“Let us leave the elementary teachings about Messiah and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of turning from works that lead to death.”
As the years pass and we grow older, we as believers in Messiah ought to mature in our actions and beliefs, growing in righteousness and wisdom. I hope that many of us move on from “whatever my church believes” to “studying the Scriptures”, to “meditating on His word, day and night”, to “being led by the Spirit in accordance with the Scriptures”.
Anything less is a tree without fruit. No fruit, and there’s something wrong on the inside.
Part of maturation is discernment: seeing an act or a belief and being able to state whether that aligns with God’s way for us.
What is God’s way for us, exactly? I know that sounds like a fluffy religious cliché, but it has real meaning:
God told us how to live – Torah, God’s commandments – and He then showed us how to live – Messiah, who followed Torah perfectly. Given these righteous standards, a codified Law and the Spirit of God inside, we can weigh acts and beliefs and discern whether they are righteous or rebellious.
I’ve recently encountered many acts and beliefs of Christians that demonstrate a lack of wisdom all too common in today’s Pop Christianity. Not all Christians demonstrate this lack of wisdom, but enough do that I regularly hear these preschool doctrines preached to me. I want to share these with you today. I will show these here not to mock or condemn, but to rebuke and correct so that we can continue to grow and mature in Messiah. Note these are all real quotes from real-life Christian friends who have chided me in the last few weeks as I discussed God’s Torah with them.
“Free in Jesus/Freedom in Christ”
Christian says: “When Jesus came, he established the freedom we have in Christ. No longer are we governed by rules, commandments, religiosity or tradition.”
Christian wants it to mean: I can do anything I want to, Jesus doesn’t care, and neither should you!
Usually whined when: God’s Torah is discussed as an applicable lifestyle. “Free in Jesus” is the knee-jerk response meant to imply Jesus doesn’t care about our works. Also implied is that this “freedom” Jesus gave us is a freedom to break Torah, which Paul defines as sin.
Applicable Scripture: Romans 6: “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
Take off the blinders and find…: We’re free from sin, not God’s commandments.
“Jesus changed everything”
Christian says: “Jesus’ birth and eventual death changed everything for humanity.”
Christian wants it to mean: Jesus changed the Sabbath to Sun-day, voided most of the commandments, rebuked all that Jewish stuff, and created a new religion apart from the original faith in the God of Israel, thus validating my brand of Christianity.
Usually whined when: The eternal nature of God's sabbath, commandments and feasts are discussed.
Applicable Scripture: Exodus 31: “You are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and Israel forever.
Take off the blinders and find…: The Sabbath is forever. God’s Feasts are everlasting. God’s commandments are eternal. Messiah’s didn’t cancel the Father’s commandments, lest He be a rebellious son.
“We aren’t led by the law; we’re led by the Spirit”
Christian says: “The Holy Spirit now guides us now, not the old law. Haven’t you read Galatians 3?”
Christian wants it to mean: I can do whatever I want and justify it by claiming to be “led by the Spirit!”
Usually whined when: It’s suggested Christians living contrary to the Torah are living in error.
Applicable Scripture: Romans 7: “Now that we have died to sin, we are released from the law to serve in the new way of the Spirit. What are we saying, then? Is the law sin? No! Indeed I would not have known what coveting was except for the succinct commandment, “Do no covet.” The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.”
Take off the blinders and find…: The Spirit and the Torah are never in contradiction.
“Don’t let anyone judge you with regards to food or drink or celebration”
Christian says: “Haven’t you read Colossians 2? It doesn’t matter what I eat and drink, or what holidays I celebrate.”
Christian wants it to mean: I can eat unclean foods, drink anything I want, celebrate whatever festivals I choose, and God doesn’t care!
Usually whined when: It’s revealed Messiah didn’t rise from the dead on Easter.
Applicable Scripture: Acts 21: “As for the gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our decision that they should keep away from food that has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”
Take off the blinders and find…: Paul cannot be saying, “It doesn’t matter what you eat!” It would contradict his earlier judgment in Acts 15 and 21. It would contradict God’s commandments in the Torah. It would contradict Messiah’s statement in Matthew 5. God cares about what we eat, drink, and that we keep His eternal Feasts.
"Messiah fulfilled the law for me, so I don’t have to keep it”
Christian says: “The law is summarized with loving God and loving others. Since I do these, and since Jesus fulfilled the whole law, I don’t have to obey any of the other commandments.”
Christian wants it to mean: I narrowly escape having to obey God’s commandments.
Usually whined when: A Christian understands the righteousness in the Torah, but doesn’t feel motivated to change his ways.
Applicable Scripture: Matthew 5, again.
Take off the blinders and find…: The illogical nature of this argument: "Jesus fulfilled X, therefore, I don't have to concern myself with X." X could be "love", "atonement", "mercy", but this argument is conveniently applied only when X is "Torah". Another fallacy of this argument is that Jesus didn't carry out some commandments: commandments for farmers, for married men, for women, for the Levitical priesthood, for example. Scripturally, this is unsound doctrine: is a son allowed to cheat because his father was an honest man? Likewise, do we get to be disobedient because Jesus was obedient?
“Jesus didn’t worry about traditions or the old law”
Christian says: “Jesus didn't care about keeping any traditions. He saw a need to heal a man and do good, and He did it, without worrying about the old law about not working on the sabbath.”
Christian wants it to mean: I don’t have to think about the law; I’m a Christian after all!
Usually whined when: Discussing Messiah’s actions.
Applicable Scripture: Matthew 5: “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Take off the blinders and find…: Jesus didn’t break the Sabbath, or any other commandment, lest he contradict his own words in Matthew 5, and be found to be the false prophet of Deuteronomy 13.
“The Jewish stuff isn’t for me, but I’m glad you’re doing it.”
Christian says: “It’s nice that you Jewish people do those Jewish things. I’m a gentile, with my own culture and background, so I don’t need this stuff, but I think it’s great that you glorify God with your Jewish traditions.”
Christian wants it to mean: I can feel snuggy-snug-snug by dismissing the Torah as not-applicable, while unoffending you by saying some kind words.
Usually whined when: A Christian sees that Torah is Godly, but doesn’t want to change his own life.
Applicable Scripture: Leviticus 23: These are My Feasts, My appointed times, which you are to declare as holy.
Take off the blinders and find…: God’s commandments are not Jewish; they’re God’s. They’re not optional cultural traditions; they’re commandments to His people.
"No one can follow the Law perfectly, so I’m not even gonna try!”
Christian says: “There are 613 laws in the Old Testament! Ha! It’s impossible to keep them all, [Paul quote here], so I’m not even going to try! Thank Jesus He’s freed me from that bondage!”
Christian wants it to mean: I get to cover my ears and sing “la la la la” when I hear you talk about God’s commandments.
Usually whined when: Discussing the Torah.
Applicable Scripture: The New Testament. It contains more laws than the Torah. All of which are built upon, and strengthen, the Torah. (E.g. see Messiah’s new commandments that build upon the Torah.)
Take off the blinders and find…: the absurdity of this argument. It’s akin to saying, “Since I’ll probably break the speed limit at some point in my life, I’ll just drive however fast I want all the time!” ("..but officer, I was being led by the Spirit!")
"All that matters is Jesus and Him crucified."
Christian says: “Why are you all hung up on Feasts and commandments? Why are you judging me? All that matters is Christ, and him crucified. Jesus preached the gospel and nothing else, and you should too!”
Christian wants it to mean: Jesus got up in the Temple and started shouting, “Are you SAAVVVVVVED, brother?!!!! Altar call!” We ought to do the same, and drop this nonsense about the old law.
Usually whined when: We teach discipleship through following the Master’s actions, rather than church theology.
Applicable Scripture: Luke 18: A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, “You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
Take off the blinders and find…: asking Jesus into your heart isn’t all there is to salvation. Jesus taught repentance first, discipleship second. Repentance is turning from sin; sin is breaking the Torah. Discipleship is about following the acts of the Master: Torah.
“We are justified by faith alone. The old law can’t save me, so it’s useless.”
Christian says: “We’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The works you're preaching is legalism, and you're a Judaizer for doing so.”
Christian wants it to mean: It doesn't matter if I live according to God's commandments, and I get to call you names since I disagree with you.
Usually whined when: Obeying God’s commandments -- works -- are shown to be a crucial part of living a holy life.
Applicable Scripture: James 2: What good is it, brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no works? Can such faith save him? You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without works is useless? Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his works were in union, and his faith was made complete by what he did. The Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
Take off the blinders and find…: The Torah is a crucial part of the gospel, and a crucial part of living a Godly life. How can we preach, “Be saved!”, when we do not preach what we’re saved from? How can we preach, “Repent!”, when we do not preach what we’re to repent from?
You fine blog readers hear these preached? Subscribe to some yourself? I'm not here to condemn, but to ripen (thanks for that one, Trent) and discern and exercise wisdom. Mature. Let me know what you think.