The Jewish roots of Christianity

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Myles & Katharine Weiss

“Hebraism and Hellenism—between these two points of influence moves our world.” — Matthew Arnold, Culture and Anarchy

Dear Reader,

The Bible is a product of the God-inspired Hebrew mind. Hebrew, with its pictorial roots, makes the perfect language for communicating the heart of God to man. The first gathering of Believers in Yeshua—also an expression of the Hebrew mind—was called ecclesia, “the Church.” Praise God we live in the days when Christianity’s “Jewishness” is being restored!

At a turning point in ecclesiastical history, the Roman emperor Constantine removed the Hebraic blueprint by which Jesus’ movement was being constructed and replaced it with a non-Hebraic one. As a result, the Church that’s been built since is (at best) a caricature of what the Lord intended; instead, it is contrary and antagonistic to the spirit of the original believing community.

The Head of the Church, Messiah Yeshua, appears to be returning His people to the original blueprint before our very eyes. The focus on our Hebrew roots, led by the Holy Spirit, is instrumental in restoring to the Body a sense of its first foundations. Zola was one of the first current-day teachers to appreciate and spread this renewed recognition of the Church’s origin. As others have joined the narrative, the result should be a nourishing and refreshing, restorative shift in the way we “do” church.

The return to our Hebrew foundation is the rebirth of a life-giving organism devised by God to invite all souls to everlasting life. The modern movement is vulnerable to error, but it is essentially a God-breathed restoration to His design.

Alef Tav

The First and the Last

The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Alef and the Tav—all are names for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The names also embody the movements of the Faith culture.

The early believers in Yeshua (Believers) were all Jewish. Acts chapter 10 gives the first official recounting of the Gospel being embraced by non-Jews (gentiles). So began the wrestling match between the Greco-Roman worldview and the Hebraic paradigm that continues today.

The emphasis on “doing vs. knowing” fundamentally separates the mindset of the Hebrews of biblical times from the Western, Hellenistic (Greek) way of thinking. Much of Christian theology comes from this foundational difference.

Matthew Arnold, quoted above, explained this divergence in approach: “The Hebrew is concerned with practice, the Greek with theory. Right conduct is the ultimate concern of the Hebrew, right thinking that of the Greek. Duty and … conscience are paramount in life for the Hebrew; for the Greek, the … luminous play of the intelligence. … the contrast is between the moral man and the theoretical or intellectual man.”

This analysis reminds me of a classic pulpit joke describing the differences between the cultures: The pagan asks, “What God?” The Greek asks, “Which God?” But the Jew asks, “God, what do You want from me?

The different approaches help explain why so many Christian churches are focused on the issues of doctrinal orthodoxy (however they may define it), often at the expense of godly living. In many Christian circles, what one believes or espouses is treated as more important than how one lives—how one treats his or her neighbor. The intellectualized discussion becomes a substitute for simple obedience to the known, revealed will of God.

Judaism in Bible times valued precisely the opposite. Christians tend to subject each other to litmus tests of orthodoxy, while Jews concentrate mainly on behavior, the action resulting from belief. As Dennis Prager writes, “… belief in God and acting ethically must be inextricably linked … God demands right behavior more than anything else, including right ritual and right belief.”

Is Greece, the very cradle of Western civilization, leading the West, with its many gifts to civilized society, away from a thriving culture and down a theological rabbit hole?

Gentile Christians, influenced by Greek philosophy, both intellectualized and systematized Christian doctrine. Biblical Hebrews and the Church of the Apostolic Era (33–100 A.D.) had no formal theology, and nothing was systematized. The Believing community had no entrenched hierarchy or magisterium (authority) through which all doctrine had to be filtered and approved. As with the unbelieving Jews, opinions varied from sage to sage. What the Apostles taught about any given subject was either learned directly from Jesus and then passed on, or determined on a situational, as-you-go basis. They determined Halakha (Jewish legal path) for Believers in much the same way that the sages of Israel did: As circumstances changed, they rendered decisions about the application of Torah (Matthew 18:18).

Acts 15 provides an account of how at least one teaching that concerned requirements for gentile believers in Yeshua was formed around 50 A.D. Note that the whole of the Church, not just an elite hierarchy, was involved in the discussion (Acts 15:4, 12, 22).

In fundamentalist Christian circles, it is often more important to believe and espouse “the right thing” than to live the right way. This skewed value explains why we are so obsessed with creeds, doctrinal statements, Systematic Theologies, orthodoxy vs. heresy, and creating Evangelical (Biblical authority) or Sabbatarian (Sunday Sabbath) or Trinitarian (doctrine of the Trinity) theologies. This mode of thinking is thoroughly Western, utterly Greek.

For many Westerners, the Hebrew mindset is so strange, so alien, so impossible to fathom that we quickly snap back into the comfort zone of the Hellenistic mold when studying the Hebrew Scriptures. We then impose this distorting grid over the Hebrew text—or for that matter, over the Greek text of the New Testament.

The Western concept of time—points on a line—leads Westerners to think in terms of “prophetic timetables.” The Hebrew mind thinks of “the day of the Lord”—that is, the day or time when the Lord acts. The sequential order in which God will do things is of no concern to the Hebrew, only that He will act. The Western mind wants to “tick off” events as they occur according to the pre-ordained schedule. This mentality is foreign to the Hebrew.

In Western theology, we have sometimes abandoned the literal interpretation of Scripture in favor of allegorical interpretations. This too is very Greek. It opens the door to myriad “creative” expositions that leave the student of Scripture confused and disoriented.

In the table that follows, we compare the Hebraic mode of thinking with the Western, Hellenistic mode in a variety of categories.

WESTERN APPROACHHEBRAIC APPROACH
Life analyzed in precise categoriesEverything flows into everything else
A split between natural & supernaturalSupernatural affects everything
Linear logicContextual or “block” logic
“Rugged Individualism”Importance of being part of the group
Freedom orientationSecurity orientation
Competition is goodCooperation is better
Man-centered UniverseGod/tribe/family-centered Universe
Worth of person based on money/material possessions/powerWorth derived from family relationships
Chance + cause & effect limit what can happenGod causes everything in His Universe
Man rules nature through understanding and applying laws of scienceGod rules everything, so our relationship with God determines how things turn out
All that exists is the materialThe Universe is filled with powerful spirit beings
History is recording facts objectively and chronologicallyHistory is an attempt to preserve significant truths in meaningful or memorable ways whether or not details are objective facts
Change is always good = progressChange is often bad = destruction of traditions
Universe evolved by chanceUniverse created by God
Universe dominated and controlled by science and technologyGod gave man stewardship over His earthly creation, with accountability to God.
Material goods = measure of personal achievementMaterial goods = measure of God’s blessing
Sources: Culture and Anarchy by Matthew Arnold; Christianity With Power by Charles Kraft; Hebrew Thought Compared With Greek by Thorleif Boman; Judaism and Christianity—The Differences by Trude Weiss-Rosmarin, Our Father Abraham, by Marvin Wilson, God in Search of Man by Abraham Heschel.

Intellectually, the Western Church is made up primarily of Greeks, not Hebrews. We apply thought patterns developed by Aristotle (logic, form over content) and Socrates (inquiry and discussion) to practically everything. This mindset distances us from God.

In reality, God cannot be not “known” in the abstract, but in the specific situations into which He has inserted Himself. God is what He has revealed Himself to be, not what we have theorized Him to be.

American rabbi and leading Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel points to the reason for Western confusion about God: “The categories within which philosophical reflection about religion has been operating are derived from Athens rather than from Jerusalem.”

If Believers are to understand the Bible and what it means to be a follower of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah), then we will have to understand it Hebraically, not Hellenistically. This requires a philosophical and intellectual paradigm shift on our part. It means coming at Scripture from an entirely different angle. It means learning to think like the Hebrew … who thought more like God.

Heschel also writes, “The Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Hebrews learned in order to revere. The modern man learns in order to use.”

The desire for a religion of utility gives rise to a lot of “technique-oriented” Christianity being preached these days. Western Believers want techniques for understanding, systematizing, and structuring the “prophetic timetable” so that we can know “what’s going to happen next,” or so that we can know when to stock food and flee into the mountains to await the Lord’s return.

Some people want to know so they can have something to market to other Christians who want to know. These are they who seek to gain from “godliness” or religion. (see 1 Timothy 6:5)

The spirit of anti-Judaism/anti-Semitism has done much to destroy the original personality of the Believing community. This missing component explains why it is so difficult for many to understand either Testament. To truly grasp what it means to be a follower of Yeshua, one must return to the Hebrew roots of both His movement and the collection of documents we now refer to as “The New Testament.”

One of the most Hebraic ways of getting past this Greek-Jewish conundrum is to walk in the Land of its origin. You are welcome to call Sandra, our Zola Tours manager, to discuss our Holy Land study tour options at 214-696-9760. You may also email her at , or visit www.levitt.com/tours for information. It’s not too early to book your seat for our Spring Tour 2016: We strongly encourage you to come with us and let Yeshua strengthen your heart, soul, and might! (Deut. 6:5)

Deluxe IsraelMar 13 – 22$4,288
Grand Petra (Israel + Petra)Mar 13 – 25$5,288
Prices include airport tax, fuel surcharges (subject to change), and tips.

In your quest to connect the roots in the Old Testament to the events in the New Testament, watch this month for the conclusion of our television series on Joseph and then two VERY timely “stand alone” programs.

JOSEPH: DREAMER/REDEEMER

Brother for Brother
Joseph’s brothers leave Simeon in Egypt as hostage until Benjamin comes. Joseph’s identity remains hidden to his brothers. The Messiah is currently hidden to most of His brothers, the Jewish people.
Longing and Revelation
At home, Jacob longs for the return of his sons; in Egypt, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Yeshua reveals Himself through the Scriptures, just as He did on the road to Emmaus.
Substitution and Redemption
Because of the “stolen” chalice, Judah intercedes and offers himself in Benjamin’s place. Joseph reveals his identity and reunites the family. Though understood by few at the time, Yeshua was the Suffering Servant whose death redeemed the world. Our Messiah will return as the reigning King.

Joseph’s story highlights the importance of having a Hebrew mindset as the Day of the Lord approaches! In that mode, we offer two significant TV programs. One addresses the topic of Iran dominating the headlines today:

Iran Alive with Hormoz Shiriat
Dr. Shiriat was born in Iran but came to faith in Jesus while at college in America. He now ministers in the Farsi language via satellite broadcast to his people in Iran. Many have called him “the Billy Graham of Iran.” You briefly read about him in the August 2015 Levitt Letter (p. 5). Now, hear him tell his story; you’ll love learning how the Lord is moving in Iran.

The second stand-alone program speaks to the welfare of the Body of Messiah in Israel:

FIRM with Wayne Hilsden
Pastor Hilsden leads King of Kings Community in Jerusalem. When he saw the need for Christian ministries, he organized the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM). As he speaks with Myles and Katharine, we’ll hear God’s heart for the Jewish people reinforce His biblical mandate that Believers stand with Israel at this critical moment in history.

As you allow God to cleanse you from Hellenistic thinking, believe that He will transform your walk with Him to simple obedience to Messiah. A beginning step is to “Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim!” (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!) — Psalm 122:6

Your brother and messenger,
Myles Myles

P.S. I believe you are allowing this ministry to deepen your experience of being “grafted in.” (Romans 11:17)

Note: The following website contributed passages, concepts, and the chart to this letter: Godward.org.

Zola Levitt Ministries is ECFA approved

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