Sunday 16 August 2009

Objections to Torah Observance: Andre Strom letter

Simone Martini, ca.1285-1344.
Last week I was sent this newsletter and after writing a response I thought it would be useful to store it here.  Scroll down to the bottom first to read the newsletter and then come back up to the top to read my response:

Dear Andrew
Introductory remarks

Thanks for your thoughts on Torah Observance. I'm sorry to read of the woman who almost lost sight of Christ as she focused on observing the Law. As with many things it is possible to misapply something good and end up with a corrupted result.

Response

Here are some alternative perspectives to the points you make:

Acts 15

At first sight, Acts 15 does appear to relieve Gentiles of the obligation to obey the Torah commandments. If you read a little further in the passage you quoted, quite a different interpretation can be drawn:

(15:20)...but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.

(15:21) For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues."

"Moses" here is a euphemism for the Laws of Moses contained in the first five books or the Bible. What does the passage mean when verse 21 is added to the quotation? The Jerusalem Council met to consider what to do with Gentiles as evidently God was also granting them Salvation. The council came up with a list of reduced requirements which are also Torah laws in themselves. How could James, a scrupulously Torah observant Jew recommend to anyone, to only observe a subset of the Torah Commandments? He could do so because he knew that they would be taught the rest of the law in the synagogues (v 21). How do we know that James was observant? James was so well known for being Torah Observant that he was called "James the Righteous." It was so well known that the High Priest was deposed after he had Jamie murdered out of jealousy. Christians have misinterpreted Acts 15 as the Apostles letting them off the hook from having to observe anything but a subset of the Torah listed above. This is not a robust conclusion. Most Christians would agree that they should obey the Ten Commandments. Yet not all of them are listed in Acts 15. Does that mean Christians should just ignore the Commandment not to murder as it is not listed in Acts 15? Even Acts 15 requires that Christians should observe some of the food laws.

  Colossians 2.14

Traditionally Christians have read this to mean that the Torah was nailed to the Cross. It was customary during Roman crucifixions for a list of the crimes for which the criminal was being condemned for, was nailed above his head (Keener, p 576). This is what happened to Jesus (John 19.19-22).

It isn't the Torah that is nailed to the cross but a list of our sins which demand, a price (Romans 6.23).

  Colossians 2.16-17

Verse 16 can be looked at quite differently. At first sight this verse is interpreted in a pejorative sense against Torah observance because many translators have inserted the word "only" in verse 17. The equivalent Greek word is not in the original passage.

Verse 16 can be read in this way: you Gentiles, as you learn more of the Torah and observe it, don't be deterred by those who judge you for doing so.

Verse 17, freed from its pejorative sense by removing the word "only" can also be interpreted differently. Just as a shadow projects the shape of the casting object, so too do the Torah commandments which are a projection of Jesus, the Word (Torah) made flesh. Observing the commandments allows society to see a projection of Jesus.

  Romans 14

This passage could equally be applied as a criticism of any believer judging another for observing Torah.

  "Works of the Law"

The Dead Sea Scrolls show that this phrase meant a particular sect's view of what needs to be done to earn righteousness, not all the actions required by the entire Torah (Young, p78). This supports the view that some were teaching that ceremonially becoming a Jew through circumcision and baptism was necessary for salvation. The question of whether or not one should be Torah observant once saved is not addressed.

An alternative view

Jesus was unequivocal in setting out his position regarding Torah observance: The Torah was enduring and obedience to its commandments must be taught. Anyone who taught that the commandments ought not to be obeyed would suffer serious consequences (Matthew 5.17-20).

The Mosaic laws are an integral part of Logos, the Word, which became flesh i.e. Jesus. Thus the Mosaic Laws form part of the very essence of Jesus himself. How can He then go against his very nature to advocate the abrogation of Torah? If they are an integral part of Jesus, then how can the Torah bring oppressive bondage?

Many Christians are keen to distance themselves from the commandments of the Pentateuch because they think that it is impossible to fulfill God's commandments. This belief ignores the Scripture's position on this issue. For example, Moses anticipates these thoughts and explicitly exhorts Israel not to accept it (Deuteronomy 30.10-14).

Jesus' sacrifice and work of atonement has no meaning unless God's commandments or laws endure.  There can be no grace with no judgment.

Anyone can go wrong with Torah observance when observance becomes an idol in itself. However there is nothing wrong with obedience to God's commandments arising out of a spirit-led love for God. Jesus says that if we love Him we will carry out His commandments. What commandments are these? If Jesus and God are One, then Jesus' commandments are God's commandments. What are God's commandments? His Torah.

Concluding remarks

The idea of Torah observance is a difficult concept to accept for Christians after nearly 1,800 years of contrary teaching. These teachings are largely based on Gentile translations and interpretations of scriptures originally written by Jewish writers. Yet language is not just a function of dictionary translations of words and an understanding of grammar. It also includes idioms, figures of speech and abbreviated references to widely held understandings that form a significant part of any culture. After so many centuries of separation between Jewish and Gentile societies, most Gentiles are unaware of them. Under these circumstances misunderstandings are inevitable. The answer is to re-engage with Jewish scholars familiar with 1st Century Jewish history to uncover the Bible's cultural and societal context so that we can rightly translate and interpret the Bible.

The concept of "Judaizing" is an interesting one. What makes a Jew, a Jew?  But for the commandments of God, they would just be another Semitic race, indistinguishable from the others that populated the Middle East and Asia. It is God and His commandments that differentiate them and make them "Jewish." To the extent that anyone obeys God's commandments, is the extent that they too will be "Jewish." Since Christians are also "Seed of Abraham" and "grafted in," it can be argued that Christians through the Spirit of Adoption are part of an enlarged Israel. This gives another sense whereby Christians may be considered "Jewish."

Observing Torah to the exclusion of a one-to-one relationship with God through the Holy Spirit is a wrong. Equally, trying to cultivate a one-to-one relationship with God through the Holy Spirit while holding to a theology that abrogates the Torah is just as flawed.

Bibliography

Keener, Craig (1993). The Bible Background Commentary. InterVarsity Press. Downers Grove, Illinois.

Young, B H (1997) Paul, The Jewish Theologian. Hendricksen Publishers, Peabody, MA.

Cheers


-------
Sent from an Apple Newton 2100 PDA



From: "REVIVAL List"
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 2:11 AM
To:
Subject: [revival] RETURN of THE JUDAIZERS?? - Andrew Strom

>
> RETURN of THE JUDAIZERS??
> -by Andrew Strom.
>
> I have friends who call Jesus "Yeshua". I don't mind it at all. I have
> other friends who keep the Saturday Sabbath. It doesn't bother
> me too much, unless there is a kind-of "aggressive attitude" about
> it. But in recent years I have witnessed a worrying trend - that in
> my opinion is growing worse - and we need to address it.
>
> Today when a Christian tells me that they are "Torah-observant"
> then all kinds of alarms go off. It may be that they are just into
> 'Hebrew roots' - but usually it is a lot more than that. We all know
> that in the early church, the biggest problem they had was with
> the "Judaizers" who went around trying to convince the Gentile
> Christians that they must obey the letter of the Old Testament
> Law. This shipwrecked the faith of many. It was the biggest
> problem they had. The book of Galatians is all about it - and many
> other sections of the New Testament. It was a battle between the
> old Law - with its subtle bondages - and the new walk of the Spirit
> and of grace.
>
> A few months back, we published the testimony of a Christian
> woman who got involved with a Messianic group that slowly under-
> mined her faith in Jesus - and basically converted her gradually
> into a practicing Jew - even though they all thought of themselves
> as "Messianic Christians"! She realized later that in almost every
> way she had slowly had her faith in Jesus and the New Testament
> replaced with the keeping of the Torah. She had been "Judaized"!
> And I fear this is happening to a great many Christians today - in
> all kinds of subtle ways.
>
> This is exactly what the Bible warns against - losing the "simplicity"
> of the faith. And that is why Paul was so strong against the Juda-
> izers. He saw that Christians were being tempted - not to place
> their faith in Christ alone - but rather in Christ PLUS the keeping of
> the Law. It was no longer a simple trust in JESUS to be their
> righteousness. They now started to feel they had to keep the letter
> of the Old Law too - in order to be truly "holy". And so they became
> "Judaized". This is the worst trap possible. And so subtle!
>
> Let us look at a few vital Scriptures. Please open your Bible to
> Acts 15:1-29. This whole passage is about a great meeting of the
> apostles to decide whether - with the new Gentile Christians - it
> was "necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to
> keep the law of Moses" (v 5). So what did the apostles conclude
> about this? As Peter declared during the debate about it, "Why
> do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples
> which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (v 10).
>
> At the end of the great meeting, the apostles put out a letter to
> the Gentile Christians that declared: "For it seemed good to the
> Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
> these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to
> idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual
> immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well."
> (v. 28-29). And as far as the Old Law went, that was it!
>
> In other words, no "Torah observance", no Sabbath, no circumcision,
> no Old Law apart from these few things. This brief list only. That
> was the pronouncement of the apostles. If they wanted to tell the
> Gentiles, "You must keep the Jewish Sabbath," then this was the
> place to do it. But it is definitely not included. And neither are a
> thousand-and-one other things from the Old Testament.
>
> Of course, this should be no surprise to us. In Colossians 2, Paul
> tells us very clearly that Christ has "wiped out the handwriting of
> requirements that was against us" by nailing it to the cross (v. 14).
> He then goes on to say: "So let no one judge you in food or in
> drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which
> are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ."
> (v. 16-17).
>
> So all these Old Testament practices are only a "shadow" of the
> New. In fact, as Hebrews makes clear, the entire Old Covenant
> was only a 'type' or shadow of that which was to come. It was not
> the real thing! It does not make us more "holy"! The substance is
> found in Christ - and Him alone. The Old Torah "requirements"
> were nailed to the cross with Jesus. We don't need them any more.
> If anybody ever tells you that the New Testament is simply a
> "continuation" of the Old, run a mile from that person. They simply
> do not know what they are talking about. In fact, what they are
> spouting is dangerous heresy.
>
> Thus, as Paul tells us in Romans, observing the Sabbath is only
> necessary if our conscience is weak in this area - and we feel we
> have to:- "One person esteems one day above another; another
> esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own
> mind. He who observes the day observes it to the Lord; and he
> who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it"
> (Rom 14:1-6).
>
> So we do not "have" to observe the Sabbath. It does not make us
> more 'holy' or righteous to do so. It is simply a matter of conscience.
> This runs against a lot of the teaching that is doing the rounds
> right now. There is a lot of dangerous "Back to the Torah"-type
> emphasis that is bringing a lot of harm to a lot of people. Many
> of them don't even realize what is happening to them.
>
> Paul clearly tells us in Galatians that you can lose your salvation
> by beginning to rely on the Law in your Christian walk: "You
> observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for
> you, lest I have labored for you in vain" (Gal 4:10-11). He then
> goes on to say, "You have become estranged from Christ, you
> who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."
> (Gal 5:4). Alarming statements, are they not?
>
> You see, it is a direct insult to the work of Christ and to God for
> us to go back to the "works of the Law" to try and make us more
> 'righteous' in His sight. It is placing our trust in something other
> than just Jesus. We are "adding works" for our salvation. And it
> will not do.
>
> I believe that just like the Galatians, a lot of people today need to
> repent of trying to add the Old Law to their salvation - sometimes
> in subtle ways - sometimes major. This is not the kind of thing to
> toy around with. It can be utterly deadly. If you are someone who
> is adding "Torah observance" to your faith, I urge you to repent.
>
> The testimony of the woman who slowly lost her faith in Jesus
> through Messianic Torah-observance can be found at the top of
> our website. Here is the link-
>
> http://www.revivalschool.com
>
> Please send feedback to- prophetic@revivalschool.com
>
> God bless you all.
>
> Andrew Strom.
>
> --
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>
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>
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>
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>
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>
> MODERATOR:
> Andrew Strom,
> 32 Coleridge Cres,
> Killay,
> Swansea, SA2 7DJ,
> UK.

Friday 14 August 2009

The Shack


With 8 million copies already sold and still more still flying off the shelves, William Young's novel "The Shack" has clearly captured the imagination of a significant proportion of the Christian community.

The Shack is a novel about a man whose daughter was abducted by a serial killer at a holiday camping ground. As time draws on and the crime remains unsolved the man descends into depression. He receives a note inviting him to meet at the Shack with "Papa."  Aware that this is his wife's nickname for God, he wonders whether or not this is someone's idea of a sick joke.  

Yet still intrigued, he takes advantage of his wife's weekend away to investigate. There, at the Shack, he meets three apparitions who represent themselves as God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son.

The novel sets up what every Christian must secretly desire, the opportunity for a one-on-one interview with God, to ask any question that has ever puzzled the believer. It's in the answers to these questions that the book has its power.  

The book conveys a sense of God's all-encompassing and heartwarming love for mankind and leaves the reader with a greater sense of love for community and acceptance of diversity. Both are important things to consider in the Western world as society adapts to new technological modes of interaction which reduce face to face engagement and relaxed immigration policies have allowed new ethnic groups to grow in different societies. In this sense, the book goes some way towards breaking down racial and religious intolerance.

The Shack has fuelled considerable controversy because of its positions regarding the nature of God, Humanity, Sin, Salvation and the Bible.  

On God and Humanity, it takes an egalitarian view of the Trinity and rejects the hierarchical order of authority traditionally held by Orthodox Christians. In Young's Trinity, God the Father has no authority over God the Son. He goes further to say that the believer is meant to join the circle of relationship as an equal partner. The reader has to put aside the idea that "no one can see God, and live."  Some of the ideas seem very similar to the now discredited Agnostic teachings.

On Sin, he rejects the concept of God's punishment (p119). He likens sin to a disease which needs to be cured. Certainly sin brings its own calamity but that does not mean that God himself does not inflict punishment. The image of God as a judge who passes sentence for certain is a prominent concept.

On Salvation, Young gives the impression that everyone has already been saved through the work of Christ and God is but waiting for everyone to accept it.  A form of universalism.

On the Bible, Young rejects the idea that God has stopped overtly communicating with His people, leaving the Bible (p63) as the sole source of contemporary revelation. He is correct but does not then go on to add that the bible disciplines these communications by providing a standard by which they can be authenticated (1Th 5.7, 1Jn 4.1).  

There is a lot more in the book but this should be sufficient to suggest that The Shack should be read guardedly.  Few things or people are wholly good or bad.  This is one book that needs some sifting.

Don't let anyone try to deflect serious discussion of this book by saying its  a work of fiction.  Using a dialogue between fictional characters as a means to convey a treatise on philosophy or some other subject of academic study is an age-old format.  Plato, Aquinas and Abelard all used it.  The Shack deserves to be treated seriously.

In the end the Shack is a great book to challenge modern readers to check if the concepts conveyed in the Shack are authenticated by the Bible and open up a new way for Christians to engage with one another in discussion and debate.

Prov 18.17