Biblically Hebraic
What does it mean to be Biblically Hebraic?
When Yeshua came to rightly interpret Torah the first believers were Jews. Known as The Way or The Nazarenes they remained a sect of Judaism until shortly after 70AD. They adhered to the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus), of whom the prophets in the Tanakh (Old Testament) foretold would come as the “Anointed One” (Messiah) of Israel . In the early days of the sect, these believers reached out to other Jews, exhorting them to believe on Yeshua, as it is only through the acceptance of His death upon the cross that their sins could be forgiven by God. They also taught that while the torah (teachings) handed down by Moses was still alive and relevant, the penalty of the torah had been fulfilled in Yeshua, the Messiah.
In the beginning Messianic Jews would meet in the temple along with the other sects of Jewish sects. That is, until the other sects through jealousy and religiosity began to persecute the adherents of Messianic Judaism. After the death of one of the Messianic leaders, James, (who was one of the original talmidim (disciples) of Yeshua), the sect began to disperse throughout the Roman Empire . As this was occurring, the message of this sect began to spread and to be accepted by Gentiles (Non-Jewish people). As Messianic Judaism embraced the non-Jewish converts to Messiah without making them convert to Judaism first, the other sects of Judaism began to disown this sect, saying that embracing Gentiles without making them first convert to Judaism was not according to torah. This one issue became the dividing schism that serves as the basis for the animosity that Judaism has for Messianic Judaism today.
“In the Messianic congregations, the terms “Jew” and “non-Jew” were used in reference to one’s heritage, not one’s spiritual rights or condition. In the Messianic congregations, all were equal in God’s sight and plan. Both Jewish and non-Jewish believers worshipped and lived in obedience to God together without distinction. Rabbi Saul stated in his letter to the Galatian church:
“In Messiah’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach” (Gal 3:28).”
Because of the controversy surrounding the term “Messianic Judaism” we have sought Scripture and the Lord and wise counsel on how to refer to ourselves. There are modern groups using all sorts of words that would be appropriate for who we are but we are not who they are. We have decided on the expression: A Biblically Hebraic Community. If asked to explain what that means we would say: We are learning to live Torah in the Hebraic context taught and lived by Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.
Yeshua did not come to start the Gentile Church, but neither did he endorse the Judaism of his day. It is his right interpretation of Torah that we seek to embrace. It is our hope that through us both Jew and Gentile will have the opportunity to embrace the Bridegroom who is the perfect expression of who God is and what He desires from us.
