The Hebrew Roots Movement

by Stephen Otto

Recently, I have become concerned about the impact Messianic Judaism is having on Hebrew Roots Believers about their unscriptural doctrine of salvation, so I will not remain silent any longer! To this end, I have addressed two of these doctrines below.

Just as kind begets kind, Messianic Judaism was birthed by mainstream Christianity, the only difference being that they have adopted Jewish culture and traditions to make Messiah Yeshua more acceptable to the Jews. Like Christianity, they teach that salvation is achieved through faith alone and outright reject works as being part of the equation. They maintain that works are a result of receiving salvation, not a requirement of receiving salvation. This is not true. James tells us that “faith without works is dead.” Thus, both faith and works are requirements to receive salvation. I suspect that the reason why is that if they were to acknowledge it, they would lose Christian sanction and be labeled a cult.

2. The Scriptures state that all God’s people are required to keep Torah, both Jew and non-Jew. Numbers 15:16 states, “One Torah and one ordinance shall be for you, and for the sojourner who sojourns among you.” In accordance with this belief, we often call Christians to repentance, sometimes in the strongest terms, as an act of love. In contrast, Messianic Judaism rejects "One Torah" doctrine, teaches that Christians are saved by faith alone, and criticizes “Hebrew Rooters” for calling Christians to repentance and not being loving. Again, I believe that they do so because they do not want to lose Christian sanction and be labeled a cult.

The Scriptures tell us to "love one another". Most Believers get this. On the other hand, the Scriptures also tell us, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” (Lev. 19:17). Most Believers outright reject this practice as being un-Christian! Read that verse again, though! It states that if you don't rebuke your brother, you hate him. In other words, if you don't rebuke your brother, you don't love him... which goes against YHVH's command to love one another. Now, up to 82% of this nation considers itself to be Believers. So this begs the question, "Why aren't we properly loving them?"