The Hebrew Roots Movement: an Awakening! History, Beliefs, Apologetics, Criticisms, Issues Fourth Edition 4.04 6/20/20

Preface
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Preface

The Hebrew Roots Movement:
An Awakening!
History, Beliefs, Apologetics, Criticisms, Issues

Fourth Edition 4.04
6/20/20

by Michael G. Bacon

Pursuant to 17 U.S. Code § 107, certain uses of copyrighted material "for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright."
Under the 'fair use' rule of copyright law, an author may make limited use of another author's work without asking permission. Fair use is based on the belief that the public is entitled to freely use portions of copyrighted materials for purposes of commentary and criticism. The fair use privilege is perhaps the most significant limitation on a copyright owner's exclusive rights.

The public domain version of the King James Version, published in 1769 and available for free on the E-Sword® Bible Computer Program, is primarily utilized with some contemporary word updates of my own: e.g. thou=you, saith=say, LORD=YHVH.

This is a FREE Book

It is NOT to be Sold

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:

freely ye have received, freely give.

—Jesus the Christ / Yeshua haMashiach (Matthew 10:7-8)

Important Note: Please refer to http://www.ourfathersfestival.net/hebrew_roots_movement for the latest

edition. There are old editions of this book still circulating on the internet.

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Preface

4.04
June 10, 2020

1906 Jewish Encyclopedia: (Added Anglo-Israelism article quote). Replacement Theology: (Definition edited and text reformatted)
Steven Collins endnote on II Chron 35:17-18 (Added)
Ishmael and Arab population statistics: (Added in “Questions: Is it a matter of Faith?”)
WCG Singles (Added paragraph in Appendix F)

4.03
June 1, 2020

Assurance of Salvation: (Added Past, Present and Future)
British-Israelism: (Added Steven Collins quote).
Hebrew Roots History A. Beginnings: (Added Birkat haMinim)
Jeremiah 7:22-23 (Expanded)
Hebrew Thinking versus Hellenistic (Greek) (“Thinking” Table Expanded)
Law and Grace: (Added Duane Christensen quote)
Lies: (Added Two Tables)
The Worldwide Church of God and Assemblies of Yahweh: (Added Alan Ruth Quote)
Who is Israel? (Added Wooten quote)

4.02 February 23, 2020

Colossians 2:8-10 (New)
Religious Success Today: (Added A.W. Tozer quote)
Indentured servant (Added Nehemia Gordon and Dr. Stephen Jones quotes)

4.01 February 12, 2020

D. Today (Added Dean Wheelock and Tim Kelley quotes)

4.0 February 10, 2020

CORRECTIONS
Deleted “Yahushua” etc name spellings
Orthodox Jewish Opinion: Clarified how many believe in Two House.
Stranger was the Gentile: believers and non-believers changed to Israelites and believing
Gentiles.
The word for commandments (as in the ten commandments is dabar—not mitzot
Typos and grammatical errors corrected...and more will be.

UPDATES
Some organizational changes in material
41,000 Denominations (updated and clarified in footnote)
American Messianics (Updated) I Corinthians 9:19-23 (Added) II Corinthians 3:13 (Added)
Appendix A: HR Ministries (Updated NATSAB and Teshuva Ministries)
Appendix E: Hanukkah (Added: Quotes by Bailey and Kent and Dr. Simkovich)
Appendix F: HR and COG Differences: (Updated: Additional Sources, 3) use of 3^rdtithe, 4) exclusive churches, 10) Singing Psalms
Appendix I: The Name of God: (Added: The Name of Yahweh, The name of Jesus Christ.
The Name of Yeshua, Sixteen Rabbis who pronounced the name of god)
Appendix J: Sojourner (New)
Appendix K: Two House Controversy (Updated: Added: What does a “multitude of nations” mean?
Beards: (Two quotes added)
Secular / Pagan Holy Days: Christmas (Updated: Glenn Kay source with quotes added)
Core Difference #1: (Added The States of Belief).

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Ephesians 2:14-15 (Added: Josephus quote on wall of partition)
Fringes: (indigo plant) Galatians 2:16 (Added)
Galatians 4:8-10 (Updated: Lystra and Asia)
Hebrew Roots Movement B: History: (Updated: Clarence Dodd, David Pack, COG membership numbers, HR homeschooling and An Awakening)
Millennium Viewpoints (Updated: Churches that believe in it, Ron Matsen quote)
Numbers: (Added: Danya Ruttenberg quote)
Paul’s Writings: (Updated with new section heading)
Peace within the Body: Spiritual Immaturity and Carnal Thinking In Breaking Fellowship
Politics: (Added Table on Institutional Confidence)
Prosperity Gospel: (Dennis Prager quote)
Shalom or Schism? (Added: Monte Judah Quote)

Repentance and Sin: (Added: Paul Washer’s “shocking message”)

Salvation is a life long process: (Updated and renamed: Assurance of Salvation)
The Second Exodus: (Added: Number of Jewish returnees to Israel, Quote by Rabbi Allen S.
Maller, and Mark Byrd comment)
Talmud: (Added: John Lightfoot and reason for spitting on the ground)
Trinity (New)
What is Hebrew Roots? (Updated: #2 Primary Belief, The Word Messianic)

3.0 (August 14, 2019)

Peace in the Body (CORRECTION: horseback riding on the Sabbath is not resting an animal)

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Contents

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Preface

In 2005 I took a motorcycle trip to Tucson on a “get outta Dodge” weekend jaunt to

attend my first Messianic conference upon the recommendation of a friend. Some 50 people had gathered to hear Brad Scott of Wildbranch Ministry teach at a hotel/inn for two days. Plus...he was the only speaker.
Who were these people of which some have traveled long distances? Why the seemingly large number attending? Because they were 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 (WCG)—a church that I formerly had been a member for 22 years (and before that a member of another faith). The WCG was the only church that I knew of that taught the Sabbath and feasts should be kept by everyone. When I asked Brad Scott when this movement took off, his response was “in the mid-90s.” Was this just a coincidence that the WCG formally fractured in 1995? I asked if he saw a connection between the two.

His response was “Yes.”

That was the beginning of my investigative journey into the Hebrew Roots®
Movement (HRM) and the Messianic Jewish Movement (MJM)
Sometime before I heard Brad Scott, I already had begun a study as to which Old
Testament (OT) laws were still in effect today. Not long after that, a friend mentioned to me that one of her friends (another Christian, but non-Messianic, non-WCG) believed that all the OT laws were still applicable today. I immediately grasped that simple, logical perspective. Perhaps one could call that the "plain truth." There was no cherry picking of what and what not to obey. It seemed clear to me.
Since 2005 my curiosity led to attending other Messianic conferences, congregations, home fellowships, reading books as well as searching the internet. After reading many erroneous criticisms of Hebrew Roots® beliefs on the internet and experiencing the movement, I decided to write this paper (now a book) in 2011 on what I have discovered.
The purpose of this book goes beyond answering criticisms. This book will summarily document the history, beliefs, offer summary answers (apologetics) on these beliefs and discuss current issues in the Hebrew Roots® Movement.
Special Note: I do not claim to be an expert on the continuing story of Hebrew
Roots®. This is a dynamic work in progress paper that is updated. Please refer to

http://www.ourfathersfestival.net/hebrew_roots_movement for the latest issue. This is

determined by the publication date on the second page. End notes are included for those seeking sources and additional information beyond the scope of this paper.
All web site links referenced in this paper may be accessed on the internet by clicking on the underlined 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 to “prove all things.” Your writing to inform me of any errors in this

paper are appreciated. Please contact me at the address noted on the festival web site.

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I. WHAT IS HEBREW ROOTS® ?

I. WHAT IS HEBREW ROOTS^®?

Hebrew Roots® (HR) is a contemporary grass-roots driven global spiritual awakening in Christianity that advocates the return and adherence to the first century walk of faith in Jesus Christ. HR adherents pursue to walk as Christ walked in obedience to His instructions/His commandments—the Torah.

1 John 2:6 he that says he abides in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (ESV)

I Cor 11:1 Be ye followers (imitators-ESV) of me, even as I also am of Christ. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments (quoting Deut. 5:10). Deut 5:10 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

The HR walk of faith is further accomplished by seeking a better understanding of the culture, history, religious politics and the persecutions of the early centuries which later led to core differences with both the Jewish, and later, Christian communities.

THREE PRIMARY HEBREW ROOTS BELIEFS

Hebrew Roots adherents hold to three primary beliefs.

:

1) Scripture is the inspired Word of God.

God does not change notwithstanding the hard to understand translated and even mistranslated writings of the Apostle Paul. Christ was slain from “the foundation of the world” because He knew that man was going to sin. Why would Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things, give a Torah to ancient Israel if they were impossible to keep? Then send His people into horrendous life circumstances when His Words were disobeyed? This is beyond reason. God is not a torturer.

2) The acceptance of Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and the receiving of the Holy Spirit is required to be saved (I John 3:16, etc).

Torah keeping does not bring salvation.

3) Repent from sin (I John 3:4, Rom 3:20) and walk as Christ walked (I John 2:6) by pursuing the Torah.

Belief in Christ is the work of God (John 6:29). Repentance is also needed? Why? Because belief alone is not enough. Even the demons believe in Christ and tremble (James 2:19).
What does one repent of when one is ignorant of the Biblical definition of sin? Why do so many not even know the Biblical definition of sin?
Even God, Himself, must grant the change of heart for repentance to occur:

Rom 2:4 not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?

Repentance entails a lifelong spiritual journey and pursuit to obey God’s Word including the

Torah which brings blessings—but not all blessings may be given in this life. Life is difficult for

all of us!
Abraham did not see his inheritance fulfilled in his lifetime. We obey and keep His commandments because we love Him (John 14:15; 15:10). This is not a prosperity gospel. Obedience to His commandments is expected for those who wish to enter His Kingdom (Matt. 19:16-17; Rev 14:12, etc.); otherwise they are walking in sin, i.e. lawlessness (Matt 7:21-23).

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I. WHAT IS HEBREW ROOTS® ?

One’s spiritual journey involves serious Bible study which is why HR adherents can readily defend their faith.
We are humanly able to keep the commandments physically (Deut 30:11-14) but not spiritually. We need the Holy Spirit to enable us to spiritually overcome sin in our hearts and thoughts. It is a matter of head and heart.

Mainstream Messianic Judaism (MJ) differs from Messianic/Hebrew Roots in two primary points:

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1) The MJ primary mission is to convert Jews to Christ. ¹2) MJ believes that only Jews are required to keep the Torah—not Gentiles, notwithstanding Micah 4:2: ³

Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Is Hebrew Roots "Messianic"? Yes. A number do call themselves Messianic. Is it

Messianic Jewish? No. If this seems confusing…it can be to the new comer…as it was

for me! I will address such definitions and labels later in the Commonalities Chapter. Hebrew Roots Torah keeping adherents may peaceably attend MJ congregations generally because there is no other place to worship as a Sabbath and Festival keeping community of believers.
HR has been called " Christian" notwithstanding the above three stated beliefs. The
41,000 denominations ^{4 5 6 7}of Christianity including 1500 in the U.S., as commonly stated, cannot agree among themselves. This figure probably does not include the approximately 700± independent Messianic-Jewish congregations of which each has its own doctrinal statement of beliefs, plus the former Sabbath and Festival keeping Worldwide Church of God with 250+ splinters, and who knows what other small churches. ⁸(The endnotes explain how the 41,000 are calculated).
No one can place a specific label on these denominations and then have it apply to every 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 life as Jesus did when He was on the earth.”—Mike Blackwell ^A"A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day." —Got Questions.Org ^B

It is therefore evident that Hebrew Roots is Christian.

^AMike Blackwell. n.d. What is a Christian? https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/the-church/what-is-a-