NOTE: This article is a follow-on to the previous post, “If ‘the Law of the LORD is perfect’ – then why ‘twist Paul’?”
The problem with seeing the world, the Bible, and even “the LORD” through pagan sunglasses is that things still look funny when you try to take them off. The “twisting of Paul” seems to be epidemic. But the ramifications are more serious than most who do it will admit.
“I think I know how these guys think now,” said the Defender of Xtianity. They [those Hebrew Roots types] see a verse like Colossians 2:16-17 and turn the message completely upside-down!”
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body of the Messiah. ”
“As if Paul isn’t talking about how WE are to reject the Jewish festivals and sabbaths! They actually seem to think he was talking to judaizers and saying that they shouldn’t let US judge THEM for not keeping the Christian holy days of the New Covenant!”
“So then, to think like Mark Call, we must start with Torah and end with Torah and every reading must be interpreted through that filter. Whereas we start with Jesus and end with Jesus.“
And therein lies the rub. If you START with “another jesus, whom we have NOT preached”, and then end in the same place, the logical fallacy is called “circular reasoning”. The assumption justifies the conclusion. And since the conclusion feels good, nothing else matters. Even, it seems, Scripture itself.
“If the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)
When Yahushua came “in His Father’s Name” to the world, the only Scripture that then existed was the “old” testament. It was the Torah of Moses, the Writings, and the Prophets, as He said, (John chapter 5) which, “testify of Me.” How could it be otherwise? The “new” testament wouldn’t be written until decades later, and the authors relied on the only Scripture they knew to make the case that He was Who they said He must be! Yahushua made this argument at length in John 5:30-47.
“If the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? “
There is a painful irony in this blindness, too. By claiming that Paul means the opposite thing from what they want him to be saying, that all-too-common heresy ignores WHO THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO:
Former pagans! People attempting to “turn to Him,” and being persecuted by the pagans around them for keeping the MOEDIM of YHVH! People who, then like now, are being “judged” for things like NOT eating pork, or NOT keeping “Xmas” or NOT celebrating pagan fertility rites with bunnies and eggs!
Yes, the author of that Letter was saying, “don’t let them judge you” for following the One True God, and keeping His feasts, His “holidays,” instead of the ones you grew up with!
And thus we keep coming back to the real problem, and the circular fallacy:
Just which “Jesus” do they worship? The one Who KEPT the Feasts (‘moedim’ or “Appointed Times”) of YHVH and NEVER once ate pork, or violated His own Sabbaths? And Who said He would NOT – not in the SLIGHTEST amount – change the Torah they not only ignore but seem to hate?
Or… “another jesus” who “did away with the Law”? And whom Shaul/Paul and the Apostles did “not preach”.
The problem is that they “start with jesus, and end with him” – and the “him” is NOT the Messiah that was Written of in Scripture!
This is the message of the end of Yahuchanon (John) chapter 5!
“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.” (John 5:31)
…“the Father Himself, Who sent Me, has testified of Me!”
“You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you have not His Word abiding in you: for Whom He has sent, him you do not believe. Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they testify of Me.”
Hint: He is NOT talking about the the yet-then-unwritten letters of Paul!!!!
And you will not come to Me, that you might have life.
(think, “another jesus, whom we have NOT preached” instead!)
I have come in My Father’s Name, and yet you do not receive Me: if another comes in his own name, him you will receive!”
How right He was!
How can you believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that comes from Yah only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust.
Well, that was THEN. These guys don’t even believe Moses, either, having accepted the lie that the “Old” has been “done away with”.
For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he Wrote of Me. But if you will not believe His Writings, how shall you believe My words? (John 5:46-47)
ANSWER: They ignore those. And twist the literal you-know-what outta Paul!
Yahushua was talking FACE-to-FACE to a bunch of hypocrites who KNEW the Torah and Tanakh, and yet were still so wedded to their own tradition and “law” that they refused to see the Torah Made Flesh when He taught them in PERSON. “How much more so,” then, those who have an even MORE paganized ‘tradition of men’ and so-called “law” that they can literally turn the words of a consummate Torah scholar like Shaul/”Paul” upside down, and deny the very Words of the Word Made Flesh Himself in the process!
“When the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (wipe the dust off their feet, and move on, says the “Torah Made Flesh” they ignore.)
“He who turns his ear from hearing Torah – even his PRAYER is an abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9)
And yet, ultimately we will be asked “why does it matter?” Who really cares if His Name was “Yahushua,” or Yeshua, or even “Jesus”. If we just “believe in Him,” or claim to “love him,” by whatever name, and say the “sinner’s prayer”, isn’t that enough? Isn’t that really ALL that matters?
And there is the rub. The answer is NO! That same Paul said, “work out your OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling.” For cryin’ out loud, why would he feel the need to say something like THAT if saying the sinner’s prayer once-and-done was all it took? (Never mind that the so-called “sinner’s prayer” is nowhere to be found in His Word anyway!)
Yahushua said (John 14:15), “if you love Me, keep My commandments.” And, yes, let’s not forget that “I never knew you” warning to those who ignore His Instruction!
Isn’t there a concern here? How can one get “eternal life” from the wrong savior?
“If the Foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? “
We can, in fact, build our house upon the Rock. That YHVH is Who He says He is. That He does NOT change, He IS “the same, yesterday, today, and forever,” and that He did not change His mind, or His Word.
If there is “another jesus, whom we have not preached,” who “did away with” the “law of Moses,” we know that he is a liar, and the Truth is not in him.
The Messiah must be consistent with His own Word! How else could He be the Torah Made Flesh?
And that is a Very Big Deal, indeed.
“Study, to show yourself approved,” said that same guy, Shaul. No wonder he said to work it out for ourselves.