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One Law/Hebrew Roots versus Messianic Jewish Experience – FAQ: YouTube
Can you tell me what some of the similarities, but also differences, are, between participating in One Law and/or Hebrew Roots, versus Messianic Judaism? I have noticed that your ministry has integrated itself into Messianic Judaism.
If you regularly attend a Messianic Jewish congregation or synagogue, and/or any kind of community professing belief in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah associated with various outward matters of Torah (i.e., Sabbath, festivals, kosher)—then it is safe to say that you will encounter people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This may include Messianic Jewish Believers from diverse upbringings (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, agnostic, atheist), non-Jewish Believers from a variety of Protestant traditions, Roman Catholicism, or other religions. The specific reasons for these different people, being a part of such a community—as opposed to a more standard, Sunday keeping church environment—are going to vary. And, it should go without saying, but when you attend your next Shabbat service at a Messianic congregation, there is most probably going to be a wide diversity of theological views and positions represented by either individual members and/or regular visitors, on an entire array of matters. Each group often has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, on its own merits.
Generally speaking, however, our ministry and family experience of being involved with things Messianic for several decades, has been able to discern significant differences of approach between the Messianic Jewish movement, and the various non-Jewish Torah movements often identifying with labels ranging from One Law/One Torah to Hebrew Roots.
The main emphasis of Messianic Judaism has tended to be on matters of Jewish evangelism, Israel solidarity, and providing a place for Messianic Jewish Believers and intermarried couples to practice Yeshua faith in a Jewish context, with mainstream Jewish traditions and lifecycle customs observed, without having to assimilate into wider Christianity. Non-Jewish Believers have frequently been welcomed into many Messianic Jewish congregations and synagogues, as members and even leaders, provided that they have been genuinely called or summoned by the Lord, similar to the figure of Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17). It is widely believed that the Jewish people and Messianic Jewish Believers have a direct connection to the Torah’s instruction, which non-Jewish Believers in Israel’s Messiah do not have. Yet, there are many Messianic Jewish Believers who think it is a good thing that many non-Jewish Believers, progressing in spiritual growth via the dynamics of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27), have partaken of their faith heritage in Israel’s Scriptures in tangible ways. Many do not consider their Jewish identity at all infringed upon, if a non-Jew observes Shabbat or eats a kosher style of diet, provided they are actively participating in the Messianic Jewish mission and standing with Israel. They are welcome brothers and sisters in the Messianic Jewish movement, and their presence alongside of their Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters is to serve as a testimony of unity via the emergence of the “one new man/humanity” (Ephesians 2:15).
The main emphasis of various groups which identify with labels such as One Law/One Torah or Hebrew Roots, tends to start out with some kind of an emphasis on a theological foundation in the Torah or Law of Moses. These groups might have a relatively evangelical Christian theological framework, although believing in some kind of continued validity or relevance of Moses’ Teaching. Some of these largely non-Jewish groups might be composed of people who felt unwelcome in Messianic Judaism, but did not return to their previous church environment. Still, many others in emphasizing the importance of the Tanach or Hebrew Scriptures, may be seen to adhere to teachings which reject what they regard as the pagan practices of much of traditional Christianity (often outward practices such as Sunday Church, Christmas, Easter). This often develops into a widespread downgrading of the importance of the Apostolic Scriptures or New Testament in one’s theology and spirituality. It is often believed that there are no differences, of any kind, between Jewish and non-Jewish Believers in Israel’s Messiah, and so these various groups may be seen to promote their own forms of supersessionism or replacement theology.
For certain, every individual’s and family’s experience, in perhaps being a part of a Messianic Jewish congregation or One Law/Hebrew Roots group, is going to be different. There are those who have felt unwelcomed and dismissed in a Messianic Jewish congregation, but who felt welcome in a One Law/Hebrew Roots fellowship. There are others who may have considered a One Law/Hebrew Roots assembly to be riddled with errors and problems, and who found a greater degree of stability and consistency in Messianic Judaism. The conclusions we have come to, as a ministry and a family, involve our interactions over several decades (1995-2026) with many people, leaders, and sectors. Generally speaking, as it involves various outward matters of Torah practice and non-Jewish Believers, we have encountered the following stark differences:
- One Law/Hebrew Roots: Outward matters of Torah are a mandate to be followed by and enforced upon all of God’s people. Those in mainstream Christianity are engaging in gross unrighteousness by not observing the seventh-day Sabbath, appointed times, or abstaining from unclean meats. In questioning a great deal of traditional Christian doctrine, many, many individuals who get involved in One Law/Hebrew Roots groups, are definitely seen, perhaps within only three years or so, to quickly deny the validity of the Apostle Paul, the Divinity of Yeshua, the inspiration of the Greek New Testament, and perhaps later even the Messiahship of Yeshua. Others are more frequently seen to not outright deny Yeshua, but will practice what might be labeled as “Torah-olatry,” where the Pentateuch is effectively all which matters. Legalism, inflexibility, and judgmentalism prevail in an environment where the love, grace, and mercy of God are not often emphasized.
- Messianic Judaism: Outward matters of Torah are to be followed by Messianic Jews, and non-Jewish Believers may follow them as a matter of being enriched by their Jewish Roots and faith in Yeshua. Many in mainstream Christianity value the Messianic symbolism of Torah institutions such as the appointed times, and are seen to be faithful in remembering the weightier ethical matters of Moses’ Teaching (Matthew 23:23). Non-Jewish Believers are welcome as fellow brothers and sisters to partake of outward Torah practices such as the seventh-day Sabbath/Shabbat, appointed times, and a kosher-style of diet, provided they do not think that by doing these things it will somehow make them “Jewish.” Many Messianic Jews consider these outward matters of Torah to be optional for non-Jewish Believers, and that no one should be forced or coerced to do anything against their will. Among many non-Jewish Believers genuinely called by God into the Messianic Jewish movement, within three years they still tend to have the sacrifice of Yeshua, work of the Holy Spirit, and proclamation of the good news at the center of their faith.
Once again, each individual Messianic Jewish congregation or synagogue, or small group identifying with labels such as One Law/One Torah or Hebrew Roots, should be evaluated on its own.
Based on our family and ministry experiences for over three decades now, we have concluded that being part of the Messianic Jewish community is far better and more healthy, than all of the other available options. We would much rather be involved with those who think that non-Jewish Believers do not have to do outward matters of Torah—but certainly may do so as an individual preference, and/or as enrichment for their Christian faith—than those who think that it is to be legalistically mandated or forced upon someone. We would much rather be involved with those who, being enriched by Shabbat or the appointed times, still maintain an active belief in Yeshua, a relatively evangelical-styled theology, and are firmly committed to evangelism of the lost—than those who really do practice Torah-olatry and are quite judgmental of others.
Many in Messianic Judaism rightly recognize how just as Romans chs. 9-11 are taking place today, with the Messianic Jewish revival—also can recognize how Micah 4:1-3 and Isaiah 2:2-4 and the nations streaming to Zion to be taught from Moses’ Teaching, is simultaneously occurring. We will concede—that while our family and ministry would like to see many more evangelical Protestant Believers connect to their faith heritage in Israel’s Scriptures in tangible ways, as we have—that a non-Jewish Believer has to be uniquely called or summoned by the Lord into the Messianic movement. And this is doubtlessly due to the fact that they need to be mature and able, to co-labor with Messianic Jewish Believers in the Messianic mission, especially in our time of growing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.
For the future as we approach the return of the Messiah, all of us should recognize that when surveying the Messianic sphere of influence, things are going to get more and more complicated. Both Messianic Judaism, as well as One Law/Hebrew Roots groups, do have some of their own problems with fundamentalism. Neither tends to be too well equipped, as it should be, with how to handle matters of post-modernism, Wokism, or other issues of wider society. This is where a ministry like Outreach Israel and Messianic Apologetics, may be seen at times to more closely align with mainstream evangelicalism, as well as with many in the mainstream Synagogue.
