9-25-19 Dangers of the Hebrew Roots Movement

Dangers of The Hebrew Roots Movement :: by Ronda Lane (prayer request)

Published on: April 10, 2019 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles

(Editor’s note from Cynthia Nuara: Ronda will not be able to finish her 4-part series titled “Betrayed: Few Knew it Happened” of which parts one and two are currently posted on the Rapture Ready website. She is terminally ill and would like prayer for relief from pain and for God’s will to be done. She will be writing a letter to you all on this site as she is able. Ronda is ready to go Home to be with the Lord when He calls. She will be free from the pain she has endured for years from MS, spinal stenosis, and other health issues, and from her recent diagnosis of stage 4 cancer.

Ronda shows such attention for detail in her writing. As her (and my) dear friend Alice Childs says, “She doesn’t just take in the entire forest and the individual trees, but chews on the bark and leaves.”

Here is an article she wrote on the Hebrew Roots movement which was originally to be submitted after finishing her 4-part series:

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We would like to warn members of the heretic “Hebrew Roots” cult movement. It’s worse than just heretical; it’s a false gospel. Let’s take a look at many of the horrible errors which show that the Hebrew Roots movement is both heretical and blasphemous.

Here’s a short list, and the article will detail each of these errors.

#1. Hebrew Roots movement denies the name of Jesus!
#2. Hebrew Roots movement throws out huge portions of scripture (and twists other scripture).
#3. Hebrew Roots movement tries to put us back under the law (commandments and ordinances of Israel).
#4. Hebrew Roots movement denies Gentiles can be saved! (*Note: A Gentile is anyone not born a Jew).
#5. Hebrew Roots movement uses non-biblical writings and places this above scripture.
#6. Hebrew Roots movement has made themselves a FALSE “god” and has replaced Jesus as merely the successor of Moses!
#7. Hebrew Roots movement falsely claims that only “Rabbis and Priests” can understand scripture.
#8. Hebrew Roots movement falsely claims that the Jews are not the Jews! They claim OTHER people groups are supposedly Jews.

As I started writing this article, I realized even just touching BRIEFLY on all the errors, heresy, and even blasphemy of the Hebrew Roots movement could take hundreds of pages! I will try to be as brief as possible, but it’s very important that we understand the Hebrew Roots movement IS a cult, gives a FALSE GOSPEL, perverts and throws out a huge portion of God’s word, and even goes so far as to attempt to annul Jesus’ PERFECT FINISHED work on the cross/resurrection.

Before we get into the details of the Hebrew Roots movement, I’d like to ask you if you’ve ever played the game called “Whack-a-mole”? When one mole gets squashed, another one immediately pops up!
Much like the silly “Whack-a-mole” game today, we are seeing cults, false doctrine, heresy, and blasphemy popping up one right after the other. They are ALL of the devil, and it’s nothing new… the devil has been trying his evil best to corrupt God’s word from day one. Just like the moles popping up left and right in the game, the devil keeps popping up into society and even in churches with so many errors and falsehoods!

The difference is that the Bible is NOT a game! God’s word is something we should take literally, reverently, and with much respect! God is HOLY; His word is HOLY… we are mere humans and we have NO RIGHT to go messing with His word!

There IS a cure for the “whack-a-mole” cults and false doctrines. KNOW THE BIBLE. How can you do that? Do what the Lord told us to do… STUDY like a workman!

2 Tim. 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV)

Other Bible versions water this verse down… But God’s word makes it clear that God expects us to STUDY (not just read), and it requires hard work (like a workman). It also requires “rightly dividing” God’s word as well so we can see to whom each part of scripture is speaking to and what dispensation (time period) it is referencing. Honestly, this is no EASY task… but He does require it of each of us.

We can go to church every time the doors are open, but if we are not in God’s word, studying it out for ourselves (like a Berean – Acts 17), then we will be carried away by EVERY WIND OF FALSE DOCTRINE (Eph. 4:14).

PLEASE take some time TODAY to study God’s word…. prayerfully asking for His guidance, seeking HIS will (not our own fleshy will). Make the Lord a priority in your life by prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers.

We have seen so many of these false teachings trying to be brought in by those who come in to Christian groups NOT to fellowship, NOT to learn, but only to spread the devil’s lies and dangerous cult nonsense! The Hebrew Roots movement is just one of many cults which we want to warn you about.

Here is why the Hebrew Roots Movement is so wrong and so dangerous:

ERROR #1. Hebrew Roots movement denies the name of Jesus!

They claim Jesus is not Jesus’ name. The Hebrew Roots movement calls Jesus by the Hebrew name Yeshua. Yet SEVERAL Hebrew names also could be translated the same. The name “Yeshua” is only a translation of the name given which means “Jehovah saves.” Joshua ALSO has the same meaning, as do a number of Hebrew names such as Yehoshua and many others.

They have no authority to call Jesus by another name since there are other names which mean the same thing. They also have no authority to claim only one name for Christ which was NOT given in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in GREEK. The Greek transliteration of the word for Jesus is “Iesou” (if they really wanted to get technical about the name). BUT the Hebrew Roots movement has falsely renamed Jesus! They claim his name to be Yeshua, and this is how they arrived at it:

Word Origin from: Yhvh and yasha (God delivers, one translation added to the other word meaning). They’ve taken both names and combined them, so it not only means “Jehovah saves,”, but INSTEAD (to them) it means Moses’ successor. Did you see that? (To them) Christ is ONLY “Moses’ successor.” VERY dangerous ground here!

According to their erroneous theory, only those of the Hebrew roots movement who call upon the name of “Yeshua” will be saved (along with their other erroneous beliefs such as keeping commandments, etc). We will discuss that later.

So when you ask them if ANYONE was saved prior to the Hebrew Roots movement, they will either not answer, or say that everyone during the last 2,000 years who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior is doomed! This is just the FIRST of their numerous, heretical, and even blasphemous errors.

PLEASE keep this in mind when someone tries to tell you that you have to call Jesus by the name of Yeshua. Jesus IS the English translation of the Greek word “Iesou.”

What does the Bible say?

Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Acts 15:11 “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

There is plenty more scripture to show how believing on Jesus alone for salvation is the faith that saves us, and has saved countless throughout the last 2,000 years. Calling on the name of JESUS. Hebrew roots would say that anyone who called on the name of Jesus was NOT saved! See how very dangerous this cult is?

The Hebrew roots movement mistakenly claims that the New Testament was written in Hebrew. We know this to be false. History proves that the OLD Testament was written in Hebrew, but that the NEW Testament was written in Greek. However, the Hebrew Roots movement has an agenda here. They falsely claim that the New Testament was written in Hebrew because they then attempt to sneak in false writings of latter years (after Christ) which are occultic and even mystical. (The Bible warns of these things very severely.) Yet, we know from factual evidence that Greek was the New Testament language and also was the International language spoken and written at the time of Christ.

We can also see why they want to make this false assertion… to cast doubt on the name of Jesus! Once you see their motives, you realize how insane their theory is. If their erroneous belief were true, then no one has been saved for the last 2,000 years (supposedly) until the Hebrew Roots movement came out.
Now THAT is one of the most outrageous and false claims of the Hebrew Roots movement. There are MANY more errors with that cult.

ERROR #2: THROWING OUT SCRIPTURE

Next, they focus on only a few verses (taken out of context) in the New Testament, and then they THROW OUT 99% of the rest of the New Testament. They even falsely claim that Paul’s epistles are not true (omitting HUGE portions of vital scripture).

The reason they attempt this horrific tossing out of scripture is so that they can deny MANY parts of scripture that do not fit with their false theory and their false gospel!

Paul wrote 13 epistles of the New Testament (Romans thru Philemon). That is a HUGE amount of scripture the Hebrew Roots movement attempts to throw out or twist! All so they can fit their very false teachings.

This is much like (but even worse than) the cults of Mormonism and Jehovah’s witnesses.
Both of those cultish groups ADD to scripture (as does the Hebrew Roots movement). All 3 of those cults have fabricated their “own Bible.” But even worse, the Hebrew Roots movement TAKES AWAY from scripture. They have not heeded God’s words of warning. God gives mankind a VERY SEVERE WARNING not to tamper with His word (Rev. 22:18-19).

ERROR #3: TRYING TO PLACE GRACE/CHURCH-AGE BELIEVERS BACK UNDER THE LAW

The Hebrew Roots movement disregards the truth of Christ’s FINISHED WORK on the cross/resurrection.
By far the MOST dangerous and false teaching of the Hebrew Roots movement is that they believe (erroneously) that they have tofollow the commandments. Let’s take a look at what God’s word has to say about this.

Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

The biggest error of the Hebrew Roots movement is trying to place church/grace-age believers back under the law.

In the Old Testament, God gave commandments which Israel was to obey. He knew it was impossible for mankind to completely follow the commandments because ALL have sinned (Rom. 3:23). We see in God’s word that Jesus is the END of the LAW (commandments) (Rom.10:4). If we try to justify ourselves by works and law, we make Christ’s finished work on the cross/resurrection to no avail!

This issue would take quite a lot of discussion to fully cover, but in brief the Hebrew Roots movement believes the following:

They attempt to place us back under the dietary restrictions of the OT law.
They attempt to place us under the MOSAIC law (law of Moses).
They attempt to place us under the mandate to observe feasts and traditions.
They attempt to place us under the customs and traditions of MANKIND as well.
They attempt to place us under ALL the LAW, when Christ is the END of the law!

What does God’s word say about this?

Acts chapter 10 gives the account of Peter. Having been raised and steeped in the Mosaic law, he had always eaten only those things the Jewish people considered to be “clean” (as was the Old Testament law). God gave Peter a dream, and showed him 3 times that HE had cleansed what was formerly thought of as “unclean.” Since the cross, no longer are we required to eat of the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament law. God answered Peter and said “…What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (impure)” (Acts 10:15).

Paul also had much to say about this as well. He was irate with Peter for his mistake of trying to force Gentiles to keep the Jewish laws. Here is how Paul “called Peter out” about his grievous error:

Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”

Paul was righteously upset that Peter was trying to Judaize the Gentiles rather than teach the truth of the gospel.

Here is more of Paul’s answer to Peter in how we are now justified by FAITH and NOT WORKS.

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

In the Old Testament, Israel was required to sacrifice innocent/blemish-free animals in the OT to cover their sins because they could not keep the commandments (no one can; we ALL have sinned, Rom 3:23). Christ came and HIS perfect finished work on the cross/resurrection did MUCH MORE than merely COVER our sins… it totally WASHED AWAY OUR SINS. Hebrew Roots movement is a total mockery of what Christ did on the cross!

The book of Hebrews is a thorough study in the differences between law and grace. It’s another discussion which would take pages and pages of information to fully discuss. So in brief, we need to understand that Jesus paid the “ONCE FOR ALL” sacrifice of His perfect, sinless self, shedding His own innocent blood.

Heb. 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

No longer are we required to sacrifice animals for covering of sin… because Jesus was the PERFECT sacrifice, at least a million times superior to animal blood.

Heb. 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

We see there that animal sacrifice only covered the sins of the people, and it did not TAKE AWAY the sins (as did Christ’s finished work on the cross).

Hebrew Roots also attempts to say we must keep the feasts. They go so far as to say that we should keep the Passover. What does God’s word have to say about that?

Christ IS our Passover! 1 Corinthians 5:7 “… For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

No longer do we need the blood of animals to merely COVER sins. Jesus IS our passover sacrifice. A ONCE and FOR ALL perfect passover sacrifice! No further sacrifice needed.

The Hebrew Roots Movement implies that Jesus’ perfect work on the cross/resurrection was un-needed. THAT IS blasphemous!

The Hebrew roots cult tries to drag people back under the law – not just in dietary restrictions, but in keeping of the feasts, keeping the commandments, and so many other ERRORS!

The important thing to note: We are NOT under LAW but under grace. We no longer are required to keep any of the dietary laws.

One of the reasons the Hebrew Roots movement wants to THROW OUT all of Pauls’ epistles is because they prove beyond a doubt that Christ is the END of the law! (Rom. 10:4).

There is MUCH more scripture dealing with this, but if we stayed on just this one issue, we would never get to the rest of the Hebrew Roots errors.

We need to recognize that since the cross we are NOT required to keep ANY of the feasts, customs, or the Mosaic or Levitical law. Jesus paid it ALL for us!

ERROR #4: With the Hebrew Roots movement, GENTILES are LEFT OUT OF SALVATION. The Hebrew Roots movement erroneously teaches that no Gentiles can be saved! What does God’s word say about this?

Acts 28:28 “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

Romans 10:12-13 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Hebrew Roots movement would say that only those of Israel can be saved (and they somehow falsely believe they have replaced Israel). The Bible disproves this falsehood all throughout the New Testament.

Galatians 3:14 “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Now we can see yet another reason they attempt to THROW OUT Paul’s epistles. They prefer to believe that THEY have replaced Israel, that only Jews can be saved (and they erroneously want you to believe that THEY are the Jews, and yet deny Jewish people are actually Jews… PREPOSTEROUS).

ERROR #5: USING BOOKS OUTSIDE OF THE BIBLE

The Hebrew Roots movement erroneously uses other writings and tries to place those writings on par with, or even above the Bible!

The Bible is complete and inerrant. God has preserved His word from generation to generation. Each of the 66 books of the Bible makes the sum of God’s word which He has given us. We are NOT to go looking for “extra-biblical” writings of mankind. God tells us how important His word is to Him.

Psalm 138:2 “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” He says He places His word ABOVE His very name! That should show us how important God’s word is to Him!

Next, only the writings in the Bible contain God’s word… not mankind’s opinion, but only what God has given man as they were moved of the Holy Ghost to write. 2 Pet. 1:21 tells us God’s word “came not by the will of man, but by holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

The Holy Spirit no longer moves on prophets because there are no modern-day prophets (even though many erroneously claim to be).

The last book of the Bible (Revelation, written by John on the isle of Patmos) was the last revealing of scripture given by God. Scripture is complete now. Scripture is NOT to be taken away from NOR added to!

God gives mankind a VERY SEVERE WARNING not to tamper with His word (Rev. 22:18-19). Yet, the Hebrew Roots movement does BOTH. They ADD to scripture by attempting to put other Jewish books (written by mankind, NOT under God’s guidance), and they TAKE AWAY from scripture by omitting HUGE AMOUNTS of scripture as well. They claim that Paul’s writings are a mistake! (HERESY).

As we can easily see, they do NOT revere God, nor do they revere God’s word. They’ve not heeded God’s severe warnings, and thus have no fear of God Himself! Even worse… they’ve “made up” their own false “bible.” Much like the cults of Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witness cults, the Hebrew Roots movement attempts to promote unbiblical writings of mankind.

It’s so sad that this has happened; and again, the BEST WAY to NOT be deceived by these types of cults is to KNOW the Bible; KNOW the Lord who is revealed IN the Bible. And if you know God and know God’s word well, you will be able to QUICKLY SEE how dangerous and WRONG the Hebrew Roots movement is.

ERROR #6: Hebrew Roots movement has made themselves a FALSE “god” and has replaced Jesus as merely the successor of Moses!

The Hebrew Roots movement has made themselves a different “god” and a different “jesus” than is revealed in the Bible. This is blasphemy! Mankind cannot attempt to make God someone or something they feel more “comfortable” with.

God’s character is revealed to us in His word. ALL of His word (not just the parts which please the flesh).

Jesus stated “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He also stated He is the “I AM.” The Old Testament reveals the importance of this statement.

Moses asked God to tell him whom he should tell the children of Israel that He is (Exodus 3:13). God replied: “And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14).

The Jewish people (of those who were blinded) came to Jesus inquiring who He was. They could not see that He was of God, because they were carnally minded and of the devil (John 8:44). Those (of the blinded Jews) prided themselves on being of the lineage of Abraham… they were counting on that rather than on obeying God to save them.

Jesus answered them saying: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This infuriated them because they knew Jesus was claiming to also be God. (And He is!)

We discussed above in other parts of the article how that the Hebrew Roots movement has attempted to change Jesus’ name to only one name of Yeshua (and why this was wrong). And now we see WHY they want to do that.

Just like EVERY CULT there ever was… a cult will try to claim (falsely) “only we have the secrets to salvation.” Yet we know this is NOT TRUE. The Bible presents the gospel so clearly and specifically that even a child can comprehend.

John 14:16 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

As we can clearly see, Jesus is not just the successor of Moses (as the Hebrew Roots would have you believe). Jesus is the ONE and only way of salvation. He is our only mediator between God and mankind (1 Tim 2:5). Jesus is the only advocate and propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:1-2). No amount of monkeying around by the Hebrew Roots movement can change that fact. Jesus is the ONE and ONLY Savior.

Of all the grievous errors of the Hebrew Roots movement, this one is the most blasphemous and dangerous teaching. It is SO DANGEROUS AND WRONG that God’s word calls these types of cults (such as the Hebrew roots movement) antichrist!

1 John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

ERROR #7: Hebrew Roots movement falsely claims that only “Rabbis and Priests” can understand scripture.

This is another lie they use to try to convince you that you can’t study God’s word yourself. What does God’s word have to say about this?

Matthew 23:8 “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”

First, we see that Jesus said mankind should no longer use the title “Rabbi,” because we are all brothers (and sisters) in Christ. The Hebrew Roots movement would try to make you believe Jesus’ words are false. That is blatant heresy! We also know that God’s word tells US to study ourselves, not to just sit under a teacher (and especially not a FALSE teacher such as the Hebrew Roots movement).

2 Tim. 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The Hebrew Roots movement would also do away with the purpose of the Holy Spirit. We know that God gave us (believers) the Holy Spirit to SEAL us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). This is our positive assurance that we are eternally secure in Christ. There is NOTHING we can do to lose our salvation!

We also know that He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us discern scripture when we fully allow God to lead and guide WITHIN HIS WORD (not within some false cult’s teaching). When we read and study the Bible for ourselves, God leads and guides a believer with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can see TRUTH in God’s perfect preserved word, the Bible (John 4:24; John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13; Eph. 1:13; 1 John 5:6, et al).

Why does the Hebrew Roots movement NOT see the error of their ways? The Holy Spirit only indwells those who have believed upon Jesus ALONE for salvation. The Hebrew Roots are trying to “work their way” to salvation. They are putting THEMSELVES on par with God!

1 John 4:6 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

Here we see why WE (truly born-again believers) can discern the errors of the Hebrew Roots movement (as well as all other cults). We first know God’s word well enough to quickly see the errors of the false cults. And next, the indwelling Holy Spirit (which is given to all believers the moment they believe) will prove the TRUTH of God’s word. Those who have NOT believed on Christ alone for salvation (and are trying to work their way to heaven like the Hebrew roots cult) do not have the Holy Spirit guiding and leading them into truth. This is so important to understand; they can’t recognize truth because the truth is not in them!

ERROR #8: Hebrew Roots movement propagates the lie that claims the Jews are not really the Jews!
The Hebrew Roots movement erroneously teaches that the Jewish people are not Israel, but they believe THEY have replaced Israel.

The devil is pleased with this type of antisemitism. This type of nonsense is what spurred on the holocaust and other horrific crimes committed against the Jewish people throughout the centuries. Replacement theology (often called “covenant theology” or “reformed theology”) was a horrific precursor to the holocaust!

This issue of the Hebrew Roots movement is horrific. MUCH scripture would again have to be omitted and twisted to arrive at this erroneous theory! Isaiah chapter 10 tells of how the Lord would regather Israel to her land. Ezekiel 37 also tells of this momentous feat.

Many Jews made Aliyah to Israel (moved back or immigrated to the land of Israel), and within those Jewish people are the remnant God foretold of. 1948 saw prophecy fulfilled when the nation of Israel declared themselves a sovereign state.

Isaiah 66:8 “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

Again, it would take quite a bit of length here to discuss that one issue fully. But be aware that the Hebrew Roots movement does not understand that prophecy has been fulfilled in the regathering of Jews back to Israel in 1948 (and since then).

Also be aware that they (Hebrew Roots movement) will attempt to twist historical facts to claim that OTHER ethnic people are supposedly the “only Jews.” Not only is that a grievous error, but again it’s a total lack of understanding of God’s literal word!

SUMMARY:

There aren’t enough hours in the day, nor space on the internet to fully discuss ALL of the Hebrew Roots movements lies, heresy, false teachings, and blasphemy!

This was a LONG article… but these are just the brief basics of the errors of the Hebrew Roots cult.

While it IS interesting to learn of the Jewish customs and traditions (and there is nothing wrong with that), the DANGER comes in when we allow those false teaching of the Hebrew Roots cult to sneak into our churches, or into our homes (by watching their false teachings on TV or the internet).

The Hebrew Roots movement is one of the WORST cults there is, and sadly, one of the quickest growing cults as well.

As always (and as with ANY cult), your BEST DEFENSE against these heretical and blasphemous lies is to know God’s word YOURSELF. God holds us each (individually) accountable to Him to study his word like a workman (2 Tim 2:15).

Maranatha!