The ‘Hebrew Roots’ Movement – Part 4

The Hebrew Roots Movement (also known as Jewish Roots and Hebrew Roots Awakening) is impacting many Christians and churches around the world.

We have been researching the Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM) for many years and thought it might be helpful to shed some light on who they are and what they believe.

The first section of our series includes an introduction into HRM and its leadership along with the movement’s stated beliefs and what some of their critics are saying.

The second section of our series will look at our findings after years of research into HRM.

Here is a reminder about some of what various Hebrew Roots Movement group believe:

• Restoring Christianity to its Hebrew (Jewish) roots
• Requiring the use of the name Yaweh rather than God or Lord and Yeshua rather than Jesus
• Belief that Jesus (Yeshua) is God (Yaweh) (there seems to be some disagreement by different HRM groups about whether Jesus is God in the Flesh or if God elevated Jesus the man to a position of deity .. we’ll look into that as our investigation continues)
• Helping believers express their faith in Yeshua as Messiah by returning to and keeping the Torah of Yeshua
• People are not saved by works, but the precepts of the Torah are eternally binding
• Viewing the Torah as the primary document for living the life God intends for followers of Jesus (Yeshua)
• Every believer should walk a Torah-observant life
• Believers must ‘endure to the end’ in their observance of the Torah
• The original Hebrew versions of Gospel writings are superior to Greek texts, which many in the HRM believe were corrupted. (Hebrew Roots has its own Bibles – Qodesh Cepher, Sacred Name New Testament, Sacred Name Bible, Holy Name Bible)
• The Epistles of the Apostle Paul are often ignored and sometimes rejected
• Pagan traditions adopted by Christians are not to be followed
• Hebrew terminology is used in meetings along with Jewish symbols and ‘Messianic’ music and dancing (known as Davidic Dancing)
• Believers should keep the seventh-day Sabbath and annual Passover
• Believers should keep the annual Feast Days (e.g. Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles)
• Removed from Protestant Christianity because of core belief differences
• Gentiles keep the Law through the One Law theory and Two House theology

We now move to Part Four of the first section of our series as we look at the HRM beliefs concerning restoring Christianity to its Hebrew (Jewish) roots, viewing the Torah as the primary document for living the life God intends for followers of Jesus (Yeshua), and helping believers express their faith in Yeshua as Messiah by returning to and keeping the Torah of Yeshua (becoming Torah-Observant).

Restoring Christianity To Its Hebrew Roots

We believe that restoring the Hebraic foundations of the Christian faith is and effort that is in continuity with the historical church, the movement begun by Jesus and the apostles. We, therefore, consider this restoration to be a work of renewing existing faith communities and corporate structures, returning them to original Christianity as modeled by Jesus and his disciples. Hebraic Heritage Christian Center

The return to Hebraic foundations can also provide a more biblical base for achieving improved doctrinal unity among denominations. Obviously, there is a much needed unity of thought and definition to be brought to the myriad of present-day, conflicting Christian theological positions. Many have given up hope that we will ever agree on the scriptures. These conflicts of doctrine, in many cases, can be directly attributed to the removal of the Divine principles brought to us through the Hebrews. Rather than Hebraic, much of our reference is Greko-Roman. Invariably, an inconsistent frame of reference leads to conflicting conclusions. When we begin to use the same tools for research and biblical excavation, we will more likely arrive at a consensus as to ‘what is truth.’ Awareness Ministry

I believe that as we draw nearer to the end, we will see God bridging the gap between the Church and the Synagogue. In their book Israel, the Church and the Last Days, Messianic teachers Keith (Asher) Intrater and Dan Juster describe the development of end-time events: False Christianity will fall prey to rising anti-Semitism, but the true believers will become increasingly aware of the Jewish roots of the faith. Right now, God is already restoring the Jewish wing of the Body of Messiah. More and more Jews are coming to know their Messiah. Caspari Center

For the Church, it is paramount that we recognise the Jewish roots of our faith. It has to do with finding respect for the people called by God to give the world His word and Messiah, bringing the nations into a covenant relationship with the God of Israel. Not recognising the trunk of the tree that holds us as the Church (Romans 11:18) leads to a faith without proper foundations and this can be fatal. Whether Israel responds to our love and friendship or not, and even if they are enemies of the Church, we should remember that God still loves them for the sake of the fathers. And so should we.  International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

We believe that the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) is producing among us a work of biblical restoration, returning the church to its Hebraic foundations in order to go forward in understanding of biblical truth, faith, and practice. This restoration is manifest in intimate relationship with God and in loving interpersonal relationships with fellow believers and with society in general … We believe that restoring the Hebraic foundations of the Christian faith is an effort that is in continuity with the historical church, the movement begun by Jesus and the apostles. We, therefore, consider this restoration to be a work of renewing existing faith communities and corporate structures, returning them to original Christianity as modeled by Jesus (Yeshua) and His disciples. Tree of Life Assembly

What we call ‘the Church’ today has its true roots in Israel. For the first hundred years of the Church most of the Believers in Yeshua were Jewish people living in Jerusalem, who lived through the life, death and resurrection of the Lord, and came out the other side of that believing that He was the long awaited Messiah of Israel. In those days they only had the Hebrew Scriptures as the New Testament was yet to be compiled.

The ‘Church’ was still very connected to her Hebraic roots and had a very Hebraic view of the Bible and their faith. It was in those times that signs, wonders and miracles were the expected norm. If we want to see that same supernatural power restored, then perhaps the key is to restore the way the early Believers viewed the Bible and their faith. Out Of Zion Ministries

… modern ‘Babylon’ is Christendom, and that the call to come out of Babylon is the restoration of the ancient sect of Nazarene Judaism which is taking place today. Yeshua did not come to create a new religion (Christianity), He came to be the Messiah of the old one (Judaism). However many in the Hebraic-Roots movement have set themselves on a mission to reform Christianity and ‘fix’ it. They sincerely believe that they can restore the Hebraic Roots to Christianity. This is impossible because Christianity as a new and different religion from Judaism was created by severing itself from any Hebraic Roots it might have had … Yah’s work today is not one of reintroducing Hebraic Roots to Christianity in some misguided attempt to heal her. Yah’s work in these last days is the restoration of the ancient Jewish Sect of the Nazarenes. Yeshua did not come to create a new religion, he came to be the Messiah of the old one. Nazarene Space

Torah The Primary Document

We believe that the divine instruction of the Torah (the Pentateuch or Law) is foundational for the faith of Jesus and the apostles; therefore, we recognize its continuing relevance and value for the church’s Christocentric existence, and we encourage Christians to study and celebrate it within the context of the New Covenant. Hebraic Heritage Christian Center

We believe that the divine instruction of the Torah (the teaching and instructions of God; first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures;) is foundational for the faith of Jesus (Yeshua) and the apostles (first century disciples in Messiah Yeshua); therefore, we recognize its continuing relevance and value for the church’s Christocentric (Messianic) existence, and we encourage Christians to study and celebrate it within the context of the New Covenant. Tree of Life Assembly

The Torah: Is GOD’s pattern for Kingdom Living, Is GOD’s guide for community life, Is GOD’s instruction manual for our best life now, Convicts us of our sin. Out of Zion Ministries

Believers Becoming Torah-Observant

We believe that the divine instruction of the Torah (the Pentateuch or Law) is foundational for the faith of Jesus and the apostles; therefore, we recognize its continuing relevance and value for the church’s Christocentric existence, and we encourage Christians to study and celebrate it within the context of the New Covenant. Hebraic Heritage Christian Center

Instead of arrogantly declaring that we are “not under the law, but under grace,” which I believe is an insult to the grace and goodness of YHVH. He is looking for His sons and daughters to have the correct heart attitude towards His Torah, and like King David, thank Him and praise Him for giving us His perfect instructions, and to do the best we can to live by them. Out of Zion Ministries

The Torah of Truth the Almighty gave to His people, Israel, through Moshe. He will not exchange it nor discard it for another until heaven and earth pass away. We believe that Torah observance is man’s moral obligation and expression of love to YHWH. The Torah is freedom and not bondage. The Torah is the way, the truth and the light and is for all of our generations forever. Nazarene Space

I have found that many people simply do not understand what it means to be Torah Observant, let alone, what Torah even means. On the contrary, there seems to be almost just as many who are familiar with it, but from an [unknowingly] anti-Semitic way. The word Torah comes from the Hebrew word that means “instruction, teaching, or law” – law being the word that trips everyone up and has them running for the hills. However, with the proper contextual understanding, one can accept and implement Torah in their lives, and spiritual walk, today. Without getting into the details of physical Israel versus spiritual Israel, it should be known and understood that once you are grafted in, you then adopt the ways and beliefs of the Creator who established what a child of His looks and acts like. This is where the instructions of the Torah come into play. On one hand, they were meant to show that the Israelites needed a Savior and an understanding of what their purpose in life was. On the other hand, Yahweh’s instructions were meant to bless, benefit, and guide the people (just like they do today). With the Huddlestons

The word observant can mean different things, but in this situation it is best defined as to see or recognize something as beneficial and blessed and set apart by Yehovah, and therefore to keep that thing set apart in one’s life and home. A Torah Observant believer therefore is a believer and follower of Yeshua Messiah, that believes that the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, have blessed, beneficial, and sacred instructions for life, and therefore they apply those instructions to their own life and homes as best they can in this day and culture. Hirn Homeschoolers
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Next Time

In the next part of our special series, The ‘Hebrew Roots’ Movement, we’ll hear from some of the critics of HRM as to their beliefs concerning Restoring Christianity to its Hebrew Roots, the primacy of the Torah, and Torah Observance.

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