SHEARIT YISRAEL NAZARENE CONGREGATION'S RESPONSE TO RECENT ATTACKS ON SCRIPTURE AND THE FAITH
Luke 1:1 Since many have indeed taken in hand to set in order an account of the matters completely confirmed among us
Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation's leadership wanted to begin this “Clarion Call” with this quote from Luke 1 because we, like Luke, feel it is our responsibility as Nazarene Yisraelite/Messianic Jewish believers to be ever watchful for those who would come in among the flock to sow discord, and confusion among the sheep, and destroy the Torah of Truth that is expressed by Elohim throughout the Canon of Scripture, from Bereshit to Revelation. How is it that we have allowed such wolves disguised as shepherds among the sheep.
It is because there is a lack of accountability in the Nazarene/Messianic movement with regards to Torah, halacha, and other issues. This lack of accountability is found between local congregations, national organizations, and independent congregations and ministries. And the result of this is confusion among the flocks, the rise of false prophets and teachers, and the denying of basic tenets of faith that should be universally foundational among all Nazarene/Messianic believers.
Who We Are:
To begin, we need to define who is Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation, and by what or who's authority can we even speak to the issues at hand. Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation is a small, Torah observant, Torah obedient congregation of believers in San Antonio, TX. We have no authority over anyone but our local members, unless His Word, His Torah, His Truth is attacked by someone. This authority, given to His Torah obedient people, is expressed over and over in the Torah when we are called by Elohim to “guard My commands”:
Exo 19:5 ‘And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine –
Exo 19:6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra'el.”
1Jo 2:3 And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.
1Jo 2:4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jo 2:5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Unless a person has a direct conversation with Elohim as Moshe and Messiah, who spoke to and received an audible Word from Him (and witnessed and heard by others around them), then that person has NO right to proclaim “Thus saith Adonai”!
If it is not already written in in His Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, or Brit Chadesha, then it is NOT from Elohim. He is NOT giving “new” revelations today, and there are no “private revelations or interpretations”. His Torah, His Tanach from Bereshit to Revelation, contains ALL His revelation we need to be a set-apart people, a royal priesthood. Was not the “Book of Mormon” and the “Koran” just “private and new revelations” not found in Torah? Did not Jim Jones, David Koresh, the Heavens Gate Cult, etc receive “private revelations” that were not found or confirmed by Torah?
If it cannot be found and confirmed in Torah, then it is NOT Scripture. And if the “voice” someone hears points them away from Torah, or tries to destroy His Word, the Scriptures as we have them today, canonized in 66 books from Bereshit to Revelation, then it is NOT Elohim's voice.
So who's authority do we come under? At the present time, we have no organizational authority over us except our own congregation and leaders, but not for lack of trying to find such a place to have accountability. We have three in position of leadership who confer on decisions, then these decisions are brought to the covenant membership of the congregation. We hold ourselves accountable to Elohim and Torah, as well as seeking the counsel from others in the Nazarene/Messianic community.
On matters that cannot be resolved locally, or that there are Torah questions and concerns, we contact individuals from Wildbranch Ministries, First Fruits of Zion, MBI Canada, Messianic Israel Alliance, and other congregational leaders, as well as written teaching resources from scholars such as Mark Ensign and Tim Hegg, Ancient Hebrew Resources, Chabad, Aish, and others. But again, the ultimate authority remains with Elohim and His Torah. We understand that if we do not understand something in Scripture, especially in the Brit Chadesha, it is our understanding that is faulty, not the Scriptures. Scripture interprets Scripture; Scripture never contradicts Scripture. Only our faulty understand sees contradictions in His Word.
Finally, we try not rely on translations of the Hebrew and Greek, but seek to understand Scripture from the root understandings of the original languages in which the Scriptures were written. We do not consider ourselves scholars of these languages, and so we strive to become proficient in these languages, and make use of extensive research tools and resources to accomplish this goal.
We believe the ultimate authority comes from, and is held by, Elohim; and we believe that Elohim has provided, in His Torah, all the answers to our questions and problems. We also believe that the “deeper things” in Torah must always line up with the literal meaning as presented in Torah. If they fail to line up, then the literal meaning is correct, and the “deeper meaning” has been derived incorrectly.
The Problem Today:
We have attempted to elucidate what the lines of authority and accountability are according to Scripture because of the lack of said accountability that has resulted in attacks on the foundational truths of Scripture, as well as the recent attacks on the Book of Hebrews.
As such, we call Heaven and Earth as witnesses against the Nazarene/Messianic community at large for the lack of unity in the body, and the lack of a unified response against attacks on the very fabric of Scripture and belief, which has resulted in the confusion and hurt in the flock of Elohim, over which we have been given charge. We continue to strain at gnats, and we use flimsy excuses to split and splinter into “denominations”, “groups”, “associations”, etc that will not dialog with one another, or at the least have cordial relationships for the sake of the Kingdom of Elohim and His sheep.
Although one individual is in the spotlight at the present time (and he will be addressed later), we all need to accept and shoulder the blame for this “mess” being allowed to happen, and to come so far; and for allowing the the body to be so dysfunctional, for we have ALL disobeyed Scripture and what it teaches:
Tit 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
Tit 3:2 not to slander anyone, not to be quarrelsome, to be gentle, showing all meekness to all men.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, led astray, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in evil and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of Elohim our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His compassion, through the washing of rebirth, and renewal by the Set-apart Spirit,
Tit 3:6 which He poured out on us richly through Yeshua Messiah our Saviour,
Tit 3:7 that having been declared right by His favor we should become heirs according to the expectation of everlasting life.
Tit 3:8 Trustworthy is the word, and in this regard I wish you to strongly affirm, that those who have believed in Elohim should keep their minds on maintaining good works. This is good and profitable to men.
Tit 3:9 But keep away from foolish questions, and genealogies, and strife and quarrels about the Torah, for they are unprofitable and useless.
Tit 3:10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second warning,
Tit 3:11 knowing that such a one has been perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.
Clearly we have been remiss in this charge from Scripture. No organization in the Nazarene/Messianic community is willing to subject themselves to scrutiny from another organization or group. We are accountable to no one but our own little kingdom, instead of being accountable to His Torah, and His kingdom at large. Clearly we believe that we, or our “own little organization”, is above scrutiny according to His Scripture and others called by Elohim.
Are we so “Christian” that we follow the doctrines of men rather that His Torah. Elohim forbid! Yet we have done this by “overlooking” the false prophets and wolves in our midst. We have allowed them to ravage the flocks. We have allowed them to “blast holes” in the Nazarene/Messianic structure, allowing the anti-missionaries access to those new to the faith and Hebraic roots, and allowed the enemy to come in and slaughter the lambs in OUR care. We are running out of time as the end draws nearer and nearer, and we are losing souls by the thousands as we stand by and do nothing, as if we are just “hirelings”, and unwilling to face the wolves for fear we may be injured, or criticized. If we do not stop this now, then the following will be accounted to us:
Mat 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Mat 24:25 “See, I have forewarned you.
We have been forewarned, and we must be ever on guard to protect and defend both the lambs, and His Torah.
Response About Monte Judah:
We have been appalled at the attack on the canon of Scripture by this leader in the Nazarene/Messianic community. The discussion on ALL the Books of Scripture, and which ones to include in the canon, was decided long ago. Like it or not, this is the Scriptures that we have, and Elohim has determined it is just right for us to live Torah Obedient lives in Messiah. We can neither add to, nor take away from what has been delivered to us – BY ELOHIM!
Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation stands with Elohim and His Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, and Brit Chadesha in the precise form He has delivered it to us in this present day and age. We will stand and defend the canon of Scripture as we have it today, as should all Nazarene/Messianic leaders and believers
Mr. Monte Judah has, in his attack on the Book of Hebrews, launched an attack on all of the Brit Chadesha, the ENTIRE Tanach, and the faith of all believers. For if the criteria used by Mr. Judah to “blow holes in the walls” of the Book of Hebrews were used on all the other books, we would be left with nothing. His “sticks of dynamite” as he calls them, are nothing more than “tools of deception” and “personal revelations” used to do nothing more than destroy the faith of many, and puff Mr. Judah up in his own eyes and the eyes of his followers. The voice Mr. Judah claims to have heard telling him to destroy the canon of Scripture was not that of the Father, at least not our Father in heaven and the Father of Messiah and all believers. It can only be the voice of the father of lies, who wants nothing more than to steal, kill, and destroy
1Jo 4:1 Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Using the criteria of Torah and Titus 3:9-11, and in light of Mr. Judah's continued attempts at prophecy which have proved time and again to be false, Mr. Judah is to be rejected by the Nazarene/Messianic community, as well as all believers in Messiah, as a divisive man who has been perverted and is in sin, for he truly is self-condemned. Mr. Judah should be removed from all positions of authority, both in the Nazarene/Messianic community at large, as well as his local congregation, his writing and ministry should be disregarded, and he should be placed “outside the camp” by the Nazarene/Messianic community until such time as he does teshuva, repents of his sin, and recants all previous statements regarding the Book of Hebrews, as well as all his prior false prophecies he has proclaimed the past 10 or more years.
After Mr. Judah has repented, he should subject himself to a restoration process, be placed under the authority of several Nazarene/Messianic teachers and leaders for a time of instruction and training so that he may be restored to his place in the body, but never again should he be listened to with regard to prophecy. This may seem harsh and severe to his many followers, and to Mr. Judah himself, but this is in direct accord with Torah and Brit Chadesha.
A Clarion Call to the Nazarene/Messianic Community at Large:
We challenge everyone in the Nazarene/Messianic community to examine themselves in light of all that has been happening over the past few years. We argue over Torah observance. We argue over one-house, two-house, whole-house. We argue over the color of tzitziot and who should wear them. We argue over kashrut. We argue, fuss, spit, scratch, and fight over the smallest issues, and forget we are in agreement on the bigger, more important issues. We forget that we have a common enemy who has sent wolves into the flock to steal, kill, and destroy.
We must ALL stop the lashon hara, do teshuva, ask Elohim to forgive us, and forgive one another and ourselves for allowing this wonderful move of Elohim to become so “messy”. By all we mean locally in San Antonio between all the congregations, nationally with the UMJC, MJAA, MBI, IAMCS, MIA UONYC, Tree of Life Messianic Ministries, B'nai Yahshua Synagogues, AMC, and all the rest of the alphabet of groups and associations.
We are in agreement on the issue of Messiah and his Deity, who came and walked on this earth with us, died on a tree/stake/cross, was resurrected on the 3rd day, and now sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
We agree that He is coming back for us, His bride Israel, and He will be looking for a spotless bride.
We agree that it is through Messiah, and His shed blood that we have been reconciled back to the Father. It is not keeping Torah that saves, but that keeping Torah, His instructions, that helps us to keep His covenant.
On these common grounds, we MUST come together and begin earnest, genuine dialog with one another for the sake of the flock, His flock. We will ALL be held accountable for the ones who we wounded or killed with out petty differences and jealousies.
We need to agree to disagree on the non-salvational issues.
We need to stop arguing and be the salt and light He calls us to be.
We must stand on Torah, and with Messiah!
We can have unity without uniformity.
We will always have differences until we have come into the olam haba, for we are still human. But we ARE commanded to love one another.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved ones, let us love one another, because love is of Elohim, and everyone who loves has been born of Elohim, and knows Elohim.
1Jo 4:8 The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love.
1Jo 4:9 By this the love of Elohim was manifested in us, that Elohim has sent His only brought-forth Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him.
1Jo 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved Elohim, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning offering for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Let us begin TODAY, to walk in His love, in unity with one another, accountable to one another, striving together for the faith to which we have been called, and to vigorously, quickly, and decisively defend Torah and all the Scriptures according to His Word. Let us expose those who teach against the tenets of faith that bring us salvation through Messiah and proclaim false prophecies, and let us faithfully defend His Torah and His canon of Scripture. And let us defend the flock with our very lives, and work to build up His kingdom, not our own little kingdoms.
Can His body come together in these last days? Can we set aside our differences and hurts so His Torah of truth, and the Good News of Messiah may go forth to all the world? Only we as leaders can answer that question, and Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation answers this call by extending our hand to all the local and national congregations and organizations. If we have offended any in the past by word or deed, then please forgive us.
We desire from this moment to walk in unity with you.
We desire to join with you to combat the enemy, expose and drive out the wolves among the flock of Elohim, contend for the faith, and to run this race beside you, assisting each other as He enables and strengthens.
Will you join with us? If so, then let the dialog and fellowship begin.
Signed this 2nd Day of December, 2005
Shearit Yisrael Nazarene Congregation
507 Pleasnaton Road
San Antonio, Texas 78214
