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The greatest threat to the Messianic Jewish
(Hebrew Christian) Movement in the 21st Century is the de-spiritualization
of it's ranks by legalism in the form of mandatory Torah observance.
I believe the reason for "Torah
observant legalism" overtaking the "gospel of grace" is from unbiblical compromise and
conformation to a false spirit of religiosity among Messianic Jewish
leaders. To make the situation worse, grace oriented Messianic
Jewish (Hebrew Christian) leaders have themselves been polarized by various
secondary issues. To reverse the stemming tide of legalism before the entire
movement is lost, we must put aside our differences and work together for
the common goal of the gospel.
To combat these false spirits, believers
who know the true gospel of grace must pray continuously for the Spirit to
shake off the complacency that has permitted this error to perpetuate
itself. Believers opposing legalism must not only be doctrinally correct,
they must also be empowered by the Spirit to convince those in error to
change. Let me take some time to explain why legalism in the form of strict
Torah Observance has successfully overtaken the correct doctrine of Grace
and how Grace oriented Messianic Judaism can regain the hearts and minds of
believers.
The Messianic Jewish Movement grew out of rebellion against Protestant
Christian missionary programs which did not understand the needs of
Messianic Jewish (Hebrew Christian) believers. Doctrine was oriented towards
grace, with oversight that would prevent believers from professing and
teaching Torah observance. Such programs only perpetuated a "second class"
Hebrew Christian citizenry within the Church, causing worshippers to
mistrust their leadership. In the late 70s through the 80s the Messianic
Jewish movement teaching in most congregations was still largely Grace
oriented, accompanied with some Torah observance. This form of worship and
daily practice still remained true to New Covenant standards and gave
worshippers the freedom to express their Jewishness.
In the mid-90’s David Stern’s revolutionary
book , "The Messianic Jewish Manifesto" started turning belief towards
strict Torah Observance. I believe that Stern’s intent was that of
dismantling the "Pauline" teachings of Grace, to revert back to the Law. He
and other supportive Messianic Jewish teachers perceived the Grace teachings
of the Apostle Paul to be the greatest stumbling block to evangelizing the
Jewish people. He
therefore intentionally rebelled against New Covenant doctrine
believing that Jews would not accept any Gospel except one that was
totally Torah observant. In doing this, he and other supportive
teachers adopted a dangerously heretical course. Strict Torah
observance has now become the standard in much of the Messianic Jewish
movement.
Stern's book adopts a "Social Darwinist" form of deception by promoting an
erroneous historical portrait of Paul to conform to his religious and
social agenda. Social Darwinists justify promoting the "big lie" if it
serves to promote the continuity of their social cause.
In developing a deceptive historical portrait of Paul that
would accept Torah Observant legalism, these Messianic Jewish teachers had
to take an approach that would disregard the accurate history of Paul in
his evolution from "Saul of Tarsus" persecutor of the Church in Israel and
the Diaspora, to the "Apostle Paul", church founder, teacher and evangelist
to both Jew and Gentile alike. They would have to sell to their flock
the idea that "Rav Shaul" remained Torah observant, even while ministering
to the Gentiles in the Greco/Roman provinces of Asia Minor. They also
had to assert that the proselytes of Rav Shaul were Torah observant.
The task of selling this "spin" was simple for most of the devoted believers
within the Messianic Jewish movement, but much less so for those educated in
Church history and New Covenant teachings. Today, most
Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles have accepted Anti-Pauline
doctrine unknowingly by believing in a distorted
historical portrait of Paul.
Today almost all dissenting teachers have been ostracized
from the movement. Those that remain but disagree have learned
a certain "politically correct" posture to take regarding legalism and
have therefore been neutralized. Both the UMJC and MJA are now
supportive of Sternian doctrine. Major ministries like Jews for Jesus
and Chosen People Ministries spend little effort in combating this
legalism, despite their Grace oriented teaching. They have both
largely capitulated their efforts in maintaining basic doctrinal
integrity within the MJM as a whole. It looks like the battle against
legalism is being lost! But the legalist leaders have not yet faced
the repercussion of their folly , nor the full opposition of their
Grace oriented Messianic Jewish and supportive Christian brethren. It
is my intent to structure a logical and persuasive campaign to cause
Grace oriented Messianic Jewish brethren to rise to the cause, rather
than shrink away in defeat.
If a grace oriented gospel is to successfully combat legalism, grace
oriented leaders must first pray and repent of their complacency.
These leaders must be empowered by the Spirit to achieve their goals. They
must also realize that they cannot succeed in defeating the well
planed "Torah observance" orientation without a well structured
program confronting the "Rav Shaul" error and offering a freedom of
choice for those who choose to remain Torah observant in a non-obligatory
fashion.
Torah observant Messianic Jews and Gentiles too
must realize
that they cannot continue to teach doctrine opposing basic New
Covenant truths without suffering the paralyzing spiritual
consequences. The constant hope for "revival" in the MJM cannot be met
until the Spirit is given the freedom to touch individuals. The
perceived strength in legalism is it’s insistence upon conformity
within the movement. This of-course, has always been the true weakness
of the Law. It cannot succeed in emancipating souls by liturgical
means. Only by the Spirit and the freedom of Grace are sinners truly
freed from the bondage of sin and death. |
