Is the Hebrew Roots Movement a cult?

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KohenMatt

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What was the purpose of the law? What was the goal? What was God's role in it, and what was Israel's? What were the obligations of both parties?
 

zone

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Jun 13, 2010
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What was the purpose of the law? What was the goal? What was God's role in it, and what was Israel's? What were the obligations of both parties?
Galatians 3
The Law and the Promise
15To give a human example, brothers:f even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slaveg nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
 

zone

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HEBREWS 6
1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,a and of faith in God, 2instruction about cleansing rites,b the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6and who have fallenc away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.


......


Six Questions for an Evangelical Leader Who Became an Orthodox Jew

The Huffington Post/April 5, 2010

By Benyamin Cohen

The first thing you need to know about Penina Taylor is that she was actually born a Jew, albeit to a couple of secular parents. As a kid, one of Taylor's friends introduced her to Jesus and her life would never be the same. She went to a Christian college, received a Bible Certificate, and even served as a counselor for the Billy Graham Crusade. For the next 17 years she became a hot ticket speaker in the Evangelical movement lecturing at churches, youth groups, and a smattering of other events.

It would have been interesting enough had the story ended there. But, like all good yarns, there was a twist, a third act not even Taylor saw coming. Her spiritual journey led her right back to Judaism.

She first made a pit-stop in Messianic Judaism, starting a Jews for Jesus synagogue and even creating a Messianic Passover Haggadah. She eventually dropped the Jesus part and returned to Judaism, where she is now Orthodox, married with four kids, and living in Israel.


Her stranger-than-fiction life story is recounted in her new memoir, Coming Full Circle. I caught up with Taylor to ask her about her spiritual journey, her feelings towards Jesus, and to find out if she has any regrets.

Why did you feel it was important to write about your journey?

My goal in writing the book was not just to communicate the more intricate details of my journey, but to enlighten. I wanted to help religious Jews understand the phenomenon behind why a secular Jew might become a Christian. I wanted to help Jewish community professionals across the religious spectrum to understand some of the factors that lead to such a choice as well as the culture and mindset involved in it. That way, these professionals might be better prepared to deal with such individuals when they encounter them as well as being able to understand them and what their needs are, especially when they are attempting to re-enter the Jewish community.

I also wanted my book to provide enough information for the Messianic Jew who might pick it up, to understand why I gave up my belief in Jesus. It was not my intention to preach, but it was certainly one of my goals to encourage to them to re-investigate Judaism and to understand that Judaism has rejected Jesus as the messiah for good reasons, reasons really worth taking a look at.

You write about starting a Messianic "Jews for Jesus" synagogue in Maryland and how you led some of your Jewish family members into that movement. Looking back now, how do you feel about that?

Most of the people who I brought to a faith in Jesus over the 17 years I was a Christian were not Jewish. While I now know I was wrong in what I taught them, that doesn't really bother me as much as the Jewish people whose lives I affected. One of the biggest regrets I have in my life is that I had a part in a couple of close family members becoming Christians and they have not yet returned to Judaism as the rest of my family has.

I suppose that's part of why I feel so strongly about using my gifts and talents to talk to Jewish people about Judaism and Christianity, encouraging them to develop a meaningful and relevant Jewish experience, rather than seeking it in another faith. I feel like I have a personal tikkun (corrective) to make and so I've devoted my life to this cause.

I think most Jews feel uncomfortable when Christians try to convert them. Coming from someone with your personal history, do you feel differently? Do you empathize with Christian missionaries at all?

There is an ongoing debate here in Israel about Christians who are missionaries and those who are supposedly not. Charles Spurgeon, a highly respected and influential preacher from the late 19th century once said that, "a Christian is either a missionary or an impostor." I know that all Christians who believe their Bible believe that it is their duty to proselytize. When I come across such an individual, I empathize with them only so far as I understand where they are coming from and what their motivation is.

That having been said, I usually find myself wanting to get into a discussion with them so that I can show them the lies that they not only believe, but actively preach. While it isn't my goal to destroy a Christian's faith, it is my goal to give them pause, so that maybe they won't proselytize to Jewish people they come across.

Outside of something theological, what's the biggest day-to-day difference between living the life of an Evangelical Christian and being an Orthodox Jew?

The answer to that question is practically another book in itself! The difference between living as an Evangelical Christian and being an Orthodox Jew really boils down to a difference in mindset. Instead of going through life with this feeling that as a person I am inadequate and therefore needed Jesus to make me adequate before God, I understand that as an Orthodox Jew, every aspect of my life has one of two purposes -- strengthening my relationship with God and elevating the mundane everyday things of life to a level of holiness, and then being a conduit to bring that holiness back down to earth.

Instead of my motivating factor being the fear of burning in Hell forever, my motivation is one of determination to fulfill the purpose for which I was created.

How has the Orthodox community treated you, especially now that you're going public with your full story?

When I first came back to Judaism, I came back on the heels of a situation where the Orthodox community had recently been infiltrated by missionaries pretending to be new converts to Judaism. Their abuse of the community set the Jewish world on its head and everyone was afraid of it happening again. As a result, it took me a while to earn their trust.

I worked very hard to establish myself as an honest baalat teshuvah (returnee to Judaism), and built a reputation of honesty and transparency, which has earned me a great deal of respect. At this point, I and my family have been completely accepted into most of the Orthodox community and I feel very much a part of it.

I think that going public with the story has helped the Orthodox community to better understand Messianic Judaism -- both its dangers and its appeal. It has also helped raise the alarm that there is a need for pro-active educationally based counter-missionary programming for this generation.

What do you hope your children learn from your experience?

My greatest hope for my children is that they will treasure their Jewish heritage, understanding that it is a precious gift from God. I hope and pray that they will take their experience growing up in my home and be able to transmit the love and passion for G-d and Judaism that they experienced here to the next generation.

......

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.
To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.



anybody see any reason to be wary?

no?

okay....carry on.
 

KohenMatt

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Jun 28, 2013
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From the Old Testament, the original instruction please.

Thanks in advance!
Matt
 

zone

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Jun 13, 2010
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From the Old Testament, the original instruction please.

Thanks in advance!
Matt
i gave you the revealed purpose of the Law, including to whose ancestors it was give - Hebrews.
if you want to go back for the New Covenant...go back to the promise to Abram.

if you want to go into the Law given to Moses and Israel for purposes only you know (i can't read your mind), please do so.

thanks.
 

KohenMatt

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Jun 28, 2013
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I'm just wanting you to share with us the original Mosaic Covenant as God gave it to the Israelites. Not on a commentary on it from the New Testament. (That will come later!;))
 

Grandpa

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Jun 24, 2011
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There is a lot of preaching going on about abiding in Christ by being sure to do nothing to express that.?
Really?
the preaching says that if you are saved by Christ and not by law you should ignore the law. Christ didn't say that.
No. Christ didn't say that. He said Be Perfect like your Father in Heaven is Perfect. He also said come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.
That's not ignoring the Law. That is showing the purpose for the Law.

They tell me I must believe that if I believe in Christ and his salvation.
If you read the New Testament you will find that there is a purpose for the Law. If you don't read the NT you won't know what the purpose is.

Well, I am saved through Christ, not by law. I am not under law. And I love the law and I love living by it. Being saved from death by the law does not cancel that out. You can go by your doing absolutely nothing about law, but I think teaching that to others is for the birds.
Teaching the Liberty that is in Christ is for the Birds? Not being under Law is for the Birds? That is the whole reality of Christianity.

Otherwise all you have is Judaism without the sacrifices. I think that is for the birds...

God told me that sin and living outside the law is bondage. You are preaching the beauty of living outside the law, and scolding for anyone for loving the law and even the rituals that lead us toward it.
God doesn't contradict Himself. He either said sin was bondage, or living outside the law is bondage.
Galatians 5:22-23
[SUP]22 [/SUP]But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I just don't like people practicing Judaism lite trying to say that the are practicing Christianity. Do one or do the other. But don't mix them.


Besides "the law" is not rituals. Rituals are blessings and helps for our pleasure, they are to lead to the law but they are not law. I don't think that denying ourselves any of this is leading to God. You can have all you talk about without any rituals, but you can't have what you say you have and judge either the people who enjoy them or the riturals. God gave them. Are you judging God?
I'm not judging God or you. If you would rather have ritual and law than go directly before the throne of Grace then that is your difficulty. In Christianity we go straight to the Lord Jesus without all the gobbledy gook in between.
 
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Another thread that won't die.
Just too bad we couldn't meet each other face to face, in the loving bonds of fellowship.
- Doubt this arguing would still be going on.
 

Grandpa

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Jun 24, 2011
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Crossnote, from where I'm sitting, it's seems the whole problem with your not understanding this, is that you don't understand the difference between keeping the law to earn salvation and keeping it under grace; hence, in spirit.
Well I don't understand.

What is the difference between keeping the law to earn salvation and keeping it under grace?
 

zone

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Jun 13, 2010
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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Grandpa again.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Grandpa again.
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Grandpa again.
 
Sep 8, 2012
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It's a cult, I'm a cult, your a cult........We're all a cult O.K. - - - next question:p
-Can't be any worse than the baggage from the last.
CULTS!
 

crossnote

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Nov 24, 2012
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Another thread that won't die.
Just too bad we couldn't meet each other face to face, in the loving bonds of fellowship.
- Doubt this arguing would still be going on.
It would make little difference. There is no compromise in this area...not even face to face. Loving bonds of fellowship even took 2nd place in Paul's rebuke to Peter for compromising, even if was just in appearance, the message of the Gospel.
 

Grandpa

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Jun 24, 2011
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It's a cult, I'm a cult, your a cult........We're all a cult O.K. - - - next question:p
-Can't be any worse than the baggage from the last.
CULTS!
That reminded me of that song cult of personality.

Im not in a cult because I don't trust any of you weirdos. Let's just say I have trust issues... I trust the Lord Jesus Christ. The rest of you are under suspicion... LOL
 
S

Shiloah

Guest
Not odd. They were under the Mosaic covenant and should have done those things. Are you under that covenant?
Christ came and fulfilled the law by sacrificing Himself as the perfect lamb, which obviously fulfilled the sacrificial laws put into place as a sign of His coming because He would sacrifice Himself. He Himself said that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. Obviously all the other 10 commandments have not been done away with but the sabbath law according to man. Hence, you still recognize that we should keep those others. That proves those laws were not done away with because they were not about being fulfilled. They were to show us what sin is. This has been established every which way possible. You simply don't understand that the laws we're no longer under are the sacrificial laws, and that by keeping the others, we cannot be saved, but that only through Christ and proving that we're in Christ by doing what He says, can we be saved. NOW, we keep not the letter of the law, we keep the law under grace BECAUSE JESUS ASKED US TO. We ARE NOT SAVED by keeping it, we do it because He ASKS US TO.

There's no other way to say this. If you can't see this by now after all the explanations given here by Kohen and others, there's no way to explain it to you that you will understand.
 
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It would make little difference. There is no compromise in this area...not even face to face. Loving bonds of fellowship even took 2nd place in Paul's rebuke to Peter for compromising, even if was just in appearance, the message of the Gospel.
What would you do? Upbraid Redtent?
Is she Peter?
 
S

Shiloah

Guest
I have come to believe fully in both my mind and heart that the accusers here are part of the very cult they speak of. They are the blind ones, and I'm very sorry for that.
 

crossnote

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What is the Mosaic Covenant?
Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

That one.
 
Sep 8, 2012
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I have come to fully in both my mind and heart that the accusers here are part of the very cult they speak of. They are the blind ones, and I'm very sorry for that.
How'd you find me out?
(And my cultish bread, butter and toast ways?) - You got me....I'm of the toast of Abram's seal.(It's a water mammal named Abram O.K)....It balances a ball really well on its nose and induces us into a hypnotic endevour.
 

zone

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Jun 13, 2010
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Acts 15

5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”


The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.



some people never, ever learn.

JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED.
plus NOTHING
 

KohenMatt

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Jun 28, 2013
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Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

That one.
So is this covenant about salvation?