How do we re-think 'church' in the light of our Hebraic roots?

Last week we considered how Christianity is a communal faith as well as an individual walk with God, and looked at how the Christian Church over the centuries has detached itself from Hebraic ideas of communal living.

This week, we offer some suggestions for re-discovering these ideas, all within a framework of respecting God’s design for local church authority.

Transforming from Within

A mistake made by many of us who are zealous to restore the Hebraic heritage of the Christian Church is to consider nothing of value in existing fellowships. Yet, many fellowships are strong in the Holy Spirit, strong in Bible study and prayer, build up the faith of individuals and families, practise baptism, centre on the Lord’s Supper and understand God’s purposes for Israel.

It takes a prophetic word to open people’s eyes of understanding to any (perhaps minor) changes that would strengthen links to the First Century Church – maybe linking with Messianic communities or allowing the Lord to prune away any dry traditions. It is up to the elders of these local church communities to begin to pray for change from within.

Respecting Authority in the Local Community

In his dealings with the religious leaders of his day, Yeshua taught that it is right to acknowledge authority given by God to teach and interpret Torah (Matt 23:3). In our day it is the same. Those of us who have insights into matters of restoration cannot impose our wills and over-ride the authority of local Christian communities.

We must also be careful about starting new ventures that draw believers away to new congregations, however well-meant our intentions. All must be of the Lord’s leading.

A mistake made by many of us who are zealous to restore the Church’s Hebraic heritage is to consider nothing of value in existing fellowships.

If the Lord himself chooses to take authority away from some Church leaders (Rom 11:21) he alone can do it. Thus any restoration of Hebraic foundations of the Church must be through existing authority structures. In considering this, the responsibility of Bible teachers must be considered seriously (James 3:1).

If some of us are called to start again and form new communities, we must be careful of our witness to others. How will we be perceived? Going overboard into Jewishness does not usually help, but we will surely be helpful to others if we are in good balance regarding Israel and seen as a caring community, building families and clearly fulfilling a biblical lifestyle.

We should also be discovering what it means to provoke Israel to jealousy, not anger (Rom 11:14, 18).

Lessons from the Synagogue?

The development of the Synagogue as a place of meeting in the local community is not prescribed biblically. It was in response to a need in local communities, especially after the loss of the Temple. There is a risk, therefore, of over-stating how far Christian communities should draw community models from the Synagogue.

Nevertheless, there may be lessons to learn especially since, through the Synagogue, Jewish communities have found collective strength.

Any restoration of Hebraic foundations of the Church must respect existing authority structures.

Synagogues perform several functions. They are a social centre as well as a worship centre. They illustrate the importance of the local community, especially in strengthening families. The Synagogue is a Beit Tefillah (House of Prayer). They also have an excellent educational model based on the Beit Midrash (House of Study), illustrating how study can be brought into the centre of the local Christian community.

Study is central to building up the local community based on the idea of searching the Scriptures and the Yeshiva, rather than the more academic approach of many Christian Bible schools.

Some Bible teachers might consider studying and teaching Hebrew, the foundational language of Scripture. Are we students of the entire Bible in balance? Do we know how to study the New Covenant in relationship with the Old Covenant, valuing all of biblical history and revelation fulfilled and properly interpreted through the sacrificial death of Yeshua HaMashiach?

The Feasts of the Lord

Christian communities adopted a form of the three main Feasts of the Lord (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot became Easter, Pentecost and Harvest festivals) but dates changed and some syncretism to pagan and Roman traditions entered in, which is becoming more and more a concern as the years go by. These Feasts, and the Sabbath, are all to be focussed on Yeshua.

Nevertheless, Yeshua brought fulfilment, not replacement. Within the authority structure of local Churches, are we entering the season when Christian festivals should be re-aligned with their biblical roots? One word of warning: it is no use forcing the pace on this because this can result in no spiritual life, despite our best efforts. The principal of Romans 14:5 is paramount in all things – “everyone must be convinced in their own mind.”

Are we entering the season when Christian festivals should be re-aligned with their biblical roots?

Torah and Halakhah

We have considered these things in relation to a personal walk with God. When it comes to family and community there are some issues that must be decided for the group as a whole.

Decisions as to which day to meet for corporate worship, for example, require an authoritative decision for the entire community. How to balance personal freedom to walk with God with corporate structure is a matter for much sensitivity. Authority in the local community is a necessary thing, and centralised control from outside the local community should be treated with caution.

We have discussed the way Torah is a matter of the heart and we are not to bring ourselves into bondage to ritual or put ourselves under the yoke of the law (i.e. ritual halakhah) (Gal 2:4, 3:10-14). Nevertheless, we are wise to recognise the protection that laws founded on the Bible have brought, even to nations. Outside of faith in Yeshua and the life of the Spirit, we must be able to interpret the Bible into community and national life.

The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) and the letter sent to the new congregations of the day can be a new starting point for us to re-consider how the worldwide community of faith was intended to spread and grow, and for finding the balance of halakhah and Torah for the New Covenant community.

It is no use forcing the pace on the communal rediscovery of our Hebraic roots, because this will not result in spiritual life, despite our best efforts.

Prayer for Israel

A key result of our return to a balanced Hebraic lifestyle is an understanding of God’s continuing covenant promises to Israel as a whole.

We must be careful to understand that our New Covenant relationship is with Messianic Jews who live by faith in Yeshua. But nevertheless, in balance, our prayers and concern are also to understand what God is still doing in Israel. This will also help us to understand the times in which we live as the entire world moves towards its prophetic conclusion.

Personal Testimony from Zimbabwe

The above may be a limited list of points for consideration in strengthening our communities for the times ahead. There is considerable room for taking counsel together over the coming days.

I would like to end with a word of testimony. Some years ago a group of us brought together a conference in Israel to look afresh at Acts 15. This had a limited success in raising key issues, though now I believe this discussion needs to take place more in local communities than I had previously thought, lest we create yet another central organisation.

Some months prior to the meeting in a Moshav on the outskirts of Jerusalem we held a preliminary consultation in Zimbabwe, drawing together representatives from a number of African countries.

At the end of the last day of this meeting we set ourselves the task, using a white-board, to draw up a list of relevant topics for consideration in our communities. The list went on - the details are not clear in my memory so much as what happened during this time of consultation.

A key result of our return to a balanced Hebraic lifestyle is an understanding of God’s continuing covenant promises to Israel as a whole.

It was perhaps simply the activity of beginning to consider the many issues together that pleased the Lord. Intercessory prayer had supported us throughout our meeting and perhaps this too pleased the Lord. Quite unexpectedly, as our long list was being compiled, the Holy Spirit chose to fill the room and bring a holy stillness. Some said they had never before experienced the presence of the Lord in that way through many years of ministry. We came out with no formula to pass on to others concerning how to restore the Hebraic foundations of our faith in local communities, but certainly we had the assurance that what we were doing was pleasing to the Lord.

It is surely time for Christians fellowships to take seriously the fact that this is the Lord’s time for restoration. Some may force the pace, and come out with something looking more traditionally Jewish than biblically Hebraic, but that should not stop us from seeking the Lord for ourselves on this matter. I think there will be quite a change in the next few years but nevertheless, this should happen in a gradual, prayerful, Spirit-guided way.

Next time: Guard against deception