I started to write this to a friend and then decided to post it generally because the statement he made that triggered this is so poignant. He wrote, “Well, it's sad that more people don't understand that Judaism is not a sister religion with Christianity - far from it! Don't know how this attitude/idea got so solidly ensconced.”
I can give you the source of some of this. I can remember a time when Judaism was considered a cult, pure and simple, at least in the church circles I saw. Judaism rejects Jesus and is in fact that. That makes it no different than any other cult. Carefully contemplate this statement, the fact that Judaism rejects Jesus makes it no different than any other cult. Those who continued in it where the ones who rejected Jesus, either when he was here on earth or since.
Here is what I have seen. Christians actually brought this in from Judaism. In the last fifty years there has been a press in the church for knowledge, for private interpretation (which the scripture forbids), for knowing secrets only you know, and for knowing the "deep things". It has become a one-up-man-ship in the ministry and those who study the scripture. This press has pushed many to look outside the faith for knowledge. This has frequently brought in a carnal knowledge that pulled people away from God. It is like the "light" that Freemasonry talks about, knowledge that comes only from studying the teachings of the craft. Some of this has come from really pagan based sources like the Bible Codes which unfortunately have become a staple of some churches. Others have come from “respectable” sources like Rabbi's including some Messianic Christian leaders. Some of it has been driven by the preachers with itching ears; i.e. those who will look for what will sell and teach what sells. And what sells is often not the genuine but the novel. P.T. Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute and he proved it. Some preachers today are following in the steps of Barnum rather than the steps of the Lord.
As a bible teacher I teach both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, I teach more of the Old than New because when you begin to understand God from the viewpoint Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses had you begin to really understand the reason Jesus came. When you even begin to understand that, start to realize that Jesus was not “Plan B”, brought in when the law failed, then you have some basis to grasp who He was, what He did, why He did it, and how He did it. The when and where are both obvious, 4 AD or so and Bethlehem and are actually relatively unimportant. The arguing over where things happened, the exact year he did is insignificant in the eternal truth of what he did. When we start to grasp that the Pauline Epistles go from formidable obstacles to be overcome to easy reading, they go from mystic to truth that hits us straight in the face. And to come to that place requires the Holy Spirit to guide us, to take what Jesus had and give it to us.
As I walked this path I have rejected a lot of things that others have embraced because I have watched them wither rather than grow in grace and knowledge of Him. I am pragmatic. If I see another take a path that does not lead them to success, I take a different fork in the road. I have over the years rejected the Judizing teachers with the "holier than thou" use of the phony Hebrew words. I see these at times in English posts and teachings. All too often I have seen an arrogance and pride in those who use them. When you see these I recommend you challenge the use of them and the spirit of the person will come forth. Many of these are using Judaism to teach the basis of Christianity. This has validity when accompanied by the spirit but generally fails miserably when it is simply bringing in the law. Paul talked to the foolish Galatians who began in the spirit and then tried to become perfect in the flesh. Grace is the work of Christ in the spirit. The law is the work of the flesh. Those who tie into this teaching frequently get hung up with Jewish rituals and festivals which with the fulfilling the law by Christ on the cross have no value but in a historical sense. As an fyi, I have concerns that most of the celebrations of the Christian church have no place in God's design except for communion. But like Matt Drudge says, "Going into that will only get me into trouble."
There are many who will say this are not important. If Paul was concerned about those of the early church returning to the flesh, derided those who wanted to circumcise Gentile Christians, and keep Sabbaths, new moons and days, then should we not be wary of the teachings of such and avoid those who teach them?
