From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Thursday, September 25, 1997 8:41 PM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Jewish heritage of Christianity
To: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com From: brooks Subject: Jewish heritage of Christianity THE FINAL RENEWAL -- JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RESTORATION -- A DEVELOPING DIMENSION There is a new emphasis within the Church today on the singing of the Psalms, the use of banners, the celebration of the Biblical feast days (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles), sacred dancing, home schooling, Sabbath celebrations, tithing, use of the Hebrew name of God (Yahweh), chants and high praise, and the displaying of Jewish symbolism (Menorah, Star of David, Shofar, etc.). These are but a few of the elements drawn from our Judaic heritage that are now becoming common place in the worship, practice and teachings of many Christian congregations. Although many of these activities are not yet the accepted norm in all Christian circles, it is only the beginning of a rapidly developing trend which can hardly be ignored. It demands explanation. It, in fact, constitutes a Judeo-Christian restoration with a new emphasis on JUDEO. However, some in Christian leadership are expressing apprehension born out of a fear of legalism. May God hasten the day when something is judged, not by whether it is Jewish or traditionally Christian, but by whether or not it is Biblical and Christ-centered. Eternal truth came from God, through the Jews, to the Church, for the world, by Jesus Christ. - Plumbline Most people are familiar with the term "Judeo-Christianity". It is frequently used by scholars, Bible students and commentators. It means "having roots in both Judaism and Christianity". JUDAISM and CHRISTIANITY were publicly coined words. The word "Christian" was first used in A.D. 42 in the city of Antioch (Acts 11:26). Eventually it was adopted for the purpose of differentiating between believing Jews (in Messiah) and unbelieving Jews. Ultimately it became an identity for the entire Church. The term "Judaism" was born of similar circumstances and was, no doubt, coined for the purpose of implying a "divorcement" from Christianity. In fact, the proper system of worship and practice for the people of God is neither "Jewish" in an ethnic sense nor even "Christian" in a religious sense, but simply divine in a Biblical sense and therefore eternal and universal (for all nations). Nevertheless, these are acceptable terms when understood in a complimentary fashion and we will use them for identification and orientation. But the phrase JUDEO-CHRISTIANITY is perhaps most ideal in that it expresses and maintains the inherent bond between that religious faith which Jesus authored at Sinai and perfected at Calvary (Hebrews 12:2, Ephesians 4:5). The "One Faith" of scripture is quite simply the Faith of God. WHY THE DIFFERENCE? God said, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." (Malachi 3:6). If so, why then is there such a startling difference between Christianity and Judaism? How can two religions that claim to have sprung from the same God fail to have many, indeed most things, in common? Did Jesus start an entirely new religion? Is He responsible for all of the differing doctrines and practices that bear the name of Christianity today? These are reasonable questions that deserve sensible, factual answers. One may question: "What difference does it make as to how I worship God so long as I have accepted Christ as my personal savior?" As startling as it may sound, the bulk of Biblical text is not devoted to the message of redemption, but rather how one pleases, serves and honors God after having become a believer. The precaution given to ancient Israel is a valid one for the Church today. God pleaded with them on several occasions not to worship Him through learning the ways of the heathens. In this day of restoration and renewal of the Church, there is a turning away from many of the man- conceived concepts of worship which have been handed down to us by the historic church fathers and a return to Biblical patterns, even if they do appear Jewish in nature. PILATE'S QUESTION Pontius Pilate asked a significant question of public concern, both for our day and his, when he inquired of Jesus, "WHAT IS TRUTH?" (John 18.38). The greatest of men still struggle to find the answer to this all-consuming question as they seek to please the living God. Failure to fully answer this profound question has left the Church in a quagmire of conflicting doctrines and practices. This question can not be satisfied with the dismissing response that Jesus said, "I am the Truth." While we as Christians do have the Christ of the doctrine in common, we find ourselves desperate for unity in the doctrine of the Christ. Nearly everyone at some time has found himself a victim of these conflicts only to ponder the same question: "WHAT IS TRUTH?" Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes to be made in our pursuit of divine truth has been the failure to acknowledge the source. The source of basic truths for the Church came from God through the Jews. Any teaching that is not traceable through that source is not sound doctrine and will invariably be flawed in its conclusion and application. It is the gradual drift of the Church from its Hebraic moorings and root system that has rendered us a very divided people, as is reflected by the myriad of conflicting doctrines and practices within the corporate body of Christ and by the historic denominational "wall building" that has resulted. MISTAKEN IDENTITY Are we into legalism and a return to bondage: Not at all! Although that is often the reaction of some when one does something that appears to be Jewish in nature. Jesus said, "Think not (although some still do) that I am come to destroy the law...". He was not advocating the continuation of the legalistic system for achieving righteousness, nor was he attempting to terminate the Law, which is the guideline or pattern for moral discipline, praise and worship. Biblical Judaism was simply God's chosen system of praise, worship and service. The writer of Hebrews informed the Jewish believers that Jesus reformed Judaism (Hebrews 9: 10). He did not replace it. JESUS WAS A REFORMER, NOT AN INNOVATOR! How: By taking away the carnal ordinances, by strengthening the meaningful ones, and adding the dimension of the Holy Spirit. Clearly "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness" (Romans 10:4), but He did not eliminate it as an underlining pattern for worship as is demonstrated in the observance of feast celebrations (Hebrews 10: 1). For example, Jesus never terminated the Passover celebration. We now have the Lord's order of the Passover supper instead of the Mosaic order, but it is still the PASSOVER nonetheless (1 Cor 5:7-8). When this principle of reform is understood and the "fear factor" is eliminated, the Church is going to see an accelerated restoration of Judeo-Christianity. Charges of legalism and of being Judaizers in the historic context will diminish. The blood of Christ is the answer for the SIN question but Judeo-Christianity is the answer for perfected praise. Worship and teaching. LET THERE BE NO MISTAKEN IDENTITY. This cannot be construed as legalism or a return to religious bondage. THE FINAL RENEWAL "An over-Hellenized over-Latinized Christianity needs a re-Judaizing process lo bring it back to its founding Jewish roots and RENEW it more in keeping with its own inherent ideals." (Edward Flannery- Catholic scholar) Discerning Christian scholars are beginning to recognize the record of the Holy Scriptures and the truth of history. In a very real sense Gentile Christians have been discriminated against by their own leadership. They have been denied their right of equal access to the Judaic heritage guaranteed them by the New Testament. Presbyterian scholar Harry E. Gaylord described it thusly, "The Christians, as they were eventually called, did not have a uniform approach to Jewish law, but they were not trying to break away from Judaism. They were a group within it trying to make their views normative. First generation Christianity was a part of Biblical Judaism, but the next generation read us out of it." The New Covenant of grace has guaranteed all men, Jew and Gentile, the right of equal access to the promises of God through Abraham. "That the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentile through Jesus Christ......And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Ga 3:14, 29) Judaism was a religion of much ceremonial ritualism "until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9: 10). Because of the ministry of Jesus and his redemptive work on the cross of Calvary, Gentiles as well as Jews can now maintain the righteous principles of the law without being encumbered with all the cultural baggage of Talmudic Judaism. It was in this context that the apostle Paul could denounce those who dared to trust in the ritual observance of the law to establish their own righteousness through works of the flesh (Galatians 3: 1-3) and at the same time encourage the celebration of the Passover by Gentile Christians (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Since the inherent Jewishness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is so clear in the first century, the obvious question is, "What brought the massive divorcement of Christianity from Biblical Judaism: For the answer one need only trace the course of history. After the death of the apostle Paul and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, subsequent generations, which included more and more Gentiles, made every effort to remove all traces of Jewishness from the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Church became increasingly Hellenized (Greek) and Latinixed (Roman), many of the concepts of polytheism (other gods) began to appear, gain prominence and become entrenched in the Church. The Church remains a victim of many of these elements today. But restoration and doctrinal renewal for the Church is on God's agenda (Deut. 32:2). Many are beginning to "... .ask for the old paths, where is the good way..." (Jer.6: 16). They will be the prophetic ones who"....shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in" (Isaiah 58:12). THE END RESULT The present renewal of the Church in Spirit is going to result in a renewal and restoration of Biblical truth in the area of worship and practice. What is the end purpose of and need for this Judeo-Christian restoration? Quite simply (God is preparing the Church for the physical Kingdom age. The Millennial Kingdom is our inheritance with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17, Matt 5:5). The destiny of Jesus was declared by God through the angel unto Mary: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of David forever; and of his Kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:32-33) If indeed Christ's Kingdom is a "Davidic Kingdom", we might well conclude that the system and pattern of things that He will employ in that age will be those which "came from God through the Jews to the Church" so that we might be equipped to reign with Christ over all the earth (Rev.20:6). *************************************************************************