The Hebrew Roots Movement: A critical analysis of its origins, teachings & biblical interpretations

by Rubén Gómez

International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA), unequivocally states its frontal opposition to any attempt to Judaize gentiles and denies “any ties with false ‘Messianic Jews’” or with people who adopt Hebrew names and introduce themselves as Jews to Christian congregations and other groups.[129]

Messianic Jewish congregations establish a clear biblical distinction between Jews and gentiles within the unity that exists within the body of the Messiah, and this is attested in projects such as Towards the Second Council of Jerusalem (TJCII)[131] with the stated purpose of bringing together Jewish and gentile believers in Yeshua/Jesus to strengthen fraternal ties within the body of the. The role of gentiles within MJ At this point, it is worth remembering that Messianic Judaism is a broad term that essentially refers to those people of Jewish descent who, while

“for a sense of the transcendence of God which often is absent from their churches,” the desire to “get back to the primitive church,” a sense of “covenant envy” and the fact that it is “much easier for Christians to cross the great religious divide and to attend a Messianic Jewish assembly than for a Jewish person to do so.”

Gentiles are invited to participate in the context of a Messianic congregation, particularly those with a special calling (extraordinary vocation) and love for Israel and the Torah, but Jew-Gentile distinctions should not be blurred. Identity markers are to be respected.

Rudolph builds his case for this “ecclesiological variegation” on 1 Cor 7:17-24.[181] In verse 17, the Pauline rule says that “the Lord assigned” each believer a specific “way of life.” The Greek verb μερίζω merizō appears in texts like Rom 12:3 y 2 Cor 10:13, and Louw & Nida include this particular use under domain 37, subdomain E. The gloss says, “to assign a particular part or aspect of a function or responsibility—‘to assign a particular responsibility, to give a particular task to, to appoint a particular part to.’”[182] It is interesting to notice that the verb δίδωμι didomi found in Eph 4:11 (i.e., “He gave [or assigned]”) also appears under the same subdomain with the meaning “to assign a person to a task as a particular benefit to others—‘to appoint, to assign (on behalf of).’”[183] It appears, then, that what we find here is a unique God-assigned role or function in life, which has its own boundaries and is based on a particular calling (cf. “to which God has called him,” 1 Cor 7:17; cf. also 1 Cor 7:20, 24). This would also apply, among other things, to the Jew-Gentile distinction.

Jews are to remain Jews as witnesses of God’s faithfulness (Rom 15:8), while Gentiles are to remain Gentiles as witnesses of God’s mercy (Rom 15:9).

There is a distinction!

There is no explicit and unequivocal injunction in the New Testament that Gentile believers in the Messiah must keep the Torah, since they are under no covenant obligation to do so. Moreover, strict Torah observance requires circumcision, and Paul the Apostle expressly warns Gentiles against seeking to be circumcised (1 Cor 7:17-24; Gal 5:3).

undoubtedly be held accountable to the universal ethics or universal aspects of Torah that the New Testament expounds (contained in the law of Christ). And, according to Acts 15:29; 21:25, they are specifically required to stay away from idolat...

outward distinguishing mark of the Jew, and there is ample evidence that Jewish believers in Jesus were expected to live a Torah-observant life (Acts 21:20; 1 Cor 7:17-18a, 24). That is the apparent background of the council of Jerus...

vast majority of Jewish Christians in the NT period continued to observe the whole law, taking for granted that they we...

Most Messianic scholars conclude that there are Gentiles with a special calling and love of Israel (and Torah) that may want to take their commitment one step further, with two caveats: the importance of respecting one’s conscience (Rom 14) and the fine line one has to walk in order to avoid blurring and erasing identity markers.[192] So, if the whole Messianic movement is to grow healthy and strong, it may be wise to heed Juster’s appeal: “We call upon Jews and Gentiles in Messianic Jewish congregations to discover their calling and

unity and distinction.”[193]

Unlike the HRM, MJ is fundamentally a Jewish movement.

MJ has repeatedly spoken, in no uncertain terms, against the basic tenets of the HRM, especially regarding two house and one law theology.

The HRM is causing significant damage to MJ, since many Gentile believers cannot discern their profound differences and tend to conflate them.

The role of Gentiles within Messianic communities must always correspond with the clear distinction of functions based on the different calling received from God. 7

Thus, a reaction against a deficient view of the OT as the word of God and of the place of Israel within the divine plans can easily lead to an improper exaltation of certain aspects of the Hebrew Bible and an unhealthy fascination with the Jewish people, and vice versa.[194] Over

The pendulum swung too hard the opposite way

many people have become part of the HRM because they perceived a great need to rectify the course of the Christian churches.

There is a righteous desire to get things right and return to the old way.

proposed recipe to correct or restore things. Admittedly, the remedy is worse than the disease,

In a way, the emergence of the HRM, like its predecessors, has to do with the lack of seriousness with which many Christians take their faith. The absence of genuine fervor, coupled with an appalling biblical and theological illiteracy, are a perfect combination for those who are looking for something else to do so outside the traditional Christian churches. Remember that virtually all those who make up the HRM in its manifold manifestations come from Christian denominations.

They now believe they have discovered something that seems to fulfill their deepest longing. Driven by the typical zeal of the new convert, they give themselves body and soul to it. This perfectly explains their social media activism and enormous enthusiasm, as well-intentioned as misguided.

If I could have the attention of those readers who are already part of the HRM or who are “transitioning”[195] from Christianity to Hebrew Roots, I would tell them the following: Do not be so critical of and condescending towards Christians. No matter how convinced you are that their way of following the Messiah is wrong, that does not justify any insults or bad manners. For all its mistakes, Christianity has made it possible for the biblical message to reach every corner of the earth. Before hearing about the Hebrew roots, you had the opportunity to know about the Lord through Christians. Do not turn against those you once considered your brothers and sisters, your spiritual family. You will hardly get them to listen to you if you do nothing but call them apostates and pagans. Worry about the people who know nothing about the God that the Scriptures show us and not so much about the believers who follow a different path from yours. Stop

Do not try to impose on everyone else your personal convictions. Be as strict as you want with yourself, but do not expect everyone else to follow suit.

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’” (Matt 9:13a; cf. Hos 6:6).

engaging in another type of supersessionism: that of substituting for the Jews (believing yourself to be part of Israel along with them) and thus denying their unique election and place in God’s redemptive purposes.

The HRM is doing much harm to MJ, since most Christians cannot distinguish between them.

Do not sit at the feet of Gentile teachers who falsely claim to be Israelites. If you do Jewish things, do them with actual Jews. In short, if you want to see the HRM taken seriously by Christianity, start by dispensing with anything that involves the cultural appropriation of Judaism. Some churches claim to be pronomian and exhibit no Jewish practices whatsoever. There are ways to engage in a fruitful and respectful dialogue between different positions on the Torah without having to keep dodging over and over again attitudes that verge on, and even go beyond, the

The apostle Paul did not confront the HRM, but Jews, his compatriots, who wanted the gentiles who believed in the Messiah to become Jews first (cf. Gal 5:1-4; Acts 15:1, 5). As for Messianic, it comes from the word Messiah (from the Heb. mashiach, anointed), just as Christian derives from Christ (from the Gr. christos, anointed). Strictly speaking, all Christians are Messianics, and all Messianics are Christians. I know that Judaizer is used very frequently in a colloquial sense, but it behooves us to clarify whom we refer to. Not all Jewish things are Judaizing. The same applies to Messianic. There are Jews and Messianic gentiles who regularly meet in Messianic assemblies, but let us not forget that Christian churches are also Messianic. There are Hebrew rooters with whom it is impossible to hold a reasonable conversation. They are so fanatical and sectarian that trying to use logical arguments with them is a waste of time. However, others are seemingly able to reason and listen. Love them all, but focus on the latter group. Do not use words like cult or heresy lightly. Some feel hurt by Christianity, and this kind of language will alienate them even more. If at all possible, it is better to share than to confront. Learn

Remember that MJ squarely rejects the characteristic teachings of the HRM, even more so, probably, than traditional Christianity.

The Torah of Moses has more in common with the notion of instruction than with modern concepts of statutory law or a legislative corpus, as

They were instructions for living in a specific place and time. The new law, the law of Christ, also has a strong element of wisdom attached to it (James 1:22-25). Principles do not change, but certain specific manifestations do.

The ideal of every believer is to be faithful to the imperishable instructions of the Lord, not to a particular law (Mosaic) that ...

Context is everything. Jesus’ ministry must be placed within Second Temple Judaism’s framework. The death and resurrection of the Messiah inaugurate a new covenant.

The law of Christ is based on the fulfillment spoken of in Matt 5:17 and has nothing to do with observing every one of the mitzvot.

the most important commandments of the law of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2), to love God and one’s neighbor (Matt 22:36-40; Mark 12: 28-31), do not even appear in the Decalogue!

Love is the hallmark of the true disciple of Jesus (John 13:35;1 John 4:7-8), a love

It is impossible to go back with absolute fidelity to the practices of the early church. Any expression of Christian primitivism is doomed to failure. The prevalent contexts in biblical times and ours are undeniably different. The inculturation of the biblical message is necessary. In other words, evangelization does not consist of perpetuating past or present cultural models, but rather of incorporating the principles and values of the message of Jesus Christ into each of the existing cultures. Becoming Hebrews is not the solution.

Yuuuuuuup

The relationship that should prevail concerning the Mosaic law, whether one is Jewish or Gentile, was already agreed upon and settled at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). It is not our responsibility to reopen a debate that the Scriptures consider closed and done with! Gentiles do not have to live like Jews, nor do Jews have to live like Gentiles.

Read acts 15. Done!!

the Torah was given to Israel and not to the rest of the nations. These are the stipulations of the covenant that God establishes with his people. The fact that there were ethnically non-Israelite elements among the people does not change this fundamentally.

Within the body of the Messiah, Jews, and Gentiles are called to manifest reconciliation and unity, but this is not possible if either disappears as such. There is no difference in terms of salvation (cf. Gal 3:28; Col 3:11), but distinctions concerning function or role must continue to be maintained, as in the case of men and women or (in the context of the first century) of masters and slaves. God does not hate the cultures of the world. On the contrary, he continues to manifest himself through them, in languages and through means people can understand. Through inculturation and reinterpretation, the Gospel is relevant to the whole world.

Contempt for any culture other than Hebrew. Resentment against all things Christian (and sometimes, the traditions of Rabbinic Judaism). The arrogance of feeling superior to those who do not keep the Torah. The breaking of relationships with all those who do not live like them (including family and friends). The division caused by trying to keep the Torah each in their own way, without regard for the people who received it (the Jews). The attempt to impose on others what not even the apostles did during the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). The undervaluation, if not rejection, of the writings and teachings of the apostle Paul. All these fruits are manifestations of the true nature of HRM.

Bearing bitter fruit.

What we must do is watch over the spiritual well-being of believers and constantly demonstrate the love of Jesus, that love which, according to the Scriptures, “is the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:10) and “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8).

it might seem that Jews are only left to choose between the bear’s claw (replacement theology) or the bear’s embrace (HRM). Both can be deadly.

No matter how great the dose of goodwill and the desire to repair the many mistakes that Christianity has undoubtedly made in its relationship with the Jewish people, nothing justifies wanting to be like them when we are not. We, Gentile believers, owe them a lot, as Jesus himself (John 4:22) and the apostle Paul are keen to remind us (Rom 3:2; 9:4-5), but we do them a great disservice if we attempt to take over their unique place within redemption history.

the NT offers ample evidence that the distinction between Israel and the nations continues to exist even under the new covenant and within the body of Christ. Inventing

The early church was Jewish, Jewish to the bone, and did not consider the large number of gentiles added to it over the years to be an obstacle to unity. It also saw no need for non-Jews to assume the obligations stipulated in the Torah, and the matter was settled. Revisiting this issue shows enormous disrespect for the saving work of the Messiah, apostolic authority, and God himself. The solution was never based on Judaizing the gentiles or gentilizing the Jews but on maintaining distinctions.

If we do not understand the precious plan that God has for the gentiles, and that difference in no way implies inferiority, we will never be able to enjoy a healthy and fruitful relationship with the Jews. As Gentiles, it is our duty to love them, collaborate with them, and fight alongside them against anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism—Christian or of any other kind. Ours is also the blessing of participating with them in the rich heritage that has come to us through Yeshua.

Moreover, we must do all this without becoming them or wanting them to be like us. When the distinctions God has designed are not respected, absolute confusion is the only thing to expect. This is precisely the type of confusion brought about by HRM. Few things are as amusing and tragic at the same time as groups of gentiles who want to pass themselves off as Jews and who, far from approaching the Scriptures, embrace rabbinical practices and traditions, along with folklore that is utterly foreign to them. A mixture that could undoubtedly be called “strange fire” (Lev 10:1).

Many congregations have adopted Hebrew rhythms, typical Israeli instruments, purely Old Testament decorations, and a certain Jewish air, which acts almost as a subliminal message and makes members of these assemblies want to belong to that nationality or ethnic origin, as if that were an advantage. In this way, a subtle Judaization continues to infiltrate Evangelical churches.[198]

If Christian churches had properly taught their members about their faith’s origins and flatly rejected any hint of supersessionism (replacement theology), we would have spared ourselves many problems.

churches caused this proble by rejecting OT and jewish roots outrigt.But this does not justify the extreme backlash.