In the world today we find many churches heading down a suicidal path. Why? This year “…new features appear in Christmas programs such as in a Norwegian elementary school…Students will be reading not only Bible verses, but also verses from the Quran.” The article further reports that the “teachings of Mohammed have pushed into church settings around the world. In St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland, passages from the Quran have been read…as well as…”…singing from the Quran in the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome, Italy” (Paul Bremmer, APP Frontpage, Faith, Front Page, WND.com). All around the world, in Christian religious settings, the Quran is mixing with the truth of God’s Word to us. “Liberal Christianity has in many cases departed from its foundation in the Word of God,” (Rabbi Johnathan Cahn, WND.com).

I would hope that we would know God’s Word so well, that wherever heresy or deception is practiced, we will recognize that “it is not written” in God’s continuing, and unchanging Word, which He gave to us through the Jewish people. Dearly beloved Christian brothers and sisters, there can be no price put on the sacred Words of the God of Israel, which were given once and for all to mankind, in the Jewish Scriptures, so commonly categorized wrongly with the label the “Old” Testament. Bear with me, as we uncover a mislabeled, impolite and ill-informed characterization of the books of the Bible.

Because we live in Israel, the words “Torah” or “Tanach” come spontaneously to believers in the Land; however, most of the world’s Christians, some 2.3 billion, employ and practice using the word “Old” Testament when speaking of the first part of the Bible. It is a misnomer. Labeling the enduring Word of God in a wrong or inaccurate way is a serious rebellion against God. This error is a faux pas, or more accurately, a failure of the Christian church. Here in Israel, we know it as the Living Word, alive and real. It is sad that we have had a lack of education in this area in order for inherited errors to be corrected. God only knows how many Jewish people died because of Christians believing that “their books” were finished, obsolete and outdated.

Elliot’s Commentary for English Readers tells us, “the verb for ‘teach’ is the root of the Hebrew word for ‘law’, as the teaching of Jehovah. Historically, the Church labeled Torah and Tanach, (the Hebrew Scriptures) primarily as legalism. By labeling God’s Word as “Old” (the enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, ongoing, perpetual, and timeless Scriptures, to describe just a few biblical classifications) is a serious insult to our Jewish friends. Clearly, the Lord Jesus established the Torah, and based His teachings on Torah. Throughout the New Testament continually He said, “It is Written.” Since there was no New Testament at the time Jesus was teaching, it is crystal clear that Jesus laid it out clearly that He was pointing people where to go for answers.

It was the Jewish scrolls He unrolled in the synagogues. He spoke about them on the dusty roads of Emmaus to his followers. He kindled, and then set their hearts ablaze, with passion and astonishing revelation. If the sacred Scriptures of the Jews were good enough for Jesus, why are they not good enough for us? Paul tells us there is righteousness in the law (Philippians 3:6). Granted, he goes on to teach us that our own purity cannot come from the Scriptures alone (what we call the “Old” Testament) but only through faith in Christ which is the better way. (Philippians 3:9). Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that are impossible for every man to keep, He is our righteousness, through faith in Him. But that does not change the fact that where “it is written” teaches us of God’s Sovereignty, His Holiness, the Ten Commandments, the Psalms, wisdom which speaks clearly, all the Biblical promises for Israel, for us, and prophecies which are being fulfilled and will still yet be carried out in God’s Perfect Timing.

And so, why don’t Christians study it more? The standard reply is “We have the New Testament!” At this response, I can hear Lance Lambert saying, “But, wait just a minute now, let me explain!” The Hebrew Scriptures are actually instruction, and teaching, not a legalistic set of rules, as some might think. Torah is specifically the first five of twenty-four books of the Tanach, upon which the New Testament was constructed. We must catch a burning desire for the whole Bible and not just for the New Testament. There will be no “New Testament only Churches” in the Coming Kingdom, for the “…law will go forth from Zion” or Isaiah and Micah will have to apologize to the people. (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2).

There are not two Bibles, but One. The God of the “Old Testament” is the God of the “New Testament.” One God. The prophet Malachi declared that the Almighty never changes, nor does His Word (Malachi 3:6). Peter tells us that God’s Words abide throughout the ages. They live on forever. (1 Peter 1:25). Peter, a Jew, did not have a New Testament to which he could refer. So why continue to call it the “Old” Testament? Could it be that some say “we always have” or, “it was done away with when Jesus came”? This would be incompetency and will continue to hinder a believer from growing into the fullness of his faith and in understanding God’s plan for Israel and mankind. It is time to get rid of long-time dogmatic teachings that are not Scriptural.

Stop Calling It the Old Testament!

These words are the cry from a Jewish heart, and a headline article from the Jerusalem Post (Spring 2017, English edition) written by Michael Freund, Founder-President of Shavei Israel, and former Deputy Communications Director under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It captured my attention straightaway, and I privately cheered the author.

It spurred me on to write about what has been on my heart for a long time. But it took his cry of frustration, to get me to do it! This compassionate complaint, defending God’s Words, now puts any “New Testament Only!” church teachings in an arrogant and disrespectful position toward our Jewish brethren. Thinking that Genesis to Malachi is not important, and that these books are not relevant for today puts two God’s before Christians, the “Old Testament” God, commonly thought of as a God of anger, and the New Testament God of love. Even a simple child should be able to tell us that God is a God of love and compassion, from whatever book is in the Bible.

One of the reasons most Church Fathers did not see the restoration of Israel, and the Jewish people, was because they did not understand Hebrew, and could not perceive the “wandering Jew” ever returning to His Land. Therefore, they intensely preached that Israel was out of her Land and the Temple gone, and so, the Church replaced Israel. He alone knows how many hearts of indifference, apathy, spiritual pride and superiority were emblazoned with hatred toward God’s Chosen People, because of these untruths. There are no Words of God that can be declared as irrelevant. If, as the Bereans, those Church Fathers would have searched the Scriptures daily, they would have been able to see God’s promise of Jewish restoration to their homeland in the latter times. They would have avoided the tragic mistake of creating a monster, called Replacement Theology, that would wreak havoc in the Church, causing a great amount of damage and devastation between Judaism and Christianity, throughout the centuries. We are still in the process of recovery from this error, but assessing the damage to the Jewish heart, is the greatest horror we must face.

Many do not want what they term the “Old” Testament for fear they will be brought “under the law.” It is a mistake, because to be able to process what God is doing in the earth today, particularly among the Jewish people in their God-Given Land, we must read, study and love the Jewish Scriptures. In all the sacred books, we find the wonderful promises of God for Israel and His Chosen People. If one knows the Jewish scriptures, the Gospel makes much more sense because one learns that there has to be a sacrifice for sin. Christians just need to come to learn to love the Hebrew Scriptures period.

“At a time of rising anti-Semitism across Europe and even North America, it is…essential that steps be taken to defend the integrity of Judaism and its sacred texts…Recently, in an episode of the popular American television program, Dateline NBC, journalist Dennis Murphy repeated a stale, offensive, and inappropriate statement. He said “The rhetorical language you used, had a kind of biblical Old Testament ferocity to it,” Murphy said to an interviewee. A message she had sent included phrases such as “I hope to God you are ready for the pain I will show you.” “Burn in the fiery pits of hell tonight as by God’s law.”…Murphy’s impolite and ill-informed characterization of the Book of Books is something that should raise the ire of everyone…After all, it was the Tanach (the Jewish scriptures, including the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings) which bequeathed to the world values such as charity, brotherhood and forgiveness. These Scriptures challenged man to live by the highest standards of morality and ethics, which continues to inspire countless Jews and others to this very day. Depicting the Hebrew Bible as “ferocious” or cruel is not only an act of iniquity toward the text, but a hurtful affront to those who cherish its teachings and seek to abide by its commandments.

Unfortunately, Murphy is not alone in his prejudice. Examples abound. Recently, an Irish member of the European Parliament named Luke Flanagan criticized Ireland’s Health Minister Simon Harris for his policy on medical marijuana by asserting, “Our Minister for Health is like the God of the Old Testament – mean.” What kind of trash talk is that? How dare Flanagan or Murphy or anyone else for that matter slander the God of Israel in such terms. Would they speak of other faiths in such a disparaging manner? The use of the term “Old Testament,” suggests that the Hebrew Bible is outdated and archaic, like an old shoe…Western civilization often proudly invokes its “Judeo-Christian heritage,” and yet the very basis of that patrimony – the Hebrew Bible – is implicitly vilified and demeaned as if it were a relic of a bygone era, rather than the living text that it is.

Labels have power and they affect how people perceive things and the extent to which they value them. For Jews, Torah is the basis of Judaism, the foundational document that defines their faith as well as their relationship with God and our fellow man. As former British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once pointed out, “One of the most tragic moments in Western civilization came when Christians began distinguishing between what they called ‘the Old Testament God of vengeance’ as opposed to the ‘New Testament God of love.” This is not a small error. One trembles to think how many Jews lost their lives because of it.” It is obvious that Mr. Freund was addressing Christians, as we are the only people calling the Torah “Old”. For countless ages God’s Voice which spoke to Moses, has been labeled “archaic, obsolete, and old-fashioned,” something like an old car parked in a garage, discarded and forgotten.

And then there is the term legalism. In theology, it can be judged as conduct, in terms of adherence to precise laws. Jesus told us, “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets…but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). In a contextual paraphrase, He was saying, “Do not for a moment suppose, don’t even imagine, that I am come to destroy the writings, nor to pull it down or do away with it.” He had come to complete it. He went so far as to say not even the smallest letter, nor one stroke of the scribe’s pen would be dropped, until all that had to happen, had occurred. What we often miss is that Jesus also said that whoever disregards it or who abolishes its principles will be the least-esteemed, and will be regarded as small in the Kingdom of Heaven. Knox, Moffit, Rieu, Wey and other Bible scholars, and translators, agree on this.

Let me make it clear. In Christ, we have been given liberty, and freedom from commands that pertain only to the times of Jesus, ancient Israel, and that were meant for the Jewish people as a nation; however, to abandon or renounce God’s commandments because they seem “old” is to make light of the beliefs of the Apostles and their congregations. All of the Apostles were Jewish. Because this happened, deception crept into the Church and snuggled up to the soul of Christendom, and put fear into many hearts that they would be found “under” it. Having lived in the Land for a considerable time, I would never ever think of uttering that the Torah is “dead and “gone” or “old” and irrelevant in my daily walk with the Master.

It is forbidden in the Book of Revelation to take away from God’s Word. Taking away the Writings, never studying it, quoting it, or gleaning from it, would be tantamount to deleting the Words of God. “…and if any one may take away from the words of the scroll…God shall take away his part from the scroll of life, and out of the holy city, and the things that have been written in this scroll…” (Revelation 22:19, Young’s Literal Translation). It is also written, “And many peoples shall go and say: ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; And He will teach of His ways, And we will walk in His paths. ‘For out of Zion shall come forth the law (Torah), And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3, JPS Tanakh 1917).

I repeat, we, as Christians, must keep Messiah at the center of the Scriptures, as He fulfilled them. In these latter times, the true Bride must play her part in bringing back the King. How can this be done without knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures, which we have incorrectly marked as “Old”? If one believes the New Testament, which is a collection of accounts about the work and life of Messiah Jesus, and His miracles upon the earth, how can we miss everything He imparted, based upon it? The Jewish Writings teach what is holy and unholy, good and evil, clean and not clean. “…A good place to start would be to encourage the media and public figures to give the God of Israel and His Torah the respect that is their due.” (Michael Freund) I believe he is right. The prophet Jeremiah pulled no punches when he said that the Torah was the thoughts of God’s Heart. “The anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the thoughts of His Heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly” (Jeremiah 23:20). Perhaps we need to pray about taking this basic message to our churches and fellowships. When the King returns to Jerusalem, there will be no “new Bible” being broadcast from Jerusalem, but Messiah will teach from the Only Bible He ever knew – the Hebrew Scriptures.

Jesus repeatedly said, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4) … “Haven’t you read?” (Matthew 19:4). He raised these questions. The words of His mouth and the spiritual bread He gave out to be eaten, continually strengthened and led the people, just as it does today. “Jesus answered, “It is written: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). In other words, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). There definitely is no place for dividing up the Scriptures and calling part old and part new. As Jesus was handed the Scrolls, He unrolled them and spoke of Himself. (Luke 4:17, 18). Take away the Torah, we take away the foundation for the promises of His Coming, as Messiah-King.

Shouldn’t we be sharing with our friends, in love, teaching them to read the whole Bible in context and time? He only spoke for, never against Torah and Tanach. He pointed out strongly to the religious leaders, that many man-made laws, rules and traditions were not spoken by God. Religious leaders had created them; however, labeling the Hebrew Bible as “ferocious” or cruel, is not only an act of iniquity toward the text, but a hurtful affront to the Jewish community. There is indeed, liberty in Messiah, but not to go against God’s holiness laid before us in the Torah. He was in constant debate with the legalists, but the Church’s shameful degradation and neglect of the everlasting Torah, has put some Christian houses of worship on shaky foundations. The parchments and scrolls were a part of the most precious belongings of every Jew who loved the God of Israel, in Jesus’ day. Paul certainly didn’t want to go anywhere without them. “When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13, Holman Christian Standard Bible).

It is sometimes embarrassing to tell a Jewish person, or to be in discussions with Jewish Bible scholars, and have to admit the failure of the Church to take seriously the significance of their Scriptures. Torah, seldom mentioned in any church environment, has left the only Bible Jesus read, unknown to many Christians. Its pages are seldom travelled to, like an island in the South China Sea; therefore, the treasures that lie within have yet to be discovered by many. I have been to churches in various countries where pastors stumbled, searching for the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

In the Didache, the original constitution of the early Jewish disciples, the instructions they left behind for gentile believers, after their passing, tell the story and confirm the Jewishness of the early congregations. They said, “We must seek to preserve and honor the Torah as handed down by the Apostles and Jesus (Yeshua)…We “must not fall prey to those who said it has been done away with, or who sought to impose their own interpretations…In the spirit of the Apostle Peter, it would have been better to never have “known the Way of Righteousness” than to come to the truth and then be led astray”…“The Master’s yoke was not to separate from the Torah…(Didache, page 246- 248, Clayton Jefford, “The Way of Life, The Rediscovered Teachings of the Twelve Apostles to the Gentiles”, First Fruits of Zion, Toby Janicki). Didache, known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, is dated by most modern scholars to the first century. Jesus warned us about building our house upon sand. Any foundation other than Torah would put us on shaky ground. The Jewish Scriptures give the New Testament the bedrock truth of our Savior’s teachings.

If anyone undermines the authority of God’s Word, it can lead to heresy. The New Testament warns against Replacement Theology – and yet many ended up tampering with the Scriptures by replacing the “Old” Testament with the “New”. “By negating it, we say that God’s covenant with Israel ended with Jesus and that the term “Israel” refers only to the Church.” (Shira Sorko-Ram).

Just as Jesus is alive and not dead, so it is with Torah, it is living and endures forever! It is these enduring words which He loved, which we need to live by. These troubled times will call for nothing less. Some of God’s Greatest Heroes in the Bible inspire us to follow in their footsteps with the solid faith, and steadfast love of these men. Let us not sell our Jewish friends down the river, with a display of pride and arrogance.

The Living Water Jesus gave to us came through His Obedience to His Father’s Words. If we want to “sail on” in our faith, then perhaps we will learn to be more sensitive to our Jewish friends, provoking them to jealousy by loving their Scriptures and telling them, “I love the God of Israel, I love the Jewish people and the Land of Israel…My Master has taught me the foundations of the living Scriptures which will remain forever”! This is how you win Jewish friends. I hope that your understanding will penetrate to the deeper meaning of God’s Word. I pray that you will be aglow with holy passion to share the truth, introducing others to actual verity that has been neglected, and then hidden from the Church, for centuries. May every heart burn with the fire of God and a flame in their spiritual lives, that cannot be kindled by earthly torches. Right down through the ages, wherever the true Church has succeeded in her spiritual pursuits, she has brought new hope to man, she has swept away the wrongs and established truth once again, in righteousness. May we merit the title of “burning hearts”. 

-Sharon Sanders-