How Hebrew Are Our Roots Anyway?

There is a movement within Christianity which is sparking some concern among Church leaders. This movement, known as Hebrew Roots Movement or sometimes the Christian Hebrew Roots Movement, is a 20^th century global spiritual phenomenon that advocates the Church’s return and adherence to their interpretation and presentation of the first century faith of Jesus, whom they refer to asהַמָּשִׁ֛יחַ    יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ - Yeshua HaMashiach (“Jesus the Messiah”). Those who advocate such a return encourage Christians and Church leaders to seek a better understanding of the culture, history, and religious/political backdrop of the era in which Jesus lived and ministered which led to the core differences between the Jewish and later Christian communities.

At first blush, the desire to better understand Christianity’s Jewish Roots seems harmless enough. It’s not uncommon for pastors to ask supposed experts to perform rituals, like Passover, and explain how those rituals morphed into Christian rituals, like Communion. On further investigation, the Hebrew Roots Movement is not as compatible with biblical Christianity as it may seem. The Hebrew Roots Movement is not easily defined and warrants a more careful examination. There are two branches of the Hebrew Roots Movement which have had an influence in certain Christian circles.

Hebrew Roots Movement

History

Since the early 20th century, several different religious organizations have been taught that Christians should adopt a lifestyle of keeping the Law (Torah), observing the Sabbath, and maintaining the annual Jewish Feasts. Such groups include Messianic Judaism in 1916, the Sacred Name Movement in 1937, and the Worldwide Church of God in the 1930s, and, most recently, the Hebrew Roots Movement. Hebrew Roots, however, is a grassroots movement without any ecclesiastical superstructure and does not adhere to any of the belief systems of the afore mentioned movements; although there are commonalities.

In 1994, Dean and Susan Wheelock received their Federal Trademark for the term Hebrew Roots, after which they began publishing the Hebrew Roots® magazine in April/May 1998, and later a website: http://www.hebrewroots.net/. The goal of this group is “Exploring the Hebrew Roots of the Faith Once Delivered,” “roots” which go back to not only Jesus Christ and the Apostles, but to the Nazarenes of the first century and, ultimately, the original Hebrews, Abraham and his offspring. Those who continue in this Hebraic walk seek out the history, culture, and faith of the first century believers who, like Abraham and Moses, obeyed God’s voice, charge, commandments, statutes, and laws. The Hebrew Roots movement began emerging as a distinct phenomenon in the mid-1990s (1993–96). In 1997, Dean Cozzens of Open Church Ministries (Colorado Springs, CO) published a prophecy titled "The Hebrew Movement", which revealed that God had foreordained four major moves for the 20th century, Pentecostalism, Faith-healing, the Charismatic Movement and finally the Hebrew Roots Movement. In this prophecy, the Hebrew Roots Movement is the "final stage of empowerment" before Christ returns.

The movement has accelerated in the last few years, mainly because of a shift within the Messianic Judaism community. The Hebrew Roots movement and Messianic Judaism diverge on the issue of One Law theology (one law for the native born and the sojourner, c.f. Numbers 15:16) which Hebrew Roots subscribes to, but which Messianic Judaism denies.

Theology

Hebrew Roots theology includes at least seven distinct core tenets that help us to understand it better.

1.       Both the Old and New Testaments are held as holy books, but the Old Testament takes precedent over the New. The Law (Torah) serves as the foundation to all subsequent understanding and interpretation of Scripture. A foundational distinction of the Hebrew Roots movement is the manner in which Scripture is translated and interpreted so that later testimony (particularly the New Testament) does not conflict with Torah commandments. It is believed by those in the Hebrew Roots movement that Jesus Christ did not come to establish a new religion or to “do away” with the law.

2.       Salvation derives from the belief in Jesus Christ as personal savior, not from commandment/Torah keeping; however, believers are rewarded according to their fruits, works, and obedience. Hebrew Roots followers believe that sin is breaking the written Torah (cf. 1 John 3:4), all of the purity laws such as dietary restrictions and Sabbath keeping are in the written Torah, thus it is sin to not keep the Sabbath and to eat forbidden food, among other social and religious observance laws. It is also true, according to Hebrew Roots followers, that those who are truly born of God will not continue in sin (cf. 1John 3:9), therefore, if you are not moved to keep the Sabbath or keep dietary restrictions, you must not truly be born of God.

3.       The Jewish Oral Law (the Talmud) does not represent Scriptural requirements to be obeyed, but can provide deeper understanding as to how some have applied the Scriptures to practical life. Pagan traditions adopted by Judaism and Christianity are to be avoided.

4.       Old Testament/Torah Laws and the teachings of the New Testament are to be obeyed by both Jews and Gentiles (proselytes).

5.       The Hebrew language is generally studied because it amplifies an understanding of the Scriptural text.

6.       Unlike mainline Christians, followers of the Hebrew Roots movement actively study the Scriptures as well as the history, faith, and culture of the first and second century, to understand how traditional Christianity diverged from its Hebrew roots. Generally speaking, however, they do not recognize the work of modern first century historians outside of their own viewpoint.

7.       The מוֹעֵד (mo’ed), or “appointed times” listed in Leviticus 23, including the 7th day Sabbath and the Feast days, foreshadow the 1st and 2nd comings of the Messiah and the Creator's plan of salvation for the world.

Hebrew Roots teachers also emphasize the adoption of all Christians into the faith of Abraham, often called the unified "House of Israel". This unified "House of Israel" consists of Jews and non-Jews who maintain faith in the Messiah and a Spirit-led adherence to the Torah as a lifestyle of faith and love. Hebrew Roots followers believe that Christians have the "testimony of Jesus," but are often found innocently to be living lawlessly; according to the erroneous idea that Jesus died to do away with the Torah, thus abolishing it and any requirements to "guard" or "keep" it, which is contrary to Scripture. The Hebrew Roots movement emphasizes the completion of the unified "House of Israel" in Jesus, which includes both Jews and non-Jews. Its followers believe they are co-heirs and equal members of the chosen people of the God of Israel through the blood of Jesus, and that returning to a 1st-century mindset provides deeper and more authentic insights into the Hebrew idioms of the New Testament which provides deeper cultural understanding of Scripture.

Christian Hebrew Roots Movement

The Hebrew Roots movement is related to a subgroup known as the Christian Hebrew Roots Movement. This subgroup follows the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:3-17) and the feasts of the Lord (Lev 23:1-44), but like mainstream Christianity believes that all other Old Testament requirements have been done away.

The Christian Hebrew Roots movement rejects many of the same practices of mainstream Christianity that the Hebrew Roots movement rejects. For example, they reject the idea that Christian communion is a new institution established by Jesus which replaces the Passover. It follows, instead, what it sees as the biblical teachings set forth in the New Testament regarding the "nature of Communion" as an "amendment" to the Passover service.

The Christian Hebrew Roots movement does not teach a return to the Law as dispensed by the religious leaders (Pharisees, Scribes, Priests) whom Jesus rebuked as hypocrites. They interpret the "law" as pertaining to the Torah, and not the Jewish Oral Law, as the Hebrew Roots movement interprets it. Instead, the Christian Hebrew Roots Movement follows what it claims is the worship pattern of Jesus, whom they claim freed mankind from the yoke of the letter of the law; and, in fulfilling the law, Jesus taught Christians to practice only the Ten Commandments and feasts of the Lord which make up "the acceptable year of the Lord" in his speech inaugurating his personal earthly ministry.

Both movements include adherents who are of Jewish heritage as well as Gentile heritage. The Christian Hebrew Roots movement is completely nondenominational, consisting of persons from many different religious backgrounds and teaches adherence to the health laws of the Torah but not the portions of the Torah which it believes were abandoned by Jesus. As such, they function as a sort of "bridge" between true Hebrew Roots theology and mainstream Christianity.

Whether formally Hebrew Roots Movement or its more mainline Christianized subgroup, there are several things they have in common which are notable here. First, they believe Christians should follow the dietary prescriptions of the Old Testament given to Israel. Secondly, the Sabbath should be observed in a Jewish historical, cultural context (i.e. no more Sunday worship in favor of a traditionally Jewish Shabbat). Thirdly, all Christians must follow the Jewish festivals and feasts of the Old Testament. Finally, and this is a biggie, most do not believe that Jesus Christ is Yaweh God of the Old Testament – particularly in the more hard core Hebrew Roots Movement.

Biblical Perspective

As Bible believing Christians, it is our duty to turn to the Scriptures for clarity on this topic. What, then, does the Bible say about our Hebrew roots as Christians?

Abraham and the Law

We, as Gentile believers, were not grafted into the Law and Judaism but into the faith of Abraham which preceded the Law and Jewish customs (Romans 4, Romans 11:17-24, Galatians 3:15-18). The Mosaic Law/Torah was given because of sin and was intended to be Israel’s (and mankind’s) teacher to lead us to the salvation that can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19,24,25). Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of the law (Matthew 5:17-20) for all time (John 19:30, Romans 5:12-21). We died to the Law through the death of Christ so that we might be joined to Him in life and freedom (Romans 7:1-6, Galatians 2:19,21). Jesus Christ “is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:4). Christians mature in Christ and please Him by the same means by which you were saved, by faith, not by following the Law (Gal. 3:1-4).

New Testament Teaching

Nowhere in the Bible do we find Gentile believers being instructed to follow Levitical laws or Jewish customs. In fact, just the opposite is true; we do find several examples where Jewish Christians are reprimanded for trying to convince Gentile Christians to follow the Law (Acts 15, Galatians, Romans 14, Titus 1).

Church History

It is true, the original Chrisitians, believers in Jesus Chrfist, were Jewish. For a time, they kept the Old Testament feasts and rituals, worshipped in the Temple in Jerusalem, and retained their distinctly Jewish roots. This, however, was a problem for the newly born Church of Jesus Christ. The gospel was intended to cross cultural, socio-economic, and gender barriers and render them void in the Body of Christ (Gal. 3:26-29), but early Jewish Christians refused to take the gospel outside of Israel. Therefore, God had to give new revelation to Peter (Acts 10), Paul, and the Christian leaders at Jerusalem (Acts 15). Yet, the biggest problem the Church addressed in its first several years was the problem of Judaizers – those Jews who taught that Gentile Christians must at least observe the rituals and feasts of the Old Testament along with the dietary laws if they are going to be part of the Church. This was a heresy Paul fought throughout his first missionary journey and which raised its ugly head on occasion afterward. Within 30 years of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection the Church had morphed into a predominantly Gentile body; effectively nullifying the problem of the Judaizers. God even providentially put the nail in the Judaizers’ coffin by allowing for the destruction of the Temple and dispersion of the Jews (including Jewish Christians) in AD 70.

Conclusion

 Judaizer theology seems to come back into the Church at certain times. I believe we are experiencing a resurgence of Judaizing today. Do I have a problem with a Christian seeking to understand better ancient Hebrew culture so that he might gain a richer perspective on the culture during Jesus’ day? Not at all. If I did, I would have wasted thousands of dollars and many years in Bible college and Seminary. Do I have a problem with Christians who are cultural Jews who wish to honor their heritage by observing certain festivals and rituals? Certainly not. As long as they aren’t trying to Christianize something that was never meant to be Christian I see no harm in it (e.g. Passover and Communion do not commemorate the same event, circumcision and baptism are not identical, etc.). Is there a problem with a professing Christian attempting to take Christianity back to its Hebrew Roots so that we can either 1) complete our full salvation through the Law, or 2) walk a fuller more God-pleasing life by following the Law? Yes, I do. That is tantamount to the same Judaizing heresy condemned by the Church in Acts 15. Jesus fulfilled the Law because mankind could not. His obedience in fulfilling the Law and paying the penalty required by the Law for sin through his death, burial, and resurrection has freed me from sin and the need to keep the Law in any shape or form. Those who prescribe we that we must live in obedience to the law to be saved or to please God are no less guilty of heresy than the Judaizers whom Paul condemned.

We must be careful not to follow the wolves in sheep’s clothing who would deceive us into becoming something we are not. The Church of Jesus Christ is a beautiful conglomeration of Jew, Gentile, man, woman, slave, free, rich, poor, American, and the rest of the world. Our allegiance to Jesus supercedes any other socio-economic or ethnic tie we may have. So, just how Hebrew are our roots anyway? Not very. It’s been 2,000 years since the Church was a predominantly Jewish organism and 1,943 years since official Temple worship ended. The Church is distinct from Israel in origin, purpose, and destiny. We are not Abraham’s step-children; we are those who have been redeemed by the Lamb, adopted into the family of God, and as the Bride of Christ we will rule and reign with him. Let us stand for the pure and simple gospel of salvation by grace through faith without works of ANY kind!