Addressing the Theological and Spiritual Issues of the Broad Messianic Movement
Messianic people all claim to have a Torah foundation. Yet when confronted with difficult issues such as slavery, the ethics of lying, or the presence of animal sacrifices–gloss over these matters in the Pentateuch. How do we approach issues such as these?
How do modern Believers approach the Torah for the post-resurrection era? Significant Torah issues, with lasting effects on society at large–involve our approach to humans made in the image of God, and the Torah penalties for murder.
Today’s Messianic movement is in broad agreement that Believers need to have a “Torah foundation.” But what does this actually mean? What does this actually involve?
When you read through the Torah, do you have difficulty determining what commandments can actually be followed today in the Twenty-First Century? When you look at various instructions to Ancient Israel, how are you supposed to consider their importance as a modern person? Are there actually commandments that appear in the Torah, which are only situational to persons who lived in the Ancient Near East?
In the past several decades, the numbers of today’s Messianic movement have grown because of an increased interest of non-Jewish Believers wanting to tangibly connect to their faith heritage in the Scriptures of Israel. Is the non-Jewish interest in the Torah, a modern manifestation of legalism and people trying to earn their salvation? Or, is it something to be legitimately anticipated as we get closer and closer to the Messiah’s return?
