Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash
J.K. McKee delivers the May 2022 Outreach Israel News update.
Across the broad Messianic community, there is a great appreciation and high value for things of Torah, a Torah foundation for one’s reading of the Holy Scriptures, and for looking to the weekly Torah portion as a source of spiritual and theological inspiration. But at the same time, the subject matter of the place of the Torah or the Law of Moses in the lives of Messiah followers, Jewish and non-Jewish, can be very controversial. There is a wide spectrum of beliefs, ranging from not only Torah validity, relevance, and application—but the place of Torah in the future of God’s people. There are things that many of us have encountered which are generally good and positive, other things which are at various stages of development, and a few matters which if not kept in check and monitored, can severely ruin the legitimate work of the Lord which has been happening in our day.
From the very early start of my ministry (2002-2004), I saw a significant need for a thorough defense of Torah validity for Messianic people. To this day, our publication The New Testament Validates Torah is our biggest and broadest seller, as it addresses all of the major Apostolic Scriptures passages which tend to be used, claiming that God’s Torah has been abolished for the post-resurrection era. Yet, there is a huge difference between offering a robust defense for the ongoing validity of the Torah, and actually implementing it. Believing that God’s Torah is valid means one thing to one group, and another thing to another group. At one end of the spectrum are those who may think that it simply means that we have to simply maintain a high appreciation for the Pentateuch as Biblical history—and at the other end of the spectrum are those who believe that a restoration of Israel involves a complete restoration of tribal patriarchy and clannism.
In my capacities as a teacher, I have found myself in agreement with many people across the Messianic Jewish and Hebrew Roots movements, about the ongoing validity and relevance of God’s Torah. I have also found myself in (considerable) disagreement, at times, as to how the Torah is implemented in the lives of God’s own. Still, I think the considerable majority of people out there see some kind of restoration or reappreciation of Torah as a good thing, and can legitimately recognize areas of genuine agreement. With the coming next phase of Messianic development and shifting of the generations, it is useful that we also constructively work through present areas of disagreement, and no longer permit overly-simplistic perspectives of some matters to prevail. This article, “God’s Torah and Today’s Messianic People,” intends to help by cataloguing some of the areas where we agree, and some of the areas where we presently disagree, so we can move forward in the significant purposes He has for our faith community in the future.
God’s Torah Has Not Been Abolished
Agree
Most people within the orbit of today’s Messianic community (with the most notable exception being those who adhere to some kind of dispensational theology) adhere to some form of post-resurrection era validity of the Torah. Per the Apostle Paul’s own statements that the words of Yeshua the Messiah have final authority (1 Timothy 6:3), many turn to the following exclamation from His Sermon on the Mount:
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until Heaven and Earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Torah, until all be accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches people, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19, author’s rendering).
Any theological investigation into the ongoing significance and relevance of the Torah of Moses for the Messiah’s followers, almost always tends to take His teaching in Matthew 5:17-19 as being primary to any other statements which may appear elsewhere. The Lord affirmed that until Heaven and Earth, meaning our current universe, pass away, that Moses’ Teaching would remain critical direction for His followers to heed. Anything which may appear to contradict this in the Apostolic Writings, would need to be reevaluated. A notable example would be the debate regarding the proper translation of telos for Romans 10:4, which in most Bibles reads along the lines of: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (NASU). Much improved renderings of telos include: “goal” (CJSB/TLV), “culmination” (TNIV/2011 NIV), or “climax.”
Regardless of where they stand on many of the specifics of what it means for the Torah to have ongoing validity in the post-resurrection era, a considerable bulk of today’s Messianic people should be able to recognize that much of the dismissal seen of the Tanach or Old Testament in contemporary Christianity, has not at all been good or positive! In fact, a considerable number of the huge crises which the Church is facing—most notably as they involve human sexuality—directly originate from the idea that the Torah of Moses has nothing substantial to communicate to men and women of faith, and perhaps has indeed been abrogated.
God’s Torah is the Foundation of Scripture
Agree
Most of today’s Messianic people, who you will encounter, will agree in some significant way, that the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, are the foundation of all of Scripture. It is widely affirmed that you cannot have a house, without a foundation, and that the Prophets, Writings, and Apostolic Writings all build upon the foundation of the Torah. Yeshua Himself affirmed after His resurrection, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Torah of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44, author’s rendering). This shows a progression from the foundation of the Torah, to the further building being composed of the Prophets, the Writings (which include Psalms), and later the Apostolic Writings (New Testament).
Today’s Messianic community, hopefully with its focus around Yeshua the Messiah and His redemptive work, will recognize that even though the Torah of Moses is the foundation of Holy Scripture, that it is hardly all of Holy Scripture. It is easy to recognize that much of contemporary Christianity is severely suffering by often having a working Bible of the New Testament, and perhaps Psalms and Proverbs. Yet, there are various people in today’s Messianic sphere of influence, whose working Bible in reverse may only be composed of the Torah. Recognizing that the proverbial “house” of Holy Scripture begins with, but also does not end with, Moses’ Teaching, is something many have a theologically mature handle on, although various others do not.
The Weightier Matters of Torah Are to be Followed By All
Agree
Most people in today’s Messianic movement will agree that the contemporary Church is suffering, because it has largely dismissed the ethical and moral principles contained in the Torah of Moses. The Apostolic Decree of Acts 15:19-21, 29, the non-negotiable entry requirements for the Greek and Roman Believers in the First Century C.E., is deeply rooted within the code of Leviticus 18, and for Ancient Israel to be separated from the pagan Canaanites. In His rebuke of various Pharisaical leaders, Yeshua Himself spoke of “the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23, NASU), which are widely agreed to involve our Lord’s decisive interpretation of Moses’ Teaching in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chs. 5-7).
While one can get bogged down into debates and disputes over external and internal sorts of Torah commandments—the truth of the matter is that those who are paying attention to Moses’ Teaching on a regular basis, are going to be in a far better position in understanding God’s character, than those who ignore it or who believe it has been abolished. The instructions of the Torah are to transform our ethics, so that we might be able to see the world from the perspective which God sees the world, especially in returning humanity to what was lost in Eden at the Fall. The biggest controversies facing contemporary religion: heterosexual sin, homosexual sin, abortion, transgenderism, communism—would broadly be solved if we submitted ourselves to the moral code contained in the commandments of the Torah. If we approach the Torah and Tanach as the Bible of Yeshua and His Apostles, and recognize that these Scriptures were the basis for their values and worldview—we will indeed go far.
The Practices Often Classifying Someone as “Torah Observant” Are Ultimately a Matter Between an Individual and the Lord
Probably Agree
Frequently when one employs the label of “Torah observant,” for either Jewish or non-Jewish Believers, one is referring to the following of external instructions such as the seventh-day Sabbath/Shabbat, the moedim or appointed times, and the kosher dietary laws. Our faith community’s adherence to these matters, for sure, are three areas which separate us from a great deal of contemporary Christianity. It can be agreed that there is much to be spiritually gained, from all of God’s people, to them taking a day of rest, remembering the Biblical holidays and seeing Messiah’s fulfillment in them, and in learning to separate holy and unholy from one’s eating habits. And, it can often be overlooked how many of today’s Messianic Jewish Believers were usually not raised in religious homes where these aspects of Torah were necessarily practiced. Many Jewish Believers have their own struggles in considering what role these matters play in their faith practice, just as non-Jewish Believers in the Messianic movement encounter them, and are likewise prompted to consider them.
Acts 15:5 records the view of how some in the First Century C.E. concluded, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses” (ESV). These Pharisees (although not all Pharisees) insisted that new Greek and Roman Believers be circumcised as formal proselytes to Judaism, and ordered or coerced to the keep the Torah, in order to be saved or redeemed from sin. The Jerusalem Council decisively ruled against this, with the Apostle Peter instead recognizing, “we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, in the same way as they also are” (Acts 15:11, NASU). James the Just recognized that the salvation of the nations was a critical part in the restoration of Israel’s Kingdom, placing all which was taking place within the rubric of “the words of the Prophets” (Acts 15:15). And indeed, the Prophets foretold that in the Last Days the nations would stream to Zion to be taught Moses’ Teaching (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3). Why would it be necessary to coerce or force anyone to keep the Torah, when prophecy, i.e., the sovereign will of God, would see to it?
The New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:25-27 both speak of the Spirit of God writing the commandments of God onto the new hearts of His people. If one is committed to a life of discipleship and growth in holiness, then there will be a supernatural compulsion to obey more and more of God’s Torah or Law. Will this include things such as non-Jewish Believers remembering Shabbat, the appointed times, and eating a kosher style of diet? There are many people, including my own family, who have been Divinely directed by the Lord to keep these commandments. No one forced us to do this; it was a matter between ourselves, Him, and our study of His Word. While we will certainly testify to others of the changes we have gone through, we will not force or coerce others to do what we have done; that is between them and God, and is ultimately their business.
While today’s Messianic Jewish community does struggle over the issue of non-Jewish Believers and various external aspects of the Torah, it also tends to be recognized how there are indeed many non-Jewish Believers genuinely called by God into the Messianic movement. These are people, who like my family, have been prompted to embrace things like Shabbat or the Biblical holidays, as a part of our growth in holiness—and we are hardly mean-spirited or legalistic about it. We would hope that many others would consider the things that we have, but the course of faith that they are on—and the speed at which God chooses to write God’s commandments on their hearts—might be different with them than it has been with us.
The Seventh-Day Sabbath, Appointed Times, and Dietary Laws Were Only Intended for Ethnic Israel
Disagree
In much of historical Judaism, it has been believed and emphasized that external matters such as the seventh-day Sabbath/Shabbat, moedim or appointed times, and kosher dietary laws (and circumcision) are specific “sign” commandments intended to only be kept by ethnic Israelites and Jews for distinction and separation. Other than various ethical and moral prescriptions in the Torah (such as the so-called “Noahide Laws”), non-Jewish people or Gentiles do not have to observe these matters. Among some Jews, for a non-Jew to keep the Sabbath or Biblical holidays, would not only be considered infringing upon their Jewish identity, but would be an act of disobedience to God, meriting His disfavor upon them. If a non-Jew really wants to do these things, then he or she should go through formal conversion to become a proselyte.
It is easily seen, when one encounters a selection of today’s Messianic Judaism, that there are Messianic Jewish Believers who have the same attitude as much of contemporary Judaism does, when it comes to these matters. In my family’s experience in the Messianic movement since 1995, we have certainly encountered Messianic Jewish people, who believe that my family is deliberately robbing them of their Jewish heritage, because we might rest on Shabbat. Other Messianic Jewish people do not act this way, and can be seen to legitimately acknowledge how all of God’s people have something to gain and be blessed by, by partaking of Shabbat, the appointed times, or dietary laws. They are secure in their identity, both as Jewish people and as followers of Israel’s Messiah, to recognize that who they are is not diminished when non-Jewish Believers join with them. In fact, many of today’s Messianic Jewish people, do sincerely wish that more and more Christians would take a greater interest in seeing the richness of Yeshua in the Biblical feasts, because it will naturally lead to them taking a more concentrated interest in supporting Israel and participating in Jewish evangelism.
While There Were Differences, the Native and Sojourner in Ancient Israel Had More in Common Than Not
Disagree
The place of Jewish Believers keeping God’s Torah has not been a controversial one, inside of today’s Messianic movement. The Torah composes not only a Jewish Believer’s spiritual heritage, but also his or her ethnic and cultural heritage. In spite of centuries of errant Christian teaching and practice, Jewish Believers should not dismiss their Jewish heritage, and indeed should follow Moses’ Teaching. Yet, what of the position of non-Jewish Believers and Moses’ Teaching? Are they only expected to keep the prescriptions of the Apostolic Decree, and the moral and ethical principles of the Torah of Moses? Should they at all remember the seventh-day Sabbath, appointed times, and kosher laws, especially if they are specially called by God into the Messianic movement? Should they at all remember these matters, as a part of their growth in holiness? Diverse answers and debates can be seen all throughout our faith community.
While controversial for certain, one of the answers proposed to the non-Jewish Torah question, has been to liken a non-Jewish Believer in today’s Messianic movement, to the ger or sojourner/alien within the community of Ancient Israel. This was a non-Israelite who recognized Israel’s God, was to be welcomed into the community (Leviticus 19:34), and who was certainly expected to keep a high level of Torah. The direction of Deuteronomy 31:12 was, “Gather the people—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to revere the Lord your God and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching” (NJPS). Everyone, within the broad community of Ancient Israel, was to be submitted to Moses’ Teaching.
Significant challenges have erupted because of some of the teachings of the One Law/One Torah sub-movement, which tends to insist that there was no difference of any kind, between native and sojourner, within Ancient Israel. This is not sustainable from a Biblical perspective, if for any other reason, that only ethnic Israelites could be expected to receive tribal inheritance in the Land of Israel (the eschatological inheritance of Ezekiel 47:13-20 is limited, not universal).[1] Much of the spiritual culture of the One Law/One Torah sub-movement is legalistic and inflexible, so it has been almost impossible to see its leaders recognize that there are, at least a few, differences between native and sojourner in the Torah (such as male circumcision on the eighth day). And, a number of Messianic Jewish leaders have, in turn, further complicated things, by over-emphasizing the differences between native and sojourner in the Torah—when it is clear enough that native and sojourner had far more in common than not. How much or how little today’s non-Jewish Believers should keep of God’s Torah, should be determined on a case-by-case basis of various studies which are not easily conducted at present, as they would probably be laden with too much emotionalism.
Dilemma
Regardless of Various Protestations, More and More Non-Jewish Believers are Keeping Things of Torah Via the Prompting of the Holy Spirit
When the issue of God’s Torah and non-Jewish Believers arises in many of today’s Messianic settings, there is a great deal of tension which arises. Much of this has very little to do with non-Jewish Believers in today’s Messianic congregations and synagogues, who are worshipping on Shabbat with Messianic Jewish Believers, and celebrating the appointed times, together with them. Much of this instead has to do with an independent Hebrew Roots movement which has mushroomed to over fifty times the size of Messianic Judaism, with Hebrew Roots as a non-Jewish Torah movement which tends to want little or nothing to do with the legitimate, positive contributions of both the Jewish Synagogue and evangelical Protestantism. While in the past, the complications of Hebrew Roots would have involved unfair assessments of Christmas or Easter—it has now come to involve blatant denials of the Divinity of Yeshua, promotion of hyper-patriarchy and polygamy, and a widescale acceptance of Flat Earth, among many other issues. Certainly, each one of these things is a problem, but the response of too much of Messianic Judaism has not helped the situation.
Many non-Jewish Believers, in undeniable fulfillment of prophecies like Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3, have been directed by the Spirit of God to embrace a Torah foundation, and into various Messianic congregations. Many of them have been welcomed as fellow brothers and sisters, and as a part of the one new man/humanity (Ephesians 2:15). Many others have felt unwelcomed, and believe that the Messianic Jewish tendency to hide behind various white papers or position statements, has been to deliberately deny events taking place directly in front of all of us. Not all non-Jewish Believers, who embrace things of Torah, are doing it to earn their salvation, or replace the Jewish people, or infringe upon a Jewish Believer’s identity and heritage. Many of us are doing these things as we grow in faith, holiness, and as we desire to live a life more like Yeshua and His first disciples.
Speaking entirely for myself, I seriously doubt that there will be resolution to the non-Jewish Torah question from this present generation. Many of the leaders who have either been in favor or opposed, on various levels, are too set in their ways. Sadly, too many do not possess any kind of scientific method where previous beliefs, theologies, and value systems can be reevaluated and properly adjusted—when either new evidence, perspectives, or realities present themselves. While we would not be here without the important work and positive contributions of many Messianic pioneers, a number of their mistakes will have to be corrected.
Challenge
What is the Messianic Mission of the Future Going to Be?
Having been in the Messianic sphere of influence for over a quarter century (since 1995), I know what the response of many people is, to seeing areas where our faith community agrees and disagrees about the place of the Torah for God’s people: Let’s just focus on the love of the Messiah, and recognize that when He returns, He will sort out all of our differences. Such a response was perhaps understandable for the 2000s, but many of the less-than-positive things which we see today regarding Torah, are a direct consequence of the inaction of people who could have done something. We could have discussed more of the Ancient Near Eastern background of many Torah commandments, which were to be followed by Ancient Israel exclusively—and are now being used against vulnerable people today (particularly females) by Hebrew Roots leaders. We could have enacted the necessary changes to our theological culture, where we discuss and resolve matters of controversy, rather than hide behind what this or that organization says we can and cannot discuss. Think about how well a Torah foundation is needed in our age of Woke-ism, yet many of our Messianic responses to the contemporary Woke culture of the Left is to hide away from it—rather than be able to engage with it on some significant level, and admit where some of the arrogance of the religious Right contributed to the problem.
During the past two years (2020-2022), certainly since the COVID-19 situation with various lockdowns and restrictions, the Lord has challenged each and every one of us to petition Him regarding the future of not just His people—but with the sacred and unique Messianic movement that exists. We are not just some Jewish denomination of Protestantism; we are a movement which has as its stated purpose to herald the salvation of the Jewish people and return of Israel’s Messiah. I cannot deny the fact that in Spring 2022, the collective Messianic response to the past two years has left me very disappointed. Rather than seeing people stirred to greater action, and asking the Lord where we can significantly improve our spiritual and theological abilities, I have instead witnessed a movement which is concluding this present phase of development, with various leaders retiring and departing. And what the next phase of development will involve, I do not fully know yet.
The Messianic movement of the future should and must have the Apostle Paul’s teaching of Romans chs. 9-11 and the restoration of Israel at its very heart. Jewish outreach and evangelism is fully Biblical! But it also has to have a significant place for non-Jewish Believers embracing their faith heritage in Israel’s Scriptures, and being employed as significant co-laborers with Jewish Believers. This has happened in some places, and not happened in others. It will have to happen everywhere if we intend to survive…
NOTES
[1] Consult the Messianic Apologetics FAQ, “Non-Jews, Inheritance in Holy Land.”
