Torah-observant Messianism—what on earth is that?
Introduction
In Islam you only have two denominations, Shiite and Sunni; but in Christianity there were reported to be approximately 38,000 denominations in 2010,1 and many more which could not be verified due to their insignificance. By the time you read this booklet, there will be lots of new ones. Any idea why it is like that?
The only logical reason I can think of is because people do not take the Word of YHWH as literally as they should. Scripture after Scripture is being spiritualized, and teachings based on the doctrines and traditions of men are being accepted above YHWH’s original and literal teachings.
To us at the Hebraic Roots Teaching Institute, the literal sense of Scripture alone is the whole essence of faith. We believe all heresies and errors have originated, not from the simple words of Scripture, but from neglecting the simple words of Scripture and from the habit of purely making assumptions — that is, by spiritualizing Scriptures.
Globally, many people have reached the point where they do not attend church services anymore. They want to embark on the incredible journey of discovery on the Ancient Paths for the "original meanings". Believers are not ignorant, pew-sitting church goers where the "Reverend" talks and they listen and accept everything. No, they have become intelligent researchers of the Word as the Bereans did,2 and they tap into resources most "Old Reverends" do not even know exist—i.e., the Internet.
Many Believers around the globe, as of late, desire to seek out their God-given roots, the Hebraic Roots of their faith. Y’shua was a Hebrew,3 a Jew from the Tribe of Judah,4 and Believers want to prepare themselves as a Hebrew Bride for the return of their Hebrew Messiah.
As Last-day Believers in Messiah, people want to know the absolute truth about YHWH from His Word. To a large degree, there is much from His Word about which we can be completely confident. These are the things for which we should be willing to suffer rather than deny. However,
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
2 Acts 17:10-12
3 John 4:9
4 Isaiah 11 and Jer 23:5
4
because of our human frailties, none of us will ever know and perfectly understand all the truths in Scripture.5 We will never be completely able to elucidate and interpret all of Scripture correctly. Moreover, apart from our human imperfections, there are many passages in the Bible which are extremely difficult to accurately interpret.
YHWH has called us, and many like-minded Believers like us, to do two things. First, we are to never give up studying and seeking the correct interpretation of any given Bible passage. Second, such opportunities are golden moments for us to learn to show grace and love to others whose understanding of a given passage may differ from ours.
Our Hebrew-rooted Believers use a slightly different vocabulary to that which Christians might be accustomed to. We have chosen to use what many refer to as a Messianic6 vocabulary. The reasons being: Firstly, using Hebraic-sounding words is another way to help you associate with the Hebraic Roots of our faith. Secondly, these words are not merely an outward show for us, they are truly an expression of who we are as Messianics who have "taken hold" of our Inheritance with Israel. Instead of saying "Jesus", we call our Saviour "Y’shua", the way His parents would have addressed Him. In addition, rather than referring to Y’shua as "Christ", we use the word "Messiah", an Anglicized version of the Hebrew "Moshiach".
Judaism is the belief in the literal interpretation of the Old Covenant Scriptures, known as the Hebrew Bible. That would make Messianic Judaism, then, a belief in the literal interpretation of both the Old and the New Covenant Scriptures—because Messianics firmly believe that Y’shua is the Messiah Redeemer and Son of YHWH (God).
No matter from what background the Believer originally comes, we believe that all who explore our teachings will be blessed. It is our prayer that all will truly come to realize that the truth in the Scripture is more precious than gold, and we do that by "believing the Scriptures like a child".7 May the Father continue to lift the veil from our eyes and mould us into a generation that will be pleasing to Him. Let us all pray as the Psalmist in Psalm 119:18—"Open my eyes so that I may behold the wonderful things from Your Torah (Teachings)."
5 Isaiah 64:6
6 Messianics or Messianism is the belief in the Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world–in Hebrew transliteration as Y’shua HaMoshiach–known by Christians as Jesus the Christ
7 Mark 10:15
5
Introduction
In Islam you only have two denominations, Shiite and Sunni; but in Christianity there were reported to be approximately 38,000 denominations in 2010,1 and many more which could not be verified due to their insignificance. By the time you read this booklet, there will be lots of new ones. Any idea why it is like that?
The only logical reason I can think of is because people do not take the Word of YHWH as literally as they should. Scripture after Scripture is being spiritualized, and teachings based on the doctrines and traditions of men are being accepted above YHWH’s original and literal teachings.
To us at the Hebraic Roots Teaching Institute, the literal sense of Scripture alone is the whole essence of faith. We believe all heresies and errors have originated, not from the simple words of Scripture, but from neglecting the simple words of Scripture and from the habit of purely making assumptions — that is, by spiritualizing Scriptures.
Globally, many people have reached the point where they do not attend church services anymore. They want to embark on the incredible journey of discovery on the Ancient Paths for the "original meanings". Believers are not ignorant, pew-sitting church goers where the "Reverend" talks and they listen and accept everything. No, they have become intelligent researchers of the Word as the Bereans did,2 and they tap into resources most "Old Reverends" do not even know exist—i.e., the Internet.
Many Believers around the globe, as of late, desire to seek out their God-given roots, the Hebraic Roots of their faith. Y’shua was a Hebrew,3 a Jew from the Tribe of Judah,4 and Believers want to prepare themselves as a Hebrew Bride for the return of their Hebrew Messiah.
As Last-day Believers in Messiah, people want to know the absolute truth about YHWH from His Word. To a large degree, there is much from His Word about which we can be completely confident. These are the things for which we should be willing to suffer rather than deny. However,
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
2 Acts 17:10-12
3 John 4:9
4 Isaiah 11 and Jer 23:5
4
because of our human frailties, none of us will ever know and perfectly understand all the truths in Scripture.5 We will never be completely able to elucidate and interpret all of Scripture correctly. Moreover, apart from our human imperfections, there are many passages in the Bible which are extremely difficult to accurately interpret.
YHWH has called us, and many like-minded Believers like us, to do two things. First, we are to never give up studying and seeking the correct interpretation of any given Bible passage. Second, such opportunities are golden moments for us to learn to show grace and love to others whose understanding of a given passage may differ from ours.
Our Hebrew-rooted Believers use a slightly different vocabulary to that which Christians might be accustomed to. We have chosen to use what many refer to as a Messianic6 vocabulary. The reasons being: Firstly, using Hebraic-sounding words is another way to help you associate with the Hebraic Roots of our faith. Secondly, these words are not merely an outward show for us, they are truly an expression of who we are as Messianics who have "taken hold" of our Inheritance with Israel. Instead of saying "Jesus", we call our Saviour "Y’shua", the way His parents would have addressed Him. In addition, rather than referring to Y’shua as "Christ", we use the word "Messiah", an Anglicized version of the Hebrew "Moshiach".
Judaism is the belief in the literal interpretation of the Old Covenant Scriptures, known as the Hebrew Bible. That would make Messianic Judaism, then, a belief in the literal interpretation of both the Old and the New Covenant Scriptures—because Messianics firmly believe that Y’shua is the Messiah Redeemer and Son of YHWH (God).
No matter from what background the Believer originally comes, we believe that all who explore our teachings will be blessed. It is our prayer that all will truly come to realize that the truth in the Scripture is more precious than gold, and we do that by "believing the Scriptures like a child".7 May the Father continue to lift the veil from our eyes and mould us into a generation that will be pleasing to Him. Let us all pray as the Psalmist in Psalm 119:18—"Open my eyes so that I may behold the wonderful things from Your Torah (Teachings)."
5 Isaiah 64:6
6 Messianics or Messianism is the belief in the Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world–in Hebrew transliteration as Y’shua HaMoshiach–known by Christians as Jesus the Christ
7 Mark 10:15
5
Embark on your learning experience with us as we continue our journey into the Scriptures on the good old "ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls" (Jer 6:16).
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