what the Truth (as defined in scripture) is! (Romans 14:5)

   In addition to your own reading, it may be helpful for your friends and family to read these articles as well if, maybe, they, too, are skeptical or concerned.  Everyone is welcome here, and comments are always appreciated! (Respectful and on-topic comments only, please.)

    If you have specific objections with which you have been confronted and would like to see addressed, please comment to this post.  I will, then, include those in my series.  Check back soon for our first objection!

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Cancelling Christmas

     In my February post entitled "A Line in the Sand" I posed the question, "If I am HIS child, if I am HIS servant, why am I the one defining the boundaries?"  It is from this launching point that I write today, though I had not intended to wait so long for my follow-up.  If you have not read that article, please do so before reading this one.  I sincerely want anyone reading this to understand where I am coming from as what I'm about to say could be easily misunderstood.

     As I mentioned, several months ago (though still less than a year), my faith was greatly changed - and deepened - as I was challenged to re-evaluate all of my boundaries and beliefs.  It was one of those times in my life when I felt as if God were "force-feeding" me, in a sense.  He seemed to be saying so much to me through His Word and through sermons, etc., and He seemed to be saying it so quickly, that I could hardly keep up!  Times like that are rare and amazing, but at the same time, they can seem overwhelming as well.  Little did I know then that He was getting ready to turn my world upside down!

     I share this story with you in hopes of connecting with some of you who have experienced or are currently experiencing the same.  I hope my experience and perspective will encourage you in your faith and maybe even take you a little deeper!  I welcome your comments and input.

     I was presented (via sermon) with Deuteronomy, chapter 12.  Here, YHWH (God) is about to take the Israelites into the Promised Land.  He, however, warns them concerning the pagan religions that they will run into when they get there.  He explicitly instructs them to keep His ways and not to try to "repackage" their ways or use their items of worship for Him.  This was the first time that I had been presented with His line in the sand concerning proper worship of Him. 

     It was then that I began to realize... How we worship matters!  Not only that, it isn't up to us!  These, to me, were radical ideas.  I had always believed that my heart, my sincerity, my intention was the ultimate factor in any worship.  Now, I've got a preacher I've never heard of showing me where the Bible says otherwise!!!  Needless to say, that presented a small problem in my faith.  I had to, at that point, (as I mentioned in the previous article) either abide by his boundaries, or create my own.  It was either obedience or rebellion - not both!

Be careful!  Otherwise, your hearts will deceive you and you will turn away to serve other gods and worship them."  Deuteronomy 11:16, ISV

     Why was this such a big deal?  I continued to learn about the origins of many of our modern-day "Christian" ways - pagan origins!  I'll use Christmas as an example.  The tree, the lights, the gifts, Santa and His elves, even the date of Christmas are all pagan in origin.  None of it points to or represents the birth of Christ, as we are taught.  The same can be said for Valentine's Day and even Easter.  I'm not sure how these were all brought into our Christian tradition, so I won't argue that point, but when you see where it comes from, one thing is certain - they are all pagan holidays that have been repackaged ("Christianized") for us. 

     When I try to reconcile that with Deuteronomy 12, I can't.  If they began pagan, then they are unacceptable to YHWH!!!  No matter how sincere I am, no matter how much I love and serve Christ, how I worship/celebrate Him must be done God's way.  Wow.... bombshell.  I don't know any better word for it.

     So, I did what I have heard of others in my situation doing (although I don't know any of them personally).  Yup, I cancelled Christmas.  I don't even know if I did it well, especially when it came to the sensitive issues of the holidays with my family, but I did it.  We celebrated Hanukkah instead.  And I don't think we did that well, either!  Neither I nor my husband had any Hanukkah experience, so we did the best we could.  Then, we skipped Valentine's Day altogether and celebrated Passover, not Easter. 

     How was it?  At the same time wonderful and eye-opening, challenging and awkward.  We intend to continue to learn about and celebrate the biblical holidays, that we've always considered to be Jewish.  As for now, our celebrations are novice at best, but over time, we'll learn.  I'm not sure anyone who knows understand why - and I'm pretty sure they don't like it, but we have to be obedient to God.

     Am I saying that if you celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. you're not a real Christian?  No, I've been a real Christian for years now, and I celebrated those holidays up until this past December.  And, I'm not saying that this is a salvation issue.  We can only be saved by Christ on the cross.  I have, however, come to see it as a worship issue, and I believe YHWH will continue to bring His people to that same crossroads.  We are all going to have to choose one side of that line or the other.  It is difficult for me to see Christmas trees in churches, believers celebrating Halloween, and many other things that I, over time, have come to view from a different perspective.  I know, however, many sincere believers that do these things, and I do not doubt their commitment to their faith. 

     It is my heart, however, to write about the challenges of faith in hopes of both challenging and encouraging others.  I do believe this to be an issue for modern-day Christians, and I hope you will consider this prayerfully.  There are many resources and ministries through which you can do your own research, but I'm posting here the one that He used to wake me up.  It is long, but it is well worth it, and I encourage you to take the time to watch.