Below is an interesting dialogue between two organisational leaders. Their respective movements represent diametrically opposite views on whether Messianic Jews should practice Torah.
http://ffoz.org/blogs/2008/07/jews_for_jesus.html
If the Jewish church cannot agree, what hope is there for the Gentile church?
How should a Gentile believer behave?
[627:2633]
8 comments:
Jesus says that (Matt 5:17) he hasn’t “come to abolish the Law and not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Jesus definitely observed the Mosaic Law. But, salvation doesn’t come from keeping the Mosaic Law in the first place, because that is impossible, because as Peter says in Acts 15 “it was a yoke our fathers nor we have been able to bear.” Rather salvation is through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross. In this regard Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.
The responsibility of a gentile in regard to the Mosaic Covenant is simply put; abstain from things defiled by idols, sexual immorality, things strangled and from blood. This was the agreement from the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. I’m not sure the gentile church has grasped this.
As for the Jewish church I can at least see that there is a case for and against Torah observance. The best example is the apostle Peter in Galatians 2 as it says he went from enjoying table fellowship with the uncircumcised in Caesarea to withdrawing from gentile believers in fear of the “circumcision party”? I don’t know the answer.
Final thought, it pains me though to think that the Jewish church in Jerusalem and the gentile church in Antioch have diverged significantly from that point in history. Do they communicate at all these days? I would be happy to hear any comments from our Jewish Christian friends.
i mostly agree. on 'abstaining from things strangled, etc', should this be done all of the time or just when a gentile is in the presence of a jew?
i mean so as to not offend.
like not inviting my muslim friends to our beer and bacon bash. :)
i would say that my bible (niv) points towards torah observance for messianic jews. although it isn't really for me to say.
I think the decree from the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) tells Gentile Christians they should avoid setting up barriers to social interchange with Jewish believers by for instance not eating meat that still contains animal's blood. If we only did that when they weren't looking I think that is rather hypocritical, do you think? I see your point though.
what should a gentile do on the sabbath? and when is the sabbath?
if gentiles need not adhere to torah, then why does the gentile church elevate importance to, for example, 'the ten commandments', as if it can be isolated from the rest of the mosaic direction?
has the western culture of 'choice' penetrated the church so much that we have created a 'pick and choose' religion?
In answer to your first question the Sabbath is on a Saturday not Sunday, I see nothing in scripture that says move it from Saturday to Sunday. Second question yes absolutely. Third point, 2000 years of heresy?!
By the way this is an excellent blog, very refreshing, thought-provoking and challenges the status quo. As Fox Mulder once said the truth is out there.
"... there are 613 commandments in the torah: 248 positive and 365 negative
"... the rabbis understood that 'seven laws of noah' were of universal application, and were absolutely required of all humankind whether jews or gentiles:
1) Idolatry/One True God
2) Blasphemy/Right Speech
3) Murder/Sanctity of Life
4) Stealing/Property Rights
5) Sexual Immorality/Marriage and Family
6) Eating Blood/Respect for animal life
7) Establishing Justice"
2000 years of heresy - yes, and the rest! lol
such power can be harboured when you control the message. we see it throughout history. self-authorised prophets, teachers and canon-definers.
leaders preach submission but secretly want control.
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