it is about our birthright in Messiah

[DeanZF]

This whole thing is a very thorny issue. So many things are tarnished because of some common usage--some might call it high-jacking!--of a language. Christmas carols have been thrown out of common use because of this sort of high-jacking. "Don we now our gay apparel." Many other examples, but you get my point.



That's kind of why we chose the title "Jewish Roots". Truly, Jesus, being descended of David makes him out to be of the tribe of Judah, yes. There are arguments going on right now that it's Jesus the Nazarene, therefore we've got to have Nazarenism. Or Jesus being born in Bethlehem, we should be Bethlehemite Christians. IT'S NUTS OUT THERE!!!



Similarly "Hebraic Roots" has become associated with one particular bunch of folks who've developed their own approach to all of this. So we can't really use that phrase without implying endorsement of their views. I honestly do not know their views, but have been warned about them by people whom I trust.



PLEASE HEAR THIS CAREFULLY: We are not, repeat NOT suggesting that all of Christendom become Jewish in practice or theology. I know that Ben knows that this is where we stand. We are NOT suggesting that all should suddenly rush out and join Messianic congregations or become somehow affiliated with Jewish congregations. NOT GOING THERE.



Ben mentioned "Hebraic mindset". Oh, amen to that. Somewhere, we have a wonderful little teaching about some of what that means. I'll try to dig it out and share it, but to give a hint:



"Fruit in our lives" defined through HEBREW vs GREEK MINDSETS



Love, acceptance, forgiveness VS Mutual tolerance

Transparency encouraged VS Transparency discouraged

Active participation VS Passivity and lethargy

"How you serve" vital VS "What you know" vital

Each believer trained to serve VS Trained professionals utilized

Produces mature believers VS Produces spectators



These are not my work, but I subscribe to them wholeheartedly. There are lots more. I'll find them and find a way to make the formatted page available to you.



I want us to be careful not to pick too many nits. Jesus/Yeshua are used interchangeably here. Jesus was a Hebrew. Jesus was a Jew. Jesus was a Judean. Jesus was a Galilean. He was from Nazareth, thus a Nazarene. All true, yes? His studies and teaching about life from Torah would have been expected of such a talented rabbi/teacher as He was seen to be by even the hoity-toity-est of the elite Pharisees. But with such authority. Yeah, well, He WROTE it after all...



I expect that Yeshua was probably a model of Torah observance. As Sha'ul/Paul (of the tribe of Benjamin, yes??) said, "I am a Jew among Jews." He knew and kept the rules, especially the "BIG ONES". Paul was terribly tangled up in the whole mess that Ben talked about earlier, but through Messiah, was set free! Reading his epistles show that pretty clearly. Heck, he was the apostle to the Gentiles. Normally, a "Jew among Jews" would not have been very keen on talking to, dealing with, or sharing fellowship with the Gentiles. They are unclean, their homes are unclean, they eat things that were forbidden. YOY such a list. But there he was in their midst without pause.



There's a lot more to the discussion.