A physician identifies the source of true healing

Greek influences on Christian theology

Paul Luckraft reviews 'Hebraic Church' by Steve Maltz (2016, Saffron Planet Publishing).

This is the latest book from Steve Maltz, and the culmination of many years of thinking and writing about where the Church is today and where it should be. He contends that it is not possible for the Church to change significantly unless it is prepared to think differently. Attempts in the past to reform its practices have all run into the same persistent problem – the mindset has remained Greek. The original Church was Hebraic in its thinking and approach, and a recovery of this is needed if today's Church is to regain its strength and purpose.

The term 'Hebraic Church' is in many ways a strange one, and needs careful explanation, which Maltz provides early in the book. It is not, of course, about becoming Jewish or reverting to Judaism, but it does involve shedding the Greek-based Western influences which have robbed the Church of its Way, Truth and Life.

Contrasting Greek and Hebraic Thinking

The book is in three parts, covering the 'why', 'what' and 'how' of Hebraic Church. The first section includes a brief survey of the journey the Church has made over the centuries and where it has ended up today. Part of this is a review of Alice Bailey's 10 point plan to "wrench society away from its Christian roots" (p27), which over the past 70 years has been so successful in achieving its aim that it is not only a description of society now but also "a huge indictment of the modern Church" (p27) for allowing this to happen.

The Church must be prepared to think differently – with a Hebraic rather than a Greek mindset.

The rest of this section starts us off on the path of 'thinking differently' by comparing how Hebraic thinking contrasts with Greek Western thinking in two key areas: time and space. These vital concepts dominate the way we live.

Time seems to have us in its grip and has become a driving force, instead of a backcloth for remembering the wonderful moments in which God has acted in our world and in our lives. As for 'space' (meaning the objects that occupy space) the key is to think 'function, not form'. We need to change our perspective, understanding and appreciating things (and people!) not primarily for what they look like or how they're put together but for their God-ordained purpose and design. Maltz give details here of how to make the transition in our thinking - as a result, we sense there's a real adventure to go on.

Grappling with God Himself

The second section is the longest and covers five major themes: God, Jesus, the Bible, Israel, the Church. The aim of Hebraic Church is to enable everyone to engage directly with God and to create a people of extraordinary faith and vitality who can reveal God to the world. A man-centred approach to Church has to be abandoned. Instead the desire must be to grapple with God himself, rather than just adhere to the creeds or doctrine. God will always remain mysterious and paradoxical to some extent, and our 'put everything in its box' thinking does not serve us well when it comes to the Almighty.

Our desire must be to grapple with God himself, rather than just adhere to creeds or doctrine.

The chapter on Jesus is a summary of an earlier book, Jesus, Man of Many Names, and is a "whistle-stop tour of the Life and Times of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), from Creation to New Creation" (p82). Two parts especially stand out: Jesus as the Word and Jesus as Messiah.

In discussing the Bible, Maltz explains that in Hebraic terms study is considered a high form of worship and that the aim of learning is that we might revere God more. The purpose of Bible study is not to engage in an intellectual pursuit but to be able to participate more in its story. Too often the 'form' of the Bible is put ahead of its function - namely the primary means by which God communicates to his people.

In terms of how we study, the Hebraic model is the yeshiva or Beth Midrash, a communal affair involving dialogue, and often noisy! Studying in pairs is a good way of teasing out the truth; challenges and disagreements form part of the learning process.

Changing Church Attitudes

Attitudes towards Israel inevitably form part of the contrast between those who think Hebraically and those who do not. Here is a brief reminder of the differences between those who see Israel as still having a key role in God's purposes and those who have laid aside such considerations in favour of a Church that has replaced Israel.

The chapter includes a fascinating account of the meeting in 2002 between prominent Jews and Christians which was reported by Melanie Phillips in The Spectator under the title 'Christians who hate the Jews'. This is an eye-opener to those not previously aware of this meeting. Maltz points out that Hebraic Church would be remiss if it didn't provide "an active reminder of the history of "Christian" anti-Semitism...and truly work towards the mysterious entity of One New Man" (p120).

Too often the 'form' of the Bible is put ahead of its function - namely the primary means by which God communicates to his people.

The chapter on the Church is not surprisingly the longest. Many aspects come under the microscope including worship, good deeds as an expression of faith, and the use of storytelling (haggadah) as a means of passing on truth and wisdom. Also emphasised are prayer, discipleship, sin and repentance, and the importance of the festivals as God's calendar (his 'appointed times'). Perhaps Hebraic Church is best summed up as "a place where like-minded believers grow together, worship together, and exercise their gifts" (p160).

Working It Out Together

The final part of the book contains quite a bit of repetition of what has been said earlier but it is a useful review, as this section is essentially about putting the previous ideas into practice, best summed up as 'now let's do it!'. There are many practical suggestions all based upon the 'big thoughts' Maltz has been outlining in previous chapters.

Maltz is aware that such a transition into Hebraic thinking is not necessarily easy. For many it will be nothing less than a total transformation and can only occur if there is a practical context. To this end there are 'Hebraic Church' days at his Foundations conferences which are proving increasingly popular and productive. These conferences have become opportunities for testing the ideas in this book.

The author is clear that Hebraic Church is not a bid for a new denomination, nor should it be confused with one! Rather it is just a name, a convenient way of expressing the restoration of the Jewish roots of Christianity and the emerging One New Man movement. He is also aware that 'balance' has to be a key watchword. The Church has limped along in a lopsided unbalanced way for most of its life.

Maltz hosts Hebraic Church days to test out and apply the ideas in the book practically.

He concludes with a useful 'mission statement'. Hebraic Church provides "an environment where we can all meet God individually, discover and exercise all of our gifts (not just spiritual gifts) and callings and to worship the living God, with the correct application of His Word and an acknowledgement of the debt the Church has to the Jewish people, including a desire to bless them" (p202).

But no formal statement can adequately summarise what it is really about. Perhaps better is the thought that this is a dynamic way to rediscover that church can be exciting! In short, it is an adventure to set out on, with others, and with God.

You can buy Hebraic Church (222 pages, £10) by clicking this link.

*EVENT NOTICE: FOUNDATIONS CONFERENCES*

Steve Maltz's next Foundations conferences are in Suffolk (Bungay) from 30 September to 2 October 2016, and in Devon (Torquay), 2-4 December. Click here for more information and to book – places are still available but going quickly!

Paul Luckraft reviews the second instalment in Steve Maltz's trilogy on the Western Church.

This is a natural follow-up to Maltz's previous book, How the Church Lost The Way. One consequence of having lost The Way is that certain truths have not fared well on this erroneous journey and have inevitably got lost themselves.

The main part of the book forms an analysis of five key battlegrounds where the truth has faced enemy attack: creation, Israel, salvation, hell and the end times. But before we can engage in these battles, the author asserts that it is necessary to examine the Bible as the ground of our truth, and then embark on a tour of Christian history to discover how things have gone wrong, who the enemies are, and what weapons they have.

Setting the Scene

Part One provides an argument (for those who need it!) of the value of the Bible, especially the Old Testament and Torah. For those who don't need such convincing it can be skipped or skimmed quickly.

Part Two contains four chapters on the usual evaluation of Greek thinking on Church history. In many ways this is similar to Maltz's first book, but it is actually a very worthwhile read in itself, with some helpful extra information especially in areas not always covered in such detail (eg the Medieval period). Maltz shows how philosophical analysis and Greek rationalism won the day over Hebraic faith, and highlights the outcome of mixing up Holy Scripture with Aristotle. There is also a very good summary of Aquinas and his influence.

The main part of the book analyses five key battlegrounds where the truth has faced enemy attack: creation, Israel, salvation, hell and the end times.

Christianity had become "a philosophical system, fuelled by rational argument rather than the supernatural acts of God" (p77). Early on in Church history a genie had been unleashed from the bottle which not even the later Reformers could put back. The Reformation was also stunted by Greek influence and continued the rejection of Hebraic roots. The later trends of higher criticism and liberal theology were also based on Greek methods and the slide from truth continued.

The author apologises that these chapters may seem a chore but argues they are necessary to "set a context, a framework for us to be able to see where the Church went off the rails" (p100). He needn't have worried. Far from being irksome, this section is a delight to read, both satisfying and inspiring as he brings out of the storehouse treasures both old and new. Here is excellent knowledge and analysis - it would be difficult to find a better overview.

To ease his own worries, Maltz provides a separate summary chapter (just three pages) of the previous four chapters, in case you found them tough or want to skip them to get to the main action quickly. A useful idea perhaps, but don't feel the need to take this option!

Five Key Battlegrounds

Part Three shows how to fight back against the errors and bad influences, starting with the creation/evolution debate. He points out that evolution has become the most reasonable explanation for many, whereas creationism is to be ridiculed and denigrated. Here is the dilemma: we want to believe one thing but 'reason' might divert us away. This illustrates the challenge we face.

Regarding Israel, the dilemma is between chosen forever, or rejected and replaced. Maltz provides the usual information on this theme, then throws down the challenge: God has made his choice, what is ours? Do we agree or decide that our attitude can be different?

The issue of salvation has also been subjected to analytical thinking which rejects the exclusive claims of Jesus. Is he The Way or just one of many?

Maltz calls hell that 'horrible doctrine', one we naturally want to ignore or tone down. However, it stubbornly remains "the festering corpse of the elephant in the room of the Christian faith" (p160). He surveys various opinions from Jesus onwards, showing how Greek thinking has reduced its impact or eliminated it in favour of a sentimental view.

New ideas such as limbo or annihilationism aim to reduce our embarrassment or move us away from an ancient imagery that suggests cruelty or indifference. Maltz describes how he tried to find out what the various denominations believe these days and how difficult that task proved to be. It seems hell is no longer appropriate!

For each of the battlegrounds Maltz outlines, he unpacks the dilemmas modern Christians face and how we should fight back against error.

As for the end times, a literal millennium is now seen as too Jewish (Messianic) or too unbelievable. The dominant ('reasonable') view is to deny it as a real period to come. The negative Greek prefix 'a' provides a much better alternative – amillennialism! A simple verbal change, but with such profound consequences. Maltz does an excellent job sorting out what people have said on this topic over the centuries and why they have said it. Once again, a Hebraic approach will restore the truth of what God will one day do.

Fighting the 'War on Error'

The final section is a good review of the 'war on error' and what has happened over time to the truth.

Maltz accepts we may disagree with him in places - he makes no claim to have a monopoly on truth - but he has done his homework. In the end he simply wants us to ask ourselves from where our ideas and beliefs stem and how much of our current thinking is really grounded on faith.

'How the Church Lost The Truth' (2010, 206 pages, paperback, Saffron Planet) is the second book in a trilogy by Steve Maltz on the state of the Western Church (tune in next week for our review of his final instalment). It is available from Saffron Planet Publishing for £10 .