Taking on the yoke of Christ and removing my heavy load

I have so many heavy, heavy burdens on my heart today. I feel strongly that I need to share some of the thoughts I am processing.

For the past several years Paul and I have (unfortunately) gone from one extreme to the other in many areas of our theology. This happens to most of us from time to time. I acknowledge that we have been double-minded and that we are always seeking to find more middle ground. More balance. Paul and I have a heart for being authentic even when it hurts. We want to lay ourselves before others so that we might save them from making some of our mistakes. Or, if you have already made the same mistakes, we want to pull you out of the mire. BUT, one of the problems with this earnest sharing is... you, my dear followers. My heart aches for those of you who have followed us in to legalism.

What do I mean by legalism? Heaping burdens upon mens' backs that God has not required. I have written so much through the years that I later removed, for fear that it might lead someone away from God Himself and into a set of rules.

You see, I am a person who needs to feel gratification. I am performance driven. I am performance oriented. Grade me. Evaluate me. Give me a stiff set of rules to keep. But, whatever you do, don't be vague and "grey."

Christianity has many black and white areas. There are other areas that are more grey. And, instead of learning charity (with myself), I thought that I needed to know everything. Right now.

Over the past five years we have run straight into the camp of others who were heaping loads upon mens' backs that Jesus does not require.

I need to clarify - I am not calling anyone of you a legalist. I do not know your heart. I only know mine... and that only in part. Sometimes my own heart deceives me. Paul and I thought at every turn that our pursuit for holiness was pleasing the Lord. And, the part of me that yells "Grade me!" felt gratified. I felt like I could check off every possible item on the list of holiness that God was setting on my desk.

But, there was something missing on that list. Faith. We were missing the faith that believed that God's work was sufficient for our salvation. Jesus' blood was all we needed. Jesus makes us holy. We need to try to live in a way that pleases the Lord and honors Him - of course! Grace is never an excuse for sin! But, we do not have to have all the answers in one day, one year, or one decade. Growth takes a lifetime.

So, why am I dredging all of this up again? Now? Well, new patches of dead, barren ground (my heart) keep being exposed when rocks are flipped over. Forgive my metaphor. Other issues keep coming up and exposing the areas where I am still struggling.

But, where did this all begin? What are the roots of my own legalistic journey? That's easy. In 2006, Paul stumbled upon a forum on the internet that disputed all kinds of issues. This forum was not open to public comments. I think (unfortunately) that Paul and I thought we were special that we could get "in." That forum did not encourage us to love and good works. At all. It encouraged us to wrangle with each other with words. It propelled us into searching out ideas that are not on the radar of the "average" Christian. It did not fan a flame to share the Gospel with the lost. It made us feel stupid and unintelligent that we were not as learned as these other men and women.
In all honesty, there are some good posts on that forum. Some. I did not dwell on those. I was caught up in every little topic that would make me feel like I could measure and evaluate my growth and feel gratified. I was focused on the posts that made me feel like I had "arrived."
In case you know of what forum I am speaking, even though I intentionally left off the name: We know the owner of the forum. We went to his church in real life. Paul worked for him in real life. We moved across the nation to be with this man in real life. He loves the Lord. This is not an attack on that forum owner's character. We love him. We pray for him. I know that the intent of his heart is not to lead people into legalism. His heart is to teach. His heart is to see others sharpen one another. But, the forum can start people down an ugly path, if they - like me - are performance driven.

Also in 2006, we were introduced to the writings of certain prominent conservative Christian authors (I erased their names, because I am not meaning to "attack" any one person, couple, church, etc.) I read as many of these books as I could as quickly as I could. This marks a turning point in my life. I do not have the books now to re-read them and see if they are "legalistic," or if it was just the way I read and received them. Do you see the difference? I am not saying that these authors are "bad." Because I just can't be sure.
BUT, when I read their books I got wrapped up in being the perfect wife and mother. I wanted to be the perfect Christian. I wanted to be the perfect pastor's wife. Load upon load upon load piling up on my back.

Another thought - and I truly do not mean to offend, but this is what I see - Legalism will not work if you live away from others that share your belief system. Legalism only works in a group setting. (Of course, I admit, all belief systems work best in a group setting!)

But for me, personally, I was feeling pressured to keep my children in the worship service and be family integrated when no one else was practicing this idea. No one understood me. Paul was preaching. I had three children under the age of four, then four children under the age of five. I was alone. And exhausted.
Homeschooling - same situation.
Having as many children as the Lord gave us - same situation.
Modest dress - same situation.
What I saw as healthy lifestyle changes - same situation.
We were alone and without aid.
(Again, I am NOT saying that all of these ideas are "legalistic." Paul and I still practice many of these ideals, but NOT because we think it will save us, or give us more brownie points on a cosmic scale. God is not grading me. My report card is covered by the blood of Jesus. My mistakes. My insufficiencies. Covered by the blood of Jesus.)

So, here I was reading these books that made me enter into years of bondage of placing myself under UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS and without the aid of anyone "like-minded." I fell apart. I was depressed. I was miserable. I wanted to die. I hated life. I hated my family. Yet, all the while I thought that these intellectuals in the books I read and the forum I was on, were the ones who had it all figured out. They were trying to help me have a more holy life.

Friends - do not let someone else pressure you in to how to live. Not me. Not Facebook. No one. The Holy Spirit will teach you through the Word of God how you should act. Other books might help make sense of the meaning of texts of the Bible. Then again, maybe they won't.

I am NOT angry as I type this. I am NOT bitter. I am sad. I am earnestly trying to save others from losing God in the midst of chasing rabbits. I am trying to lower the bar of what you think God expects, so that you don't kill yourself (and the little ones running behind you) as you jump impossible hurdles and fling yourself (with little ones behind you) through imaginary hoops. I am trying to prevent other legalistic families from suffering, falling apart, or experiencing the tragedy of divorce, abandonment, death, murder, or suicide. (The Lord brought me out before I hurt anyone else or my own self. Others are not so fortunate. My heart aches for the families with mommies or daddies who "snapped" under pressure and made a life-changing mistake. Oh, my dears. If my vulnerability can prevent any such incident, I would gladly bear my whole heart. If you are weary to the point of leaving your family or killing yourself - get help, dear one. You are precious to me and precious to the Father. If you have no one else to talk to, you may email me. flutefelicity@aol.com God loves you, Friend! He has plans for your future! What Satan means for evil, God means for good! You have friends. I am your friend. You can trust me with your pain. I understand. I write this post from my own former agony. There is hope, Friend. Grab hold of it and hang on for dear life!)

Ladies, I am not trying to add to confusion. I do not want to be another voice adding to the chaos around you. I want to be one who comes along and begins to unstrap the unnecessary burdens off your back. I am not saying "drop everything," because that too would be folly.

Mothers, God does require us to try our best to raise God-honoring, God-fearing children. But, it is not all black and white. God does require women to be modest, but it is not all black and white. God does say to be holy, and live in a manner worthy of our calling. Some areas are clearer than others.

Let's give each other grace. We may read different Bible translations. We may dress differently. We may go to different types of worship gatherings. We may choose to educate our children differently. We are all on a journey and NONE of us is perfect. But, if we are believers, we ARE all holy. Jesus Himself has become our holiness. He took our sin. We took His righteousness. Let's be careful of what we try to talk others into doing (or not doing!) in the name of the Lord. Teach in love. Teach with mercy. Teach and lead by example. And, mothers, be ever attentive to the fact that there are little ones chasing after you. Do you want them to do what you are doing? Or, knowing that children often take what we do (or don't do) and blow it WAY out of proportion, do you want them taking your behavior and blowing it up?

Let's be loving, our kids can mimic that. Let's show mercy, we want our kids to catch that. Let's show moderation, forgiveness, understanding, patience, etc.

Pray and ask the Lord to show you if you have un-intentionally heaped burdens on your back (and your childrens'). You can unload them now at the feet of Jesus... and then try not to pick more up along the way... and so on. God will give you wisdom when you ask for it. God wants to heal your heart. He wants you to learn to see yourself as He sees you - through the blood of Jesus. He wants you to keep moving forward and press on to the goal. He wants you to be Christ-like. He wants you to be conformed to Christ. Ask the Lord to show you what He wants from you. Your best answers will be found on the pages of Scripture. Not on a blog. Not in a book. Those may help, but only if they point back to the Lord.

Pray hard and press on.

Blessed Assurance

(Edited for tone and content 5-7-2013)

One of our family’s favorite hymns is Blessed Assurance, by Fanny Crosby.

Verse one-
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Chorus –
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Verse two –
Perfect submission, perfect delight! Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Verse three –
Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

The thing that strikes me as odd now, as I look back, is that we often sang these verses heartily… all the while living another doctrine.

Where does the assurance of my salvation come from? Where did I go wrong before?

In the past, Paul and I were deceived into thinking that we could not really be sure of our salvation unless we were living a holy life. (I have written on this before… check the label “legalism,” so that I do not have to explain it again here.) We were verbally preaching/teaching salvation is by grace alone through Jesus alone. But, we were living a lifestyle that betrayed that verbal belief with what was truly in our hearts.

I got into this awful position where I felt like I had to be perfect in order to be sure of my salvation. That is, afterall, the logical conclusion for a person who is trying to please God by living just the right way – dotting every i, crossing every t. My assurance was almost entirely external…
- Am I dressing modestly?
- Should I be wearing a head covering?
- Are we listening to the right music?
- Are we schooling my children the right way?
- Are we disciplining my children the right way?
- Am I having a daily “quiet time”?
- Are we having daily family worship?
- Are we doing “church” just the right way?
- Are we eating all the right foods, and abstaining from the wrong ones?
- Am I following all the rules that I read in various books, blogs, and magazines?

Have you been there, friend? Are you there now? When you think about God looking at you – either now or on the final day of judgment – do you see Him measuring your salvation mainly by your deeds? For me, I KNEW that Jesus was the person who provided salvation to a person. BUT, I also thought, “A true believer will show they are a Christian by living the right way.” That is true, in part… but I took it to the point of making my outward actions my assurance for salvation, rather than my belief in Jesus’ blood and righteousness covering my sins.

Now, I am still struggling to undo this mindset that thinks I can earn holiness. I am constantly reminding myself (and Paul reminds me as well) that my righteousness, my forgiveness, is in Jesus alone!!! And, while we should expect a change in the lifestyle of a true believer – this is NOT the assurance of salvation.

Remember John 6:28-29? Jesus said:

Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (NASB)

The true work we need to continually apply ourselves to is believing in Jesus Christ. Believing in His sacrificial death on the cross. Believing in His sinless life. Believing in His ability to save us from our own sins.

What Paul and I are coming to see is that our former “grace plus works” philosophy was a slap in the face of our Father and our Savior. It was as though we were saying “Jesus death on the cross was very important. But, I cannot truly believe I am saved unless I am also following all the right rules.”

Um… I think we must have forgotten what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians chapter two.
 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Gal 2:15-16 (NASB – emphasis mine)

Our assurance of our salvation will NEVER be our external acts, our keeping of the law (be it the Torah or other man-made rules that we get caught up in, like those I mentioned earlier in this post). Our assurance will always be in Christ alone and His ability to save us from our sins.


It is not too late to repent! You can apologize to God for believing in your own works more than His mighty work on the cross. He WILL forgive you! He still loves you!
There is still time to start over. We serve the God who makes all things new… daily!

Everything Old is New Again - Part Five

To understand this post, you really need to begin by reading the other posts of this series in order:
Everything Old is New Again - Part One
Everything Old is New Again - Part Two
Everything Old is New Again - Part Three
Everything Old is New Again - Part Four

I entitled this series "Everything Old is New Again," because there is such a drive, such momentum within the Hebrew roots movement at this time. But, this "movement" as I keep calling it is nothing new! As I have shown through the previous posts, the Apostle Paul has been addressing this issue since his own conversion. It is part of our human nature to try to be righteous through our own good works - rather than faith in The Work of Jesus Christ. The Father of Lies, Satan, is at work too. He is laboring to deceive as many people as he can, to convince them that they cannot have assurance of their salvation unless they are fulfilling the Law correctly.

But, as we read in the previous posts, salvation cannot be acquired through the keeping of the Law. If it could, we would not need Jesus' death on the cross. If the Law could justify, then the death of Jesus would be useless (see Gal 2:21).

Some of you might object to this whole series, saying "I do not believe the Law saves me, I believe that Jesus saves me." But, where is your emphasis in your law keeping? Is it in loving Christ and His people?

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.(Gal 5:6)

Faith working through love is of the utmost importance. Circumcision (which is the keeping of the Law) accomplishes nothing.

If you have been boasting in your own works and deeds, or hoping in a righteousness that comes from the work you have done, then you need to repent. You need to change your heart and re-center yourself on what really matters - Jesus, His death on the cross and His resurrection. The best way to get re-acquainted with the True Gospel is by reading the Bible... a lot. The Bible will become a joy again. You will enjoy reading it, because it is a consolation to you - much like those gentiles who rejoiced when hearing the reading of the decision of the Jerusalem Council (see Acts 15:30-31). And, you will find that the joy of your salvation is renewed, because you have a small idea of the bondage you have been saved from.

You do not have to remain in bondage to the Law. Christ Jesus came to fulfill the Law. As hard as we might try, we can never be made righteous through keeping the Law.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1 emphasis added)

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Phil 3:7-11 emphasis added)

For more information on how to be saved, or how a person is made righteous, I will refer you to another series I wrote, beginning with Justification Part One.

Everything Old is New Again - Part Four

It is necessary that you begin this series at the beginning
Everything Old is New again - Part One
Everything Old is New Again - Part Two
Everything Old is New Again - Part Three

In bondage to the Sabbath and Feast Days - 
The most common verse that the average Christian uses to correct Saturday Sabbath keepers is this:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16)

I cannot begin to tell you how tired I got of hearing people quote me this verse, because - honestly- I believed that I understood the Apostle Paul better than they did. People in the Hebrew roots movement translate this verse to mean that we should not let anyone judge us if we do keep Sabbaths and feasts. But, the Lord has been merciful to open my eyes to better understanding this verse by the whole context, especially verse immediately following:

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Col 2:17)

The Apostle Paul is stating that Sabbaths and feasts are a shadow of things to come. These are just a few of the many shadows in Scripture, are they not?
Think of the passover lamb. The lamb had to be sacrificed and its blood painted on the doorposts, so that the Angel of Death would pass over. This is the shadow of the ultimate pass-over, that of Christ's blood being poured out on the cross, so that God would pass-over our sin and death sentence!
But, back to the specific issue of Sabbaths and feast days. Have you read this verse by the Apostle Paul?

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Gal 4:9-11 emphasis added)

I am personally able to make more sense of this from the New American Standard version, which says:

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.(Gal 4:9-11 NASB)

It seems that the Apostle Paul is referring to the observation of days, months, and times as "beggarly elements" ("worthless elements" NASB), that are enslaving them! In fact, he says that when the Galatians are worried about these days, they are making his ministry and teaching unto them "in vain." Those are strong words. But, not as strong as the language here:

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.(Gal 2:21 - emphasis added)

If a Christian is living a life of Torah Keeping, always concerned with eating the right foods, keeping the Sabbath correctly, etc., then he is most likely trying to find his righteousness in the Law, and has rendered the death of Christ meaningless. Trust me, when I say that I know that this is not at all your intent! I know that you are striving to please God and live your life as holy before Him. I have a lot of respect for the lengths to which you are willing to go to show your love for the Lord. BUT, at some point this love for God often turns into trying to earn salvation!
Think about this - when you are contemplating your salvation, and that you can be assured of it because of your Torah Keeping - consider these verses:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We have salvation because God looks upon Christ's sinless perfection as ours, because we are hidden in Christ.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.(2 Cor 5:21)

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Col 2:2-4 emphasis added)

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.(Gal 3:27-19)

Some more strong language from the Apostle Paul:

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Gal 5:2-3)

So, you see, if you are trying to keep the law, you become a slave to (in bondage to) the whole law! And, no one (other than the Messiah Himself) has ever kept the law perfectly. So, where then is salvation to come from?

Salvation is in Christ alone, through faith alone.
See the last post of this series Everything Old is New Again -Part Five

Everything Old is New Again - Part Three

To understand what I am speaking about, you really need to start by reading
Everything Old is New Again -Part One, and
Everything Old is New Again -Part Two

First and foremost -

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Gal 5:1)

The NASB translates the same verse in this manner:

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

When you read the context of this verse, you will see that Paul is addressing the need for circumcision (which, can be understood as Torah Keeping) among gentile believers. (Actually, the whole book is written as a rebuttal to those who have been taken in by teaching that says you must be circumcised to be a Christian, see Gal 1:1-6)

Let us start by looking specifically at eating clean foods:
I know that you are already familiar with the account of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). We all know that a letter was written to pass around among the new gentile believers regarding what laws they need to be keeping. But, I want to point out just a few verses that - coming from my experience in Torah Keeping - really catch my attention!

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. (Acts 15:28-29 - emphasis added)

Do you see that? Paul is acknowledging that, to these new gentile believers, trying to keep the Law is a burden! And, they made a collective decision regarding which portions of the law are most important. The biblical rules for eating, therefore, become much less strict and complex! And, what is more - the gentiles rejoiced greatly upon the receiving and reading of this letter!

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.  (Acts 15:30-31 - emphasis added)

I don't think that the average Christian understands the impact of these verses!!! Unless you have actually tried to keep a diet of only biblical foods in our culture of pre-packaged foods which all contain some form of "unclean" food or another, you cannot know what a relief this edict from the Jerusalem Council brings!!!

Now, I want to move to another portion of Acts, the account of Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10-11). This story is of course very common, and Christians often (sometimes ignorantly) use these verses to bash Torah Keepers upside the head. I say "sometimes ignorantly" because Paul and I were rebuked by a number of people who were walking contradictions, choosing to keep some Old Testament Laws, but completely ignoring others. But, today, I want to look at something that I had perhaps overlooked before. My eyes were just recently opened to these verses in while re-reading Acts.

But first, let me say that I do not deny that Peter's own stated interpretation of his vision was that no man should be called unclean.

God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts 10:29 (emphasis added)

But, I contend that the vision had a double meaning, and that Peter himself understood this. Look in this same story in chapter 11. See specifically verses 2-3:

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. (Acts 11:2-3 emphasis added)

Not only did Peter go into Cornelius' house, he ate with him! Do you think Cornelius ate "clean" foods? I doubt it. But, if this text is not proof enough that Peter now believes that he can dine with gentiles, see also Galatians 2 (understanding that Cephas is Peter).

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy (Gal 2:11-13 emphasis added)

I cut off that portion halfway through, we will come back to it later. I believe the Bible teaches that our salvation is not dependent upon eating the right foods. Our salvation is not purchased by our deeds, but through the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah - Jesus.

More to come in Everything Old is New Again - Part Four.

Everything Old in New Again - Part Two

To understand this post, you have to read Everything Old is New Again - Part One first!

Picking up where I left off:
I was spending the majority of my time reading the Old Testament, after all, I was very afraid of breaking Laws (even unknowingly breaking laws). Our family used daily worship times to read and re-read the Torah. I was developing a terrible fear of God! I just knew that He would strike me dead if I did not keep the Law completely. I had completely lost sight of what the New Testament calls "Grace!" We had talked some about how to begin keeping feasts, but I was terrified of doing it incorrectly! We wondered aloud if modern day Passover keepers still kill and eat a lamb. (Again, to the "normal" Christians reading this blog, who cannot possible fathom such confusion and ignorance on my part - instead of judging me and writing me off forever - thank God that He has not allowed you to be taken in by such thoughts! Because it is not merely your own self, but God who keeps you from error.)
Again, in case you think that I am attacking those who are currently Torah Keeping Christians, be reminded that in writing this series of posts I am opening myself up to a whole lot of criticism and attack (from both sides!), and I would not care to do that at all, except that I want to help God's people out of bondage.

Bondage:
Yes, I believe that the Hebrew Roots Movement and Torah Keeping is Bondage! My dear Torah Keeping Friends, do you not feel this bondage yourself? Do you not feel the agony of being separated from all other believers? Do you not feel that constantly keeping the Law is not a joy, but a drudgery? I expect that you are recalling this verse, right about now:

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (I John 5:2-3 KJV)

I do not dispute that we are told to keep God's commandments. BUT, after having read and re-read this book many times (and many other New Testament books many times, and many Old Testament passages many times), I believe that the commandments that are most important - the commandments John is telling us to keep, are regarding love for God and love for one another! The whole book of First John is replete with the message that love for God is shown in our love for others! Consider these verses (I am using the King James Version, knowing that most in the Hebrew Roots movement will allow for no other English translation) :

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.  (I John 2:3-7)

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (I John 3:11)


And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us (I John 3:23-24)

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (I John 4:7-8)

So, I agree that we are supposed to keep the Commandments of God, but I believe that these commandments for us are all about love! See also theses passages:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Gal 5:14)

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:35-40 - emphasis added)

Also, consider the produce of the Spirit filled life (that is, the life of a believer).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:  (Gal 5:22 KJV)

The law is summed up in those commandments about loving God and loving one another! So, what about clean foods, Sabbath keeping, and feast days? How should we consider these? For the answer I refer mainly to the Apostle Paul. And, I have done enough reading of Hebrew Roots authors to know that many try to discount Paul's letters in one way or another, some resorting to questioning whether or not we can even have a true translation of his writings. But, I encourage you to reconsider these claims! If our English Bible does not correctly translate and record the words of Paul, how can we trust it to properly record the Words of Christ, or even the Law itself!? Trying to pick and choose which texts of the Bible are trustworthy is a slippery slope!

I will look more in-depth at these key verses for understanding the Law for gentiles in Part Three of the Series - Everything Old is New Again.

Everything Old is New Again - Part One

THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION OF A FIVE PART SERIES, THE OTHER POSTS ARE A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT SCRIPTURE

I read the book of Galatians this morning, and my heart was broken again for those who are in the "Hebrew Roots Movement," and those who are Torah-Keeping Christians. Paul and I have read quite a few books and articles written by Messianic Jews and Hebrew Roots proponents, so we understand well where they base their claims. It can be easy to be taken in, if you are not constantly filling your head with the whole council of Scripture (meaning reading the Bible cover to cover). I am writing this post with a particular audience in mind - those who are already Torah Keepers. (Though my prayer is that this post will bless all my readers, because chances are that you know at least one person - or read at least one blog - written by someone who is involved in the Hebrew Roots Movement, it is no small thing!) Please consider what I have to say. I have been down the road you are on, and I completely understand where you are coming from. Please know that this is not meant to be an attack, but a loving letter. I would not be putting myself under the scrutiny of all my blog readers, many of whom will not understand, were it not for my deep love and concern for you!

A prayer as I begin:
Father, please help me state things in a clear, concise way that will educate and encourage all those who read this post. If there be any trapped in any form of bondage, I ask that you will bind the Strong Man, Satan, away from their minds that Your Holy Spirit might work to transform their hearts. Use Your servant to show people Your Way. And, show me where I am in error or bondage as well.
I ask this in the Name of Your Son, the Christ, Amen.

A Brief Personal History:
Paul and I started looking into Torah Keeping in the Spring of 2009, after reading a few health books. These healthy living books were written from the perspective that if you keep the Law of God you will be healthy. One book in particular, which was written by a Messianic Jew, made a seemingly solid case that all Christians ought to be keeping the Law. I was persuaded and began sharing my findings with Paul. Together, we pursued this new-to-us idea that modern day Christians are to be Torah Keepers.

The first change we made was our diet, we began eating biblically clean foods - to the best of our knowledge. We read every label scrupulously. We threw out nearly every pre-packaged food item that was in my cupboards. We acquired a special cookbook, from the author of one of the books alluded to above. Just by taking this stance (eating only clean foods) we were cut off from nearly every family member and acquaintance we had! No one understood why we could not share a meal with them (without furnishing our own foods), and Christians were by far the least understanding - and typically, the most cruel.

Throughout our whole journey, it was the Christians who were hurtful to us, rebuking us with knowledge, but not always love. I am very grateful to the believers who loved us and prayed for us, without treating us like we were stupid! So, when I say I am writing this post "in love," you can be assured that I have felt the pain that well-intending Christians can produce!

Our second lifestyle change was to begin keeping a Saturday Sabbath. We kept our Sabbath from Friday night (sunset) to Saturday night (sunset). During that time we did not get on the computer, prepare meals, wash laundry, or do any other kind of work. Our Fridays became "preparation day" as we had so much to do to get the house and food ready for the next day without cooking or cleaning.

Paul's family could not understand our new way of doing things. And, at first they had no respect for our attempts to keep the Sabbath day holy. They would call or arrange for family get togethers on days that we could not participate. They were terribly hurt by our seeming lack of care or love for them. We did not mean to appear so un-loving, as that was not at all what was in our hearts. We truly believed that we were honoring the Lord above all, and that this was part of Christ's admonition that you have to love God more than family.

The last and biggest change that we made was a changing of the name of our Lord. Knowing that by One Name we would be saved, and that by One Name God would answer prayers and petitions, we became very concerned that we used the correct name. We began to be further separated from all the people we know and love, because we could not even pray together... because, who were they praying to? We were convinced that the name "Jesus" was an attack on the Son of God, the Messiah. We were disgusted by that name, because we believed that it was calling the Christ a pig - an unclean thing. (To my readers who have never heard any such teaching - please do not judge too harshly. It is by God's Grace that you have not ever been persuaded by such teaching yourself, and you ought to praise God and not boast at all in your own merits. You too can fall!)

Overall, we were in a position where we were keeping as much of the Law as we knew how. All the while, we were beginning to look down upon those who called themselves Christians, but did not keep the Law. We lost sight of the Gospel we once believed - for a time - and started focusing on our own deeds. How we kept the Law was far more important than the atoning work of God's Son on the cross.

I think that, for me, the breaking point was the name change. I felt like I truly lost Jesus. I did not know Him anymore. I was miserable. I began to hate preparation days and Sabbath. I was lonely and had no family or friends to turn to. I was cut off from all other believers, and in some cases doubted the salvation of all "so-called Christians" except for those who were Torah Keepers.

I was miserable. I felt like I was in bondage. I certainly would not have called this new life we had found "freedom!" I was trapped.

Read more in Everything Old is New Again - Part Two