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The HEBREW ROOTS MOVEMENT Preface TThhee HHEEBBRREEWW RROOOOTTSS®® MMOOVVEEMMEENNTT _____________________________ ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— An AWAKENING! By Mike Bacon 8/24/2016 Copyright © 2011-2016 All Rights Reserved 1 Preface Discover why and how a relatively handful of scattered dedicated people is shaking Christianity and Judaism around the world. Read what the Hebrew Roots® / Hebraic Roots Awakening / Movement is all about along with some of its teachings, beliefs, and criticisms. About the Author Mike Bacon has been observing the Sabbath and God’s festivals for over 40 years and has had a career as a city planner and is a licensed landscape architect. As the facilitator for the successful Our Father’s Festival (www.ourfathersfestival.net), he teaches the building of commonalities among believers and furthering the message that we will be known by the agape (love) we have for each other (John 13:35, Matt 25:34-45), overcoming, forgiving others, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, proving all things, and having a good conscience before God—not just our potentially divisive doctrinal positions. His inciting questions are to encourage people to explore their modus operandi, prove all things and to further one’s responsibility to know their God—not just know "about" Him—to make a difference as light and salt as we stand in the gap for our nation. 2 Preface Contents Preface .................................................................................................................................................... 4 I. WHAT IS HEBREW / HEBRAIC ROOTS? .............................................................................................. 5 II. HEBRAIC ROOTS HISTORY .............................................................................................................. 12 III. 7 DISTINCTIVE CORE DIFFERENCES ................................................................................................ 17 1. Obey the Entire Bible ................................................................................................................... 17 2. Christ did not "do away" with "the Law" ..................................................................................... 21 3. The Talmud is not a Spiritual Authority and Pagan Traditions are not followed. ...................... 55 4. The Torah is for Everyone ............................................................................................................ 60 5. The Hebrew Language is Studied ................................................................................................. 62 6. Learn the Lessons of History ........................................................................................................ 63 7. The Sabbath Days Reveal God's Plan of Salvation ........................................................................ 65 IV. HEBRAIC ROOTS MINISTRY COMMONALITIES ................................................................................ 75 V. HEBRAIC ROOTS DIFFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 86 VI. CRITICISMS & CURRENT ISSUES ...................................................................................................... 89 Current Issues In The Awakening ..................................................................................................... 96 VII. CONGREGATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 105 Appendix A: HR Ministries ................................................................................................................. 106 Appendix B: MJ, Jewish and HR Differences...................................................................................... 107 Appendix C: COG and HR Differences ............................................................................................... 118 Index ................................................................................................................................................... 124 End Notes & Footnotes ...................................................................................................................... 127 3 Preface PPrreeffaaccee In 2005 I took a motorcycle trip to Tucson on a “get outta Dodge” weekend jaunt to also attend my first ever Messianic conference—upon the recommendation of a friend. I was taken back by the number of people attending. Some 50 people had gathered to hear Brad Scott of Wildbranch Ministry teach at an inn for two days. Plus...he was the only speaker. Who were these people? Why did some of them travel a long distance to attend? Why were they keeping the Sabbath, observing the feasts, and the Torah? After meeting everyone, I was again taken back to discover that only two other people were formerly associated with the Worldwide Church of God—a church that I had been a member for 22 years (and before that a member of another faith). This was the beginning of my investigative journey into the Messianic Movement and later the Hebrew Roots® Movement. Sometime before I heard Brad Scott, however, I already had begun a study as to which Old Testament laws were still in effect today. Not long after that, a friend mentioned to me that one of her friends, another Christian, non-Messianic, non-WCG man, believed that all the OT laws were applicable today. I immediately grasped that simple, logical perspective. Perhaps one could call that the "plain truth". In 2006 a free Hebrew language class began in my community and overnight about 100 people were attending from different backgrounds. My curiosity led to attending other Messianic conferences, congregations, and searching the internet. After reading many incorrect criticisms of Hebrew Roots® beliefs on the internet and experiencing the movement for the past ten years, I decided to write this paper on what I have discovered. I discovered that, yes, 1) there is apparently a Heinz 57® assortment of beliefs among people investigating the Bible and trying to live by what they know and believe; however, it does appear that 2) the HR Movement is coalescing into a core of noted HR teachers who are essentially teaching the same foundational belief structure, and that 3) the Father is awakening, raising and preparing a "bride" and a people for His kingdom who will assist our Savior in implementing and teaching humanity His truth and paths of righteousness. Special Note: I do not claim to be an expert in the continuing story on Hebrew Roots®. This is a dynamic work in progress paper that is updated with new sections and reference sources as 1 needed. More updates will be forthcoming. End notes are included for those seeking additional information beyond the scope of this paper. Please refer to http://www.ourfathersfestival.net/hebrew_roots_movement for the latest issue. This is determined by the publication date on the title page. All web site links referenced in this paper may be accessed on the internet by clicking on the blue hyperlink. These links are not an approval of all things listed or taught on a specific web site, but only the material directly linked to. We are not all perfect in our understandings in all things that one may find on a web site. We are each responsible for proving all things. Your writing to inform me of any errors in this paper are appreciated. Please contact me at the festival web site address. 4 I. WHAT IS HEBREW / HEBRAIC ROOTS? II.. WWHHAATT IISS HHEEBBRREEWW // HHEEBBRRAAIICC RROOOOTTSS?? Hebrew Roots® is a contemporary global spiritual awakening in Christianity that advocates the return and adherence to the first century walk of faith in Jesus Christ (who was God in the "flesh"). Adherents walk as He walked (I John 2:6) in obedience to His commandments—the Torah. This is further accomplished by seeking a better understanding of the culture, history, religious politics and the persecutions of that era which later led to core differences with both the Jewish, and later, Christian communities. Hebrew Roots is not a denomination. HEBREW ROOTS PRIMARY BELIEFS Hebrew Roots adherents hold to three primary beliefs: 1) Scripture is the inspired Word of God. 2) Acceptance of Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior is required to be saved. (I John 3:16, etc) 3) Adherence/obedience to the Torah (i.e. repentance) and to the Word of God (both Old and New Testaments) and walking as Christ walked brings blessings in this life (but does not grant Salvation). These three beliefs serve as the foundation of one's spiritual journey into truth and unity among like-minded believers. Basic Foundation of Hebrew Roots® The foundation of the Hebrew Roots® movement is the belief in the repentance from sin acceptance of Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins as one's savior from "eternal" death (separation) from our Creator. That is no different from orthodox and contemporary Christianity. Yet, HR has been called "non-Christian". Since 41,000 denominations2 of Christianity cannot agree among themselves, it seems that many do not even know the definition of a Christian. Let other Christian Ministries explain what it means to be a Christian: "Being a Christian entails more than just “believing in Jesus” or “accepting Jesus in one’s heart.” A Christian is someone who is an active follower and imitator of Jesus, who has surrendered his or her life, been baptized and has received the Holy Spirit. He or she is working to “put on Jesus Christ,” to walk and conduct his or her
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