Hebrew Roots & some other groups like them are copying many doctrines from Judaism because they think it is the root of Christianity. However they don’t seem to realize that Judaism of today is not the religion of the Israelites of the Old Testament, but a modified religion full of tradition of men & extra-biblical sources. We love Jewish people & pray for them in anticipation of that glorious day on which the Lord Jesus Christ will reveal Himself to the remnant of Israel, but we shouldn’t look into Judaism to learn how to become better Christians, we just need to look at the inspired Word of God and not men doctrines or their traditions.
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The ‘Two House’ is a very popular doctrine in the Hebrew Root Movement (HR) that believes in the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel, but like several of their doctrines it was made popular in America by the founder of ‘Worldwide Church of God‘ (WCG) Herbert Armstrong who vigorously promoted it. He believed this teaching was the key to interpret bible prophecy correctly & was the ‘central plank’ of his theology. Check some of WCG doctrines.
Whosoever transgresseth (G3845 = depart) and abideth (G3306 = remain, stay, continue) not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine (G1322=teaching, instructions) of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:9-11
HRM completely twist Colossians 2:16 in order to prove their doctrine. If we are confused about a text or Bible verse, we should read 20 verses before and 20 verses after in order to read in context (20/20). If we are still confused, then we read the chapter before and the chapter after. In a video of a popular HRM ministry interpreting Col. 2:16 they jump back to verse 8 alone to explain vs.16, skipping the real context, unfortunately some people will accept it without checking. But there is not any prove that Gnostics were pressing Christians not to keep the Mosaic law, as HRM teaches.
Gnostics mainly attacked the Divinity of Jesus Christ & they still do today. Many founders of gnostic schools were identified as Jewish Christians by early Church Fathers. Gnostics of today that are involved in Judaism & Kabbalah still keep the Sabbath & the dietary laws, feast, etc, this is not against their teachings & it never was. Some scholars, including some Jewish scholars have postulated that there was originally a Jewish gnosticism, which influenced the early origins of gnosticism & that it was known by ‘Talmudic’ Rabbis. Also the Jewish Encyclopedia states: “There is no doubt that a Jewish gnosticism existed before a Christian or a Judeo-Christian gnosticism“
We don’t put down Christians because they want to observe the sabbath (seventh day of the week) or want to eat kosher, we can understand that if they have a Jewish background. But unfortunately most of the Hebrew Root Movement (HRM), 7th Day Adventist, Church of God, etc. do condemn us evangelical Christians as pagans or unsaved for not imitating them.
All these groups argue that Sunday worship was invented by the Roman Catholic Church, that Sunday is ‘sun’-day to worship the sun god, the mark of the beast, etc. But if Sunday is the day of the sun, then Saturday is the day of Saturn, and Monday the Moon day, etc. etc. If you find the doctrines of HRM are similar with the Church of God & 7th Day Adventists, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, its not a coincidence, all these religious groups originated from the same source, William Miller’s (Millerites) doctrines, see more here ‘One Law Two Sticks‘.
We will always find the disciples of Jesus in the New Testament preaching the “cross of Christ” and not ‘Torah (law) keeping‘. There are 4 recommendations found in Acts 15:28-29, to help us to stay clean, & the 3 commandments from Jesus about love, so to LOVE is all that is required to Christians. If we Love Him we will keep His words/teachings, Jn.14:23-24. ‘Love is the fulfillment of the law’ (Ro. 13:10).
If we are really in a New Covenant by the blood of the Lamb of God (Lk.22:20, 1 Cor.11:25, 2 Cor.3:5-6, etc. ), then we have new instructions given by Jesus and He said His yoke is easy. We are not in a ‘renewed‘ covenant as HRM teaches. Can you imagine the yoke of hundreds of the Old Covenant instructions plus all the instructions of the New ? it would be a double yoke, & that’s is what Hebrew Roots Movement teaches.
But Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew 11:25-30. Jesus is our Rest, our Sabbath & He was talking to Jews, about the yoke of the old covenant law.
We are not without any law, we now have the Law of Christ, Gal.6:2 & the doctrine (teachings) of Christ, we are in a New Covenant. The law of Christ, then, is to love God with all of our being, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and He added a new commandment to His followers to love one another of the brethren as HE loved us.
This is not a ‘heresy hunting’ blog, everything we post here about other doctrines it’s because has affected us personally (or our love ones), or are answers to questions made by others. 3 brothers & sisters in the Lord in a period of 1 week sent or asked for information regarding this movement.
I just hope and pray this information here may be of help to you. I also want to ask readers for your prayers, for God to help everyone affected by these doctrines of the Hebrew Root Movement (HRM).
Also it is important to clarify that this group HRM differs in doctrine from many Messianic Jews and some of their leaders have shown publicly their concerns about HRM. See ‘One Law Two Sticks‘
Jewish believer Stephen Katz expresses his concerns when he says, “Much of the Jewish Roots Movement is actually based on later Jewish/rabbinic tradition. More importantly, the question of whether Gentiles need to add Jewish lifestyle and return to Jewish roots was settled by the Jerusalem Council described in Acts 15. The remarkable news of the Gospel is that, in Y’shua, Jews and Gentiles have direct access to God” (“The Jewish Roots Movement: Flowers and Thorns,” March 1, 2001).
On 1973 a doctrine about the need of ‘Spiritual Covering’ or submitting to a shepherd was promoted by the “Shepherding Movement“, this movement affected many church denominations mainly charismatics but also Reformed, not only in America but also around the world. The teaching of spiritual covering has been blamed for various levels of authoritarian abuse, church splits, families splits, etc. to the point that 2 of its early proponents left the group: Derek Prince, who withdrew in 1983, explained publicly : “we were guilty of the Galatian error: having begun in the Spirit, we quickly regenerated into the flesh.” & Bob Mumford in 1989 offered a public apology for being involved in it & admitted the movement was a mistake. He said this resulted in “perverse and unbiblical obedience” to leaders.
After King Solomon’s death Israel was divided into 2 kingdoms: The northern kingdom of Israel & the southern kingdom of Judah. Both of them fall into idolatry (spiritual adultery). About 200 years latter God judged Israel & Syria conquered them. But still the Lord in His mercy was calling them to repentance.
I see the same happening today to the believers or body of Christ, falling into idolatry, following after all kind of men doctrines, in apostasy, falling away from the truth of God as was prophesied in the Scriptures about the latter days. 1 Tim, 4:1-3, 2 Thess. 2:3, etc.
Some Christians believe that once you are saved you will always remain saved, and that no matter what you do after that, including sinning, your salvation is still secured. Some others will add that if you sin willingly, then it is because you were never saved in the first place; even after 20 or more years of walking faithfully with God, if you fall, it means you were never really saved.
We’ll try to explain our position on this subject. We are not attacking people who believe differently, we are not questioning their salvation or attacking their character. We believe this is a very important doctrine, but we also think it is still not an issue to divide over if the person has the Foundational Doctrines right, unless ‘Once Saved, Always Saved’ is used as a license to sin. Sound Doctrine is very important because what we believe is going to affect our actions & way of living.
Those hardened or cut off are NOT born in this condition, but have “grown hardened” over years of rebellion , their hearts or conscience becomes dull or hardened because of continual & unrepentant sin in their lives (1 Tim.4:2, Acts 28:24-27, Matt. 19:8, Rom.2:5, Heb 3:13).