Re: "TORAH OBSERVER" "HEBREW ROOTS" "MESSIANIC JEW" INCONSISTENCIES
Additionally, I've tried being non-confrontational on this issue in the past, and basically what happens is that observers simply continue to be aggressive in their comments. Paul says in Colossians 2:16-17 to not let others judge you in respect to those issues. It is obvious that observers engage in constant judging and inferring through their comments that the rest of Christianity is in error. Galatians, Philippians 3, Acts 15, and Colossians 2:16-17 indicates this is a pattern amongst Judaizers..to judge non-observers of being in sin, or not as holy as they are. I encourage everyone to read these sections of Scripture and arrive at their own conclusions.
I am totally ok with anyone who observes and doesn't make accusations that others are sinning, but that isn't want happens. Read this thread. Ask Yonah if he believes it is a sin to fail to keep the Sabbath. He's publicly stated it in the chat room. So have other SDAs.
To be honest, if there was a group with proper soteriology that observed Sabbath, festivals, and clean meat laws, and had a focus that was upon Christ, and didn't claim others were in sin for non-observance, I'd be glad to fellowship with them. But I don't fellowship with Judaizers. And, since I don't believe days and meats make any difference, I fellowship with a group that meets on Sunday. I know they bear the fruit of the Spirit...better than I do in fact. They probably wouldn't approve of my approach regarding this topic, but then they don't understand the mentality or dangers either.
Yonah,
Let me elaborate on this thread a little more.
Part of the issue I have with Torah observers is their attempt to discredit Christianity in general. It is something you have engaged in.
For instance, you constantly comment in the chat room that Christianity has gone far off the track over the centuries. This is part and parcel of the "Torah observer" claim..that they have the "true faith" that is apostolic and non-observers are in error.
Additionally, you comment that there are 60,000 denominations and this is reflective of the fact that Christianity is flawed. Well, what do you consider your organization, whether it is a home church or whatever? If I'm not mistaken, you are involved with a home group fellowship. Does your little group think it has superior teachings? If so, how are you different than the 60,000 denominations you reference?
And, the number you quote is twice as high as what Roman Catholics claim. They often use the number of denominations to infer that Protestantism is in error. So do cults and kooky groups. It's a typical ploy of cultic groups in order to discredit the rest of Christianity.
In light of this, your comment regarding Reformed theology being Satanic, to me, appears to be just another attempt to attack Christianity.
I am also not oblivious to the remarks of "Torah observers" who claim that they have the "ancient path" and that evangelical Christianity does not. Those remarks are made as well..it is common for Torah Observers to make these comments, along with the claim that they observe "my Father's commandments" with the inference that others are not.
And, you have noted that non observers are sinning by not observing the Sabbath in the chat room.
So, the point of this thread is that if Torah observers think they are observing Torah, they are inconsistent because Torah cannot be observed. There is no functioning Levitical priesthood and no Temple. They do not go to Jerusalem for the festivals as Torah required.
If they want to say there is value in observing the shadows and types, with the realization that Christ fulfilled them, I have no issue with that. I have observant friends who do this, with no accusation that others are in sin for non-observance. However, that is not the normal position. This thread proves that. Notice the continual remarks by the SDA about other Christians being in sin for non-observance of the Sabbath. And, you yourself have acknowledged that is your view. It would be hard for it not to be, since you define sin to be the "transgression of the Law", and interpret "the Law" to be the Mosaic Law.
I know the thinking because I thought, in general, the same way..although my view of "the Law" was more restricted than the Mosaic Law.
All have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)..any deviation from the glory of God (God's holiness) is sin..and that includes a lot more than Torah. Torah was a faint glimmer of God's holiness, and it was a "basket" of commandments, with different purposes. Days and meats are not an issue according to Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16-17. Jesus is the fullest expression of God's holiness. To define sin in the way a Torah observer does is to lack understanding of the intention of Torah, and to ignore points I've brought up in this thread.
At any rate, your remarks in the chatroom are noted by other people as being accusatory toward the rest of Christianity. You may not be blatant about it, but the comments are being noted by others. And when such comments continue to be made by "Torah observers", I am going to react to them as long as I'm on the site. I spent enough time listening to nonsense like that as an Armstrongite and I don't want others to be affected by the same thinking.
And, you guys can claim that my Armstrongite experience was abusive and that I am embittered..or that I am mentally ill..in order to discredit me. But the same worldview affects a large segment of "Torah observers". I have already commented on the local Messianic congregation that is proclaiming "Truth above Tradition" with the inference that the rest of Christianity is following tradition and that they are the arbiters of truth..same mentality as the Armstrongites. I asked them if they consider the rest of Christianity to be in sin due to non-observance..they would not answer me which is in essence to make the claim that, yes, they are.
I consider it part of my obligation to drag beliefs like this into the light so that those who might be fooled by them know what's going on in the minds of the people who are claiming such things. And I'll do that as long as I'm here.
Let me elaborate on this thread a little more.
Part of the issue I have with Torah observers is their attempt to discredit Christianity in general. It is something you have engaged in.
For instance, you constantly comment in the chat room that Christianity has gone far off the track over the centuries. This is part and parcel of the "Torah observer" claim..that they have the "true faith" that is apostolic and non-observers are in error.
Additionally, you comment that there are 60,000 denominations and this is reflective of the fact that Christianity is flawed. Well, what do you consider your organization, whether it is a home church or whatever? If I'm not mistaken, you are involved with a home group fellowship. Does your little group think it has superior teachings? If so, how are you different than the 60,000 denominations you reference?
And, the number you quote is twice as high as what Roman Catholics claim. They often use the number of denominations to infer that Protestantism is in error. So do cults and kooky groups. It's a typical ploy of cultic groups in order to discredit the rest of Christianity.
In light of this, your comment regarding Reformed theology being Satanic, to me, appears to be just another attempt to attack Christianity.
I am also not oblivious to the remarks of "Torah observers" who claim that they have the "ancient path" and that evangelical Christianity does not. Those remarks are made as well..it is common for Torah Observers to make these comments, along with the claim that they observe "my Father's commandments" with the inference that others are not.
And, you have noted that non observers are sinning by not observing the Sabbath in the chat room.
So, the point of this thread is that if Torah observers think they are observing Torah, they are inconsistent because Torah cannot be observed. There is no functioning Levitical priesthood and no Temple. They do not go to Jerusalem for the festivals as Torah required.
If they want to say there is value in observing the shadows and types, with the realization that Christ fulfilled them, I have no issue with that. I have observant friends who do this, with no accusation that others are in sin for non-observance. However, that is not the normal position. This thread proves that. Notice the continual remarks by the SDA about other Christians being in sin for non-observance of the Sabbath. And, you yourself have acknowledged that is your view. It would be hard for it not to be, since you define sin to be the "transgression of the Law", and interpret "the Law" to be the Mosaic Law.
I know the thinking because I thought, in general, the same way..although my view of "the Law" was more restricted than the Mosaic Law.
All have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)..any deviation from the glory of God (God's holiness) is sin..and that includes a lot more than Torah. Torah was a faint glimmer of God's holiness, and it was a "basket" of commandments, with different purposes. Days and meats are not an issue according to Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16-17. Jesus is the fullest expression of God's holiness. To define sin in the way a Torah observer does is to lack understanding of the intention of Torah, and to ignore points I've brought up in this thread.
At any rate, your remarks in the chatroom are noted by other people as being accusatory toward the rest of Christianity. You may not be blatant about it, but the comments are being noted by others. And when such comments continue to be made by "Torah observers", I am going to react to them as long as I'm on the site. I spent enough time listening to nonsense like that as an Armstrongite and I don't want others to be affected by the same thinking.
And, you guys can claim that my Armstrongite experience was abusive and that I am embittered..or that I am mentally ill..in order to discredit me. But the same worldview affects a large segment of "Torah observers". I have already commented on the local Messianic congregation that is proclaiming "Truth above Tradition" with the inference that the rest of Christianity is following tradition and that they are the arbiters of truth..same mentality as the Armstrongites. I asked them if they consider the rest of Christianity to be in sin due to non-observance..they would not answer me which is in essence to make the claim that, yes, they are.
I consider it part of my obligation to drag beliefs like this into the light so that those who might be fooled by them know what's going on in the minds of the people who are claiming such things. And I'll do that as long as I'm here.
I am totally ok with anyone who observes and doesn't make accusations that others are sinning, but that isn't want happens. Read this thread. Ask Yonah if he believes it is a sin to fail to keep the Sabbath. He's publicly stated it in the chat room. So have other SDAs.
To be honest, if there was a group with proper soteriology that observed Sabbath, festivals, and clean meat laws, and had a focus that was upon Christ, and didn't claim others were in sin for non-observance, I'd be glad to fellowship with them. But I don't fellowship with Judaizers. And, since I don't believe days and meats make any difference, I fellowship with a group that meets on Sunday. I know they bear the fruit of the Spirit...better than I do in fact. They probably wouldn't approve of my approach regarding this topic, but then they don't understand the mentality or dangers either.