Misguided Teachings of Christianity

In July 2012, I wrote this response to an article by a “Pastor Smith”. Unfortunately, I did not record the article I was referring to – which I regret.  Nevertheless, what I wrote is still sound today.  I thank my FaceBook friend Candido Torres for reminding me of the article:

Folks, Pastor Smith's article is 100% wrong. He has misquoted and misunderstood Galatians (as most seem to do.) For those of you who think "Jesus" somehow mysteriously negated the Torah (most of you incorrectly call the "Law of Moses"), then you don't understand "Jesus" either. He did not come to do away with the Torah. He said so! (Matthew 5:17). When He was here in the flesh, what do you think He taught from? The "New Testament"? Think again! He taught ONLY Torah!

And what do you all think the "Good News" is? That "Jesus dies for our sins"? No! The Messiah said: "I must announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns too -- this is why I was sent." (Luke 4:43). So it seems we need to know what the "Good News" is! And this is easy because He also told us that! "Just as you gave him authority over all mankind, so that he might give eternal life to all those whom you have given him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the one true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah." (John 17:2-3).

So there it is! The "Good News" is that the Messiah came to give us eternal life. Now you should ask "How do I get eternal life?" Well, He told us that too! Look at John 17:3, above: "And eternal life is this: to know you, the one true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua the Messiah." So eternal life is KNOWING God, and the Messiah. Now you know, the Good News is that Jesus came to give us eternal life, and that to get eternal life we must "know God". Uh oh. How do we "know God"?

Well, we are told that too! "The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. Anyone who says, "I know him," but isn't obeying his commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him. A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did. " (1 John 2:3-6).

Still not convinced? Don't you believe the very words of the Messiah? He said: "Why are you asking me about good? There is One who is good! But if you want to obtain eternal life, observe the mitzvot." (Matthew 19:17) Even after reading this, most of you will turn back to Paul, and misquote him (again) into saying Torah was negated. Well, the Messiah also talked about you too: "Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13).

You see Jesus conducted His life by Torah, taught from, and obeyed Torah - and so should we. We are not "justifying" ourselves by Torah! No! We are simply being obedient. This is all God asks of us – obedience. (It's true, you'd know this if you read the WHOLE Bible and not just the "NT".)

And please don't try to say "But we are under grace!" We've ALWAYS been under grace. It's by grace that God doesn't zap you into oblivion for your willful disobedience to His rules for living.

Christianity has made Torah somehow evil, something to be shunned. Sad. How can our Creator's rules for living be seen as "evil", and we spend all our time trying to avoid His rules instead of embracing them?

"I am giving you good advice; don't forsake my Torah." (Proverbs 4:2).