Defining Messianic Judaism – What about Hebrew Roots?

As we sadly saw in the Ralph Messer/Eddie Long Torah desecration debacle, the names “Messianic Jewish”, “Messianic Rabbi” and “Messianic Judaism” have been used throughout the press to define the actors in this tragic drama.  As stated by Mr. Messer in his own words, he and his group are NOT Messianic and never will be.  And much of the Messianic Judaism world agree with him on this.

In the world of  Messianic Judaism there are organizations and groups like Messer’s that espouse “Jewish roots”, “Hebrew roots” or the archaic sounding “Hebraic roots”.

These groups seek to teach what they call the “Jewish roots” or “Hebraic roots” of Christianity. This is a common message topic for speakers from various missionary groups like Jews for Jesus and Chosen People Ministries to present in local churches. In doing so they seek to teach that at the earliest followers of Yeshua were Jews who lived within Jewish life, which is true.

The problem with the “Jewish roots” model is that it ignores the fact that what we know as Christianity today was developed after the Jewish believers and their influence was stripped from the Church. Christianity as we know it today as a unique world religion owes it’s roots to Constantine and specifically to the Nicene Council, the formers of the “Nicene Creed”, one of the earliest statements of Christian belief. By the time of Constantine (and especially since him) the Church  no longer  is attached to it’s Jewish roots. The Nicene Council excluded Jewish believers from being involved in the Council and it’s formation of the future of what we now know as Christianity. So then based on Christianity as we know it today as a world religion there are no “Jewish roots” that were allowed in a Post-Constantine world.

People like Messer and others are doing “Hebrew roots” separate from Jewish people, the Jewish world and Judaism and they show in their lack of connection to Jewish norms where it could go as was seen in their disrespect of the Torah scroll both at New Hope Church and other times.  Rather than being horrified like Jews of all stripes at this display, Messer and his flock applauded and were honored to have their “rabbi”, perform this bizarre and blasphemous show.  The disconnection of “Hebrew roots” from the Jewish people and norms of Jewish life does a discredit to them and to the Messianic Jewish wing of the Body of Messiah.  It is these kind of people who are at best ignorant and at worst evil that brings harm to the name of Yeshua, to Messianic Judaism  and those that have devoted their lives to building Messianic Judaism for the future.

So then to Messianic Judaism, we are not a “Jewish roots” of Christianity movement, because we are not within Christianity, we are a Judaism, a 21st century expression of Jewish life and faith. We are not just studying or exploring the experience of the early Messianic Jews, we are daily living within Judaism and Jewish life in the 21st century, with the knowledge that we are following the Jewish Messiah.

Our orientation is toward Judaism, our world is the Jewish world, our faith is within Judaism and our daily practice and way of living is guided by Torah, the way of life for the Jewish people.

We can appreciate the desire for Christians to explore the early Messianic Jews and their life, which would go a great deal toward changing incorrect teachings within the Church like anti-Judaism, anti-Torah and anti-Semitic views, but a true Messianic Judaism is far more than a historical study, it is a living breathing peoplehood, that is lived in 21st century Judaism with a faith trust in Yeshua, our righteous Messiah.