October 30, 2006

by Brian Knowles

rom the mid-seventies until fairly recently, I cared a lot about doctrinal reform. I even dared to believe that given the right circumstances, it could happen. I no longer believe that. I now believe that doctrinal reform within the Churches of God Pod is largely hopeless in the present dispensation. Denizens of the Pod will take most of their current beliefs with them to the grave. The only time major doctrinal reform will take place is when the “Torah (Instruction, teaching) goes forth from Zion” in the world to come.

            Meantime, while we’re waiting for Messiah to come, we will have to settle for fragmentary understanding and often erroneous perceptions; at least most of us will. I believe those who wish to do so; those who are willing to strike out in a different direction; can recapture much of the truth.  As Dr. Roy Blizzard often reminds us, “Doctrinal reform is not going to happen at the denominational level.” Rather, it will be individuals, one at a time, rediscovering the lost elements of the faith of Jesus Christ.

The Nature of Leadership

In times past, those who have led reforms within the larger Church have often paid for it with their lives. Christian reformers have been burned at the stake, strangled, tortured, imprisoned, disenfranchised, exiled and otherwise abused – and this mainly by “fellow” Christians! False doctrine dies hard. In earlier times it took a courageous person to campaign for doctrinal reform.

            These days all it takes is understanding and the conviction that one is right. Of course we all think we’re right don’t we? How many Christians do you know who say of themselves: “I’m ignorant. I don’t understand anything. I just believe what they tell me.” Few would admit to that, but many are guilty of it. It’s called “authoritarianism.” An authoritarian defers to authority outside of himself to know anything. He is what I call a “spiritual Eichmann” who sees himself responsible only for following the orders of higher ups who know better. This amounts to an abdication of personal responsibility.

            The assumption of personal responsibility for what one believes and practices, however, can mean hard work and lots of it (II Timothy 2:15). For many, this is simply too daunting to contemplate. For those who accept it, they may soon find themselves lost in a thicket of theological entanglements.

            It has often been said that there are great chasms between three classes of people in the Church: scholars, preachers and lay members. The work of scholars seldom filters down to preachers, and almost never to lay members. If lay members knew what many scholars believe, they might find their faith shipwrecked on the shoals of doubt and uncertainty. Scholars, for the most part, are far less dogmatic than preachers. Because they tend to delve deeper, they are less inclined to be hard-nosed about what they teach. They often see the full range of possibilities in a given Biblical pericope (literary unit) or verse, whereas the preacher may “see” only the one interpretation he has been taught, or that his denomination supports. Since ministers are accustomed to doing the teaching, many of them are not teachable.

            Yet, even among themselves, scholars seldom arrive at a consensus. Each scholar seeks to discover something hitherto undiscovered – to place fresh footprints in the academic snow. He seeks to be favorably peer-reviewed.

            Preachers, on the other hand, often dig in and defend some inflexible dogmatic position. Lay members line up behind whichever preacher most appeals to them and the battle lines are drawn.

            Independent studious lay members who strike out on their own and study doctrine utilizing all the helps they can find or have access to, frequently find themselves at odds with scholars, preachers and other lay members. Some even form their own groups, cults of personality, and sectarian splits. They create “ministries” of this or that.

            The net result of all this is that the Church is all over the map when it comes to doctrine (teaching). Each leader believes he is correct in his or her interpretation of Scripture. Each denomination characterizes itself as the most authentic outgrowth of the original believing community.

            Where does this leave the truth-seeking Christian? Nowhere; it leaves him or her adrift, confused and without answers. It leaves him asking, “Whom can I trust to tell me the truth about doctrine?”

            How did things get to this state?

Answers in History

The most fundamental reason the Church is in doctrinal confusion today is that it long ago left its Jewish roots. Returning to these roots can help clear away much of the doctrinal detritus that has accumulated down through the centuries. Hundreds of top scholars are now realizing that delving into the Judaic origins of the Church is the way to recapture much of what has been lost. Discovering truth also causes error to stand out in sharp relief.

            Many choose not to pursue this line of study because they are prejudiced against all things Jewish. They view Jews as “Christ-killers,” “legalists,” or “hypocrites.” Or, in some cases, they see those who study Jewish roots as potential Judaizers; seeking to return the Church to the practices of Judaism. This too is a misconception.

            Some observe negative modern Jewish types – i.e. Hollywood moguls who pump out cinematic filth or potty-mouthed Jewish singers – and judge the whole of the Jewish people by such individuals. This is bogus. When we speak about returning to Jewish roots, we’re talking about the religious milieu of 2^nd Temple Judaism – the period roughly from 538 B.C.E. to 70 AD. It is there that we find the origins of what is now called “the Christian faith.”

            Professor Marvin Wilson has written, “The roots of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil. Though the Hebrew heritage of the Church is rich and extensive, many Christians are regrettably uninformed about it. Most of it has been treated either passively and superficially, or more often, it has simply been left unexplored. Christian seminaries, colleges, and other educational institutions have been largely responsible for this lack,” (Our Father Abraham, Preface, p. xv).

            The study of the Jewish roots of the Christian Church can yield a myriad of golden nuggets of understanding, all of which can be used to pave the way to personal doctrinal reform. (Remember, I wrote earlier that doctrinal reform will not take place at the denominational level.)

            Once you embark upon this rich line of study, you can expect to be shunned, mocked, ridiculed or at least strongly disagreed with by your fellow Christians. They may accuse you of cuddling up to a rejected people (the Replacement Doctrine folks), returning to legalism, or of Judaizing. If nothing else, you can be sure to be misunderstood by a substantial number of people. The “cheap grace” people will dismiss your studies as irrelevant.

            Some will simply dismiss the whole process out of sheer laziness. After all, it takes work to open up and learn a new field of study.

            Despite this, you will be richly rewarded if you stick with your studies. You will find out just how the Church got into the confused state in which it now languishes. You will find your way out of the quicksand of convoluted, post-Apostolic, Christian doctrine. You will see the very different world of Hebrew thought opened up before your eyes. You will also learn how centuries of de-Judaization have resulted in the doctrinal mess with which we are now confronted.

            Once you embark upon these studies, it may be best to keep your findings to yourself – or, be willing to pay the price of “sharing” them.

The Downside of Roots Studies

To be fair, there are those who have studied the Jewish roots of the Church and who have lost their moorings. They have taken to wearing prayer shawls, building succot (tabernacles) in their driveways each fall, and surrounding themselves with Jewish trinkets, trappings and symbols. They are obsessed with pronouncing God’s and Christ’s names “authentically” and using the “correct” terminology for everything. They show off their knowledge of Hebrew things by irritatingly using obscure Hebrew words to show off their esoteric knowledge.

            Rather than hating, rejecting and persecuting the Jews, as do some Christians, these spiritual exhibitionists have landed in the opposite ditch. They are obsessed with all things Jewish. This is how they “market” themselves. They are “in your face” with their “roots” paraphernalia.

            This whole approach is off-putting to say the least. It gives Hebrew roots studies a negative image. It repels rather than attracts. The study of Jewish roots requires balance, good sense and the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13).

How to Get Started

The best primer I know of is Prof. Marvin D. Wilson’s book Our Father Abraham – Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith (Eerdmans). I’ve owned this book for years, but I continually review parts of it to refresh my mind on the basics.

            You will also find a Recommended Reading List in the Hebrew Roots section of this web site. Any of the books listed there will advance your studies. With a little effort, any of them can be obtained through various sources, some of which are listed.

            At the outset, pray that God will send his Spirit to open your mind to new understanding. Be prepared for some shocks to your doctrinal system. And be prepared for the ensuing firestorm when you try to share your new understandings with others!

            Finally, continue to watch for new additions, book reviews, and articles in the “Hebrew Roots” section of this web site.

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