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).
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