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The Hebrew Roots movement is based on the belief that the Church has strayed far from the authentic teachings and Hebrew concepts of the Bible. According to this movement, Christianity has been influenced by the culture and beliefs of Greek and Roman philosophy, resulting in a distortion of biblical Christianity as presented in today’s churches.
Adherents of the Hebrew Roots belief argue that Christ’s crucifixion did not terminate the Mosaic Covenant but rather renewed and expanded its message, inscribing it on the hearts of His genuine followers. They assert that a proper understanding of the New Testament can only be achieved from a Hebrew perspective, suggesting that the teachings of the Apostle Paul are currently not being clearly comprehended or accurately conveyed by Christian ministers. Many proponents of this belief affirm the existence of an original Hebrew-language New Testament and, in certain instances, criticize the extant New Testament text written in Greek. This can be seen as a subtle challenge to the credibility of our Bible’s text. If the Greek text is deemed unreliable and tainted, as some claim, then the Church lacks a definitive truth standard.
While there are numerous Hebrew Roots congregations with varying doctrinal stances, they all share a common focus on rediscovering the “authentic” Jewish essence of Christianity. They operate under the assumption that the Church has forsaken its Jewish heritage and fails to recognize that Jesus and His disciples were Jewish individuals who adhered to the Torah. Primarily, these groups advocate for all believers to lead a Torah-observant life. This entails making the Mosaic Covenant’s regulations a central aspect of believers’ daily lives, akin to how it was for the ancient Jews of Israel. Observing the Torah involves honoring the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), commemorating Jewish festivals, and engaging in festiv
Revivals, maintaining the dietary laws, avoiding the “paganism” of Christianity (Christmas, Easter, etc.), and learning to comprehend the Scriptures from a Hebrew perspective. They instruct that Gentile Christians have been grafted into Israel, and this is one reason every born-again believer in Jesus the Messiah is to engage in these observances. It is emphasized that doing this is not obligatory out of legalistic bondage, but out of a heart of love and obedience. Nevertheless, they teach that to lead a life that pleases God, this Torah-observant walk must be part of that life.
The Hebrew Roots assemblies are frequently composed mainly of Gentiles, including Gentile rabbis. Typically, they prefer to be recognized as “Messianic Christians.” Many have concluded that God has “summoned” them to be Jewish and have embraced the theological stance that the Torah (Old Testament law) is equally obligatory for Gentiles and Jews alike. They commonly wear traditional Jewish garments, engage in Davidic dancing, and integrate Hebrew names and phrases into their communication and writings. Most reject the usage of the name “Jesus” in favor of Yeshua or YHWH, asserting that these are the “true” names that God desires for Himself. In most instances, they elevate the Torah as the fundamental teaching for the Church, which results in the downgrading of the New Testament, making it secondary in significance and only to be interpreted in the context of the Old Testament. The notion that the New Testament is flawed and relevant only in the context of the Old Testament has also led many proponents of the Hebrew Roots beliefs to challenge the doctrine of the Trinity.
Contrary to the claims of the Hebrew Roots movement, the New Testament teachings of the Apostle Paul are clear and self-explanatory. Colossians 2:16,17 states, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day – things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”
S to Christ.” Romans 14:5 states, “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” Scripture clearly indicates that these issues are a matter of personal choice. These verses and many others give clear evidence that the Mosaic Covenant laws and ordinances have ended. Continuing to teach that the Old Covenant is still in effect despite what the New Testament teaches, or distorting the New Testament to align with Hebrew Roots beliefs, is false teaching.
There are aspects of the Hebrew Roots teachings that can indeed be beneficial. Exploring the Jewish culture and perspective, within which most of the Bible was written, enhances and enriches our understanding of the Scriptures, providing insight and depth to many passages, parables, and idioms. There is nothing wrong with Gentiles and Jews coming together to celebrate the feasts and engage in a Messianic style of worship. Participating in these events and understanding how the Jews interpreted the teachings of our Lord can be a valuable tool, enabling us to more effectively reach unbelieving Jews with the gospel. It is beneficial for Gentiles, within the body of the Messiah, to align our fellowship with Israel. However, aligning with Israel is distinct from identifying “as” Israel.
Gentile believers are not grafted into the Judaism of the Mosaic Covenant; they are grafted into the seed and faith of Abraham, which predates the Law and Jewish customs. They are fellow citizens with the saints «Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; », (Ephesians 2:19), but they are not Jews. Paul explains this clearly when he instructs those who were circumcised (the Jews) “not to seek to be uncircumcised” and those who were uncircumcised (the Gentiles) “not to become circumcised” «Is any man called
Is anyone called while circumcised? Let him not try to change it. Is anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. », (1 Corinthians 7:18). There is no necessity for either group to feel compelled to transform themselves. Instead, God has united Jews and Gentiles as “one new man” in Christ Jesus «having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace; », (Ephesians 2:15). This “new man” refers to the Church, the body of Christ, which comprises neither Jew nor Gentile (Galatians 3:27-29). It is crucial for Jews and Gentiles to maintain their genuine identities. This way, a clear illustration of the unity of the body of Christ can be observed as Jews and Gentiles are joined by one Lord, one faith, one baptism. If Gentiles are assimilated into Israel, becoming Jews, the purpose and representation of both Jew and Gentile coming together as one new man is forfeited. God never intended for Gentiles to merge into Israel, but to become one in Christ.
The influence of this movement is infiltrating our churches and seminaries. It is perilous in suggesting that adhering to the Old Covenant law is a “higher path” and the sole means to please God and receive His blessings. Nowhere in the Bible do we see Gentile believers being directed to adhere to Levitical laws or Jewish traditions; in fact, the opposite is true. Romans 7:6 states, “But now we have been released from the law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” Christ, by perfectly observing every ordinance of the Mosaic Law, completely fulfilled it. Just as making the final payment on a home fulfills that contract and concludes it.
Just as a debtor fulfills their obligation to it, so also Christ has made the final payment and has fulfilled the law, bringing it to an end for us all.
It is God Himself who has created a world of people with different cultures, languages, and traditions. God is glorified when we accept one another in love and come together in unity as “one” in Christ Jesus. It’s important to understand that there is no superiority in being born Jewish or Gentile. We who are followers of Christ, comprised of many different cultures and lifestyles, are all of value and greatly loved because we’ve entered into the family of God.
