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Shalom all,
Overall this book had some good points and points I didn't agree with. I enjoyed some chapters alot and others didn't do alot for me. I'll include my thoughts on the chapters. This is of course just my opinion and we all have different beliefs so it may not be the same for everyone.
Preface - The concept of Jew creating Israel as the return of captivity I don't agree with. Thought the Jews were scattered all over the world, they were never lost nor did they lose their identity so I think if the authors perspective is that the Israel of today is the biblical return of Israel I would disagree because there are other prophecies that go with that that aren't present. Many of the people in Israel are secular and the biblical return is also noted to return to Torah. The concept of Jews and Gentiles can be too broad as it doesn't include scattered Israel and the strangers joined to both houses.
The other things I didn't agree with was it said adopting Jewish practises like sabbath and biblical festivals. Though the Jews do these things, they are Torah practises not Jewish as the source is not cultural to the Jews but what the Jews partake in out of the Torah which is given to a larger group then the Jews and was given prior to the Jews ever being alive.
Next is my journey to Torah chapter:
I definetly don't agree with the concept of legalists as if it is bad. keeping comandments in order to merit grace(favor), affection, and salvation. The problem I have with this one is just because Some sects of Christianity have labeled legalism or Torah keeping as they really see it bad, many Torah observant believers then skirt the issue and say yes it is bad but as it's tied to salvation and actually encourage a totally unfounded negative view of keeping the commandments. The fact is that by letting people who don't understand Torah set the guidlines then trying to argue with thier rules you end up diminishing the Torah and blessings that come from keeping it. You would be foolish to not think that the whole bible is about the instruction of God(Torah) and the good affects of keeping it vs. the bad for not. No favor is shown to anyone who breaks Torah and doesn't repent, no affection is given when violating Torah, but punishment, no salvation happens without taking action, even belief is a action and a decision. It is submission to God's instruction (Torah) so I find it poor to play thier games. Messiah never once said anything to diminish Torah and neither shall we like well it's not to be saved, or it will merit you no grace, or it's not by obeying that we gain the approval of God. All false.
He says the lost sheep are those gone away from Torah, and this is only partially true. To go away means you were once there, so I don't think this lost sheep can be applied to the total stranger who is not part of scattered Israel the 10 lost tribes. I think in wanting to not replace the strangers of Isaiah 56 who can join to Israel people have replaced verses about Israel with the stranger and you have to realize both have a place but you can't just misuse scriptures that apply to someone else.
I don't agree also with the concept that we are a form of Judiasm, see the flaw in this thinking is it implyies the origin is with the Jews. It isn't the Law of Moses is not Jewish, the covenant is not Jewish. It was made with Avraham before the tribe of Judah was ever born. They are partaking in the Word of God and covenant made with avraham and his decendents. Yes that includes the Jews but they are part not the source and since many people don't understand this it may be misleading. The final thing in this chapter I didn't agree with is that people are returning to Torah because the holocaust, return of Israel, and the dead sea scrolls. I din't return to it because of those things nor did anyone I know. Again it focuses around Modern things and not spiritual things. Focuses on the Jews and not that fact that God is awaking his people. The Last statement in this chapter I don't agree with is that Israel's salvation is not based on keeping the commandments. Take them away, take away the things of God and his instruction and Israel is just another pagan nation. I would never say such a statement to try and make a Christian feel ok about the lies they've been told about the commandment keeping not being the point of the bible. It's just a lie.
Now let's get to the chapters I did like.Journey away from Torah chapter was good, I liked the historical layout to give perspective. Again it's not a return to our Jewish roots because they are not a root, Hebraic roots may be more accurate unless you want to proslytize to be a Jew.
Chapter what is Torah: a mixed bag of some nice things and some problematic things, saying the old covenant was aempting to keep the law at Sinai and not realizing Messiah leading to condemnation is way off I think, do we really think he was just saving them to condemn them by a law they couldn't keep and not giving them messiah, you can't put Messiah's coming in 30 ad as the only acceptable point of salvation or you have a real problem, People teach we keep Torah as a afterthought because we're saved. If that was the case we would have had Messiah show up first then save everybody them the Torah would be at the end of the book. That isn't how it's written.
Summing up Torah chapter, ok.. summing up Torah as loving your neighbor is not accurate Messiah says Love God is the greatest. Builders cubit story is great.
Torah and the new testament Great! many good teachings there. The Bible Jesus read is great!
Giving of the Torah chapter Great! many good things in thererevelation through legislation is great!
Inner Torah - well I wouldn't start it off with the story of mirror mirror on the wall, that is a pagan concept so bad analogy in my opinion not a chapter for me
Sabbath of Torah - good chapter
Festivals of Torah chapter - good chapter the relating Messiah to the holy days is great for people to see the reason for the season to borrow their phrase." Keep Christ in Passover!" just my sense of humor
the life of Torah chapter was one of the better chapters in the book, the relation of the mikvahs, womens menstral cycle to the moon was really good, baptism, reminders, and God's cookbook all good, although I think to state Messiah wore tefilin which isn't by design meant for the keeping of the commandmnet but a pharasidic expression probably unlikley. as a matter of fact many times it'smentioned that Messiah because he was a Jew basically kept everything Jewish as far as traditionis. This is just a wrong statement. To endorse all the Jewish traditions because Messiah was a jew is at worst a flase accusation and a lie about Messiah and at best is a no witness conjecture and one not biblically founded. We can not say anything more then Messiah kept Torah this is what we know, but to say hid did and therefore endorsed all Jewish practises at his time is just not true nor does he ever say that.
Jot's and tittles of torah pretty good, I liked the rule of Law
The difficult laws of Torah, Great chapter very interesting,
The Oral Torah chapter - I liked the concepts again I don't agree that Messiah kept most oral Torah, but the concept is good don't throw it out, I treat it like comentary and wouldn't suggest studying it until you have studied the torah for a few years at least so you can recognize when it's straying form Torah
Paul and Torah - A pretty good take on Paul I don't fully agree with some of the contexts given for some scriptures but some arguments I'll add to my bag. Definetley check it out.
Restoration - I liked most of this chapter, the is Jesus a false Prophet is a strong argument highly recomend it.
That is it chapter by chapter overall I liked the book as a torah observant believer, i don't know if I would suggest it for new people and I know this is the reason it was made, For me there are to many misrepresentations for me to endorse it to someone new. The concept of the book from my understanding was to be able to give it to a christian to help them understand us and make the bridge. But again for me I think it didn't represent the heart of returning to Torah, it downplayed in one sentence the importance of the commands by making it an afterthought and then points it too much to judiasm. For me the heart is Love, and this is the common ground we havewith Christians, Lets explore why and How Messiah loved God and focus on the scriptures, God, and Messiah, how he lived, and why we should keep the commandments. For me this was a good book for me to glean some things from but I wouldn't use it to share Torah with someone who didn't know anything. It had some good things, but I don't think it hit the mark fully. I really enjoy Daniel Lancaster he is great to listen to and one of the students at FFOZ I enjoy. Again this is my opinion on this book feel free to read it and post your thoughts. I would suggest adding it to your library as we need more works on this subject .Buy it read it.
You can purchase it at the link below. Right click on the link and select open in new window
https://ffoz.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=186&osCsid=56081c9b6efede0c37044ec2d403d8f9
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
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