What role does the Torah play for Christians today?

Part 2

There's a great quote attributed to Augustine regarding disagreements between fellow Christians. And it says this:

“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”

Admittedly, there have been times during the 65 years that I’ve sojourned here on this side of eternity when I haven’t been exactly what you would call, you know, “Charitable.” This was particularly true when discussing things where I just so happen to be in disagreement with. Usually, this happens when we’re talking about things I consider “essential” and that matters not whether it is over politics, faith or my favorite sports team. Admittedly, I need to work on that! But one of the things that I, forgive the expression, “pride” myself on is that when given new information, I’m willing to admit when I am wrong and change my position.

For example, on matters of faith, I used to believe in a so-called, “Christian” doctrine called “supersessionism” because that is what I had been taught by those who might be considered “authorities” on the matter. Anyway, supersessionism or “replacement theology” is the idea that Christians have replaced the Jews as the apple of God’s eye and/or as God’s chosen people. However, now after much study and consideration on the matter, I now, believe, “rightly” if I may be so bold, that the correct view on this issue is that we Christians haven’t replaced anyone. God has merely set the Jews aside for a time but, they still are and always will be, as the metaphor says, the apple of his eye. They are the natural olive tree and we are merely wild branches that have been grafted in, (Romans 1:16). As such, we should love and respect them rather than despise them as so many do. Remembering that Jesus was a Jew, I find the hatred that so many professing Christians have for them disgusting!

But, forgive me, I have a bad habit of getting easily sidetracked. Going back to our topic for today, after learning that I was wrong about that, it made me want to explore the Jewish roots of my faith. At a minimum, my desire was just to become more familiar with the history behind what it is I was putting my faith in. Also, having a sister who married a jewish man and who then converted to Judaism made me want to learn more so as to not inadvertently offend whenever we all got together. Finally, I married a gal from Okinawa Japan who prior to our meeting had previously rejected the form of ancestors worship of her family and converted to Christianity. All of this helped me become more open minded to other people’s ways and faiths.

As a result of wanting to learn more, I ran across something that is gaining in popularity today that some folks call “Torahism.” Torahism is a belief system which that goes beyond simply wanting to know more about the Hebrew/Jewish Roots of our Christian faith by claiming that Christians are required to keep Torah, or the Law of Moses. Now it’s important to note that the doctrine of Torahism is not a monolithic, one size fits all sect of Torah observant Christians or Messianic Jews. The followers of Jesus/Yeshua occupy a broad spectrum of beliefs ranging from strict adherence to the Law of Moses in all aspects to it’s just something “nice to know” on the other end and everything else in-between.

It’s important to note that Torahism and/or Torah-keeping isn't merely an intellectual enterprise. It goes way deeper than that. It’s a way to, in matters of faith, put one’s money where their mouth is. There’s also a lot of emotional and spiritual factors at play here that typically carry much greater weight than simply the intellectual aspect. Consequentially, just like die-hard supersessionists, pre-tribulation rapture enthusiasts, etc., many Torah-keepers tend to reflexively and automatically reject any biblical interpretation that doesn't align with their Torah-observant presuppositions. And that's easy for any of us to do, so, word to the wise, remember that quote from Augustine! Just saying.

So, why would Christians want to keep Torah? Well, I've come across a number of reasons why Torah keeping can appeal to someone. For some it provides a sense of spiritual or intellectual superiority. You know, “Those silly, misguided Christians. If only they could see what we know.” And for others it's born out of a disappointment with the shallowness of modern Churchianity. They have a thirst for something deeper as well as more pure. And if we’re going to be honest about it, you have to admit that many of the criticisms leveled at the modern institutional Church today are not entirely off base. I think one could even go so far as to say that some of them are spot on.

Let’s be honest, some factions of modern Christianity really are drifting away from much more than just our faith's genuine biblical Jewish roots. Many “Christian” churches are distancing themselves from deep scriptural study and preach what can best be described as spiritually shallow kind of feel good self-help sermons. Perhaps worst of all, some churches are even engaging in a dangerous syncretism with secular culture in which the worldly moral values are imported ,and sometimes even replace, biblical values. Now, I'm not saying that's true of all of Christianity! But its a significant enough phenomenon for people to take note!

So, it's essential to keep Torahism in perspective. Yes, in the extreme, it can be dangerous. But, so can many of our so-called “Christian” traditions and doctrines. Most Torah-observant followers of Jesus, or Yeshua as they prefer to call Him by his Hebrew name, confess that salvation comes only through faith in Christ. And although their choice to keep Saturday Shabbat in lieu of Sunday go to church and then skip Christmas or Easter for Hanukkah and Passover might disrupt the traditional family get-together’s or schedules, it doesn't endanger their salvation or yours. Remember, we have a great deal of freedom in Christ.

So, even though I personally believe that Christians are not required to keep the Law of Moses, we're also not prohibited from doing so. In short, keeping the Law of Moses is permitted but not required. And if keeping Torah helps a person grow closer to God, more power to them. This is why the apostle Paul could say:

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to win the Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not myself being under the law), that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the Law of God, but under the Law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

~ 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV

In other words, for Paul, keeping or not keeping the Mosaic traditions was a non-issue. Keep the law, don't keep the law, what mattered to him was sharing the gospel of Christ and the Kingdom. So, unless a Torah follower believes it’s a matter of salvation, there's no need to automatically freak out if someone we love says they want to start keeping the Torah. If they're keeping the Mosaic traditions as a matter of personal conscience, or because they think it's the right way to obey God, I think we should extend them some grace, or as Augustine put it, “Charity.” Like the apostle Paul told the church in Rome when they were arguing about food:

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats. For God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

~ Romans 14:1-4 ESV

So, those Messianic Jews and/or Torah Keeping Christians who, who feel a need to keep the Law of Moses today are still our brothers and sisters in Christ. There’s no need to pass judgment on them and at the same time, there’s no need for Torah keepers to be judging those who don’t keep the Mosaic traditions. The important thing is for every one of us to take on that posture of humility and grace that the New Testament teaches. In other words, feel free to go out for dinner with your Hebrew Roots friends. You know, be kind and gracious. Just don't order the pork chops. For as far as both sides are willing to continue doing life with each other, let's do it! Remember the words of our Lord, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Treating others with love and grace isn't just wise, it's biblical. And it's never wrong. Because:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV

Remember that quote we started with? “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” So if a non-Torah keeper dealing with in a loved one or family member who refuses to participate in Christmas or Easter, just remind them of this, the Bible indicates that celebrating man-made holidays which weren't commanded would seem to be okay. I say that because the scriptures make it clear that Jesus celebrated the Feast of Dedication (which we know today as Hanukkah). In case you didn’t know it, Hanukkah is a man-made holiday that was never commanded by God. It’s NOT in the Torah. Similarly Christmas and Easter would seem to be permitted, but not required. Similarly, Torah-keeping friends are free to skip those holidays if they want.

At the same time, we need to know that no one has a biblical basis on which to criticize the other for choosing to celebrate the birth and the resurrection of the Messiah and they have no biblical reason to demand that others stop doing so. And for the record, I am specifically talking about the Christian “religious” celebrations of Christmas and Easter, not the secular versions, which, admittedly, include a lot of extra pagan junk. God leaves a great deal of grace on such matters so long as it doesn't contradict Scripture or dishonor God.

Whether or not a non-Torah keeper should engage with someone regarding following the Torah is really a question only they can answer. If someone is not open or able to have a civil, productive conversation, then maybe an “agree to disagree” truce is going to be in order. But if both parties are open to discussing it, a great place to start is acknowledging areas where you both agree. It's beneficial for both sides. You know, highlighting common ground can help avoid the other person feeling personally attacked or criticized. Who knows, you might even learn something in the process.

And the good news is that mainstream Christianity has far more in common with Torahism than not. It's the same Scriptures, the same God, the same story of redemption, the same Savior, and so on. Rather than arguing and/or trying to prove the other party wrong, it's often more effective to see where you can agree first and if both parties are open, get them to think about what they believe by asking honest questions. The goal should never be to win arguments or prove someone wrong. Rather, honest and open discussions about a matter is how “Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.” ~ Proverbs 27:17.

My Two-¥en worth.