Red Flags to Watch for in the
Messianic and Natsari Movement
Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr
Among
several external sources trying to exterminate and extinguish the rebirth of
the Hebraic expression of the First Century Faith are:
· The buy-out and monopolization of the
Church of God denomination within Messianic styled ministries. Many Messianic
ministries are funded or underwritten and thus owned by the Church of God.
· The infiltration of Orthodox moles
within the Messianic and Natsari movements promoting certain doctrines and
concepts. Many such groups and their websites can be traced back to a single
web IP address.
However, there
is none more dangerous than the cultish fringes trying to destroy us from
within.
The
following are some red flags to watch for within Messianic and Natsari circles
that if you see, RUN like
Forest Gump!
Extremism is
the first thing to watch for and the following are examples of such within our
movements.
1. Extreme usages of Hebrew words and
the refusal to use their English equivalents.
2. Promotion of their own version of
Scripture, usually by the leader of the fringe or splinter movement that has
not been subject to a board of translators and linguistic specialists.
3. When the leader IS the Beyt Din
(Ruling Body) OR he does not follow the decisions put forth by the ruling
majority of his own Bet Din (Ruling Body).
4. Focus on pet doctrines such as:
Sacred Name, Calendar, Polygamy, etc.
5. Focusing more on Jewish Tradition,
Custom, Halacha, Rabbinic literature such as the Talmud or Mystic Literature
such as the Kabblah and Zohar more than the Torah itself.
6. Claiming they have secret knowledge
and or doctrine no other movement has.
7. Claiming they are the only legitimate
expression of the Messianic and or Natsari movement.
8. Frequent recantation of prophecies
and or doctrines and the adoption of new or amended ones.
9. Focusing on Race, Ethnicity,
Circumcision, Genealogy and Tribal Affiliation within Israel. This COULD manifest itself in the guise
of racism against Gentiles through Black Hebrewism, British Israelitism, Two
House Movement, etc.
10. Making one feel guilty or less than
when one fails to keep certain Jewish traditions despite one being Torah
Obedient.
11. Unbalanced presentation of the
Written and Living Torah (Yeshua).
12. Trying to become indistinguishable
from their non-believing Orthodox counterparts.
13. Denial of the Messiahship and or
Deity of Yeshua.
14. Pagaphobia; making everything not
Hebraic and or Jewish pagan. Falsely and ignorantly twisting linguistics and
the etymology of words to say Jesus or the word God are pagan names and titles.
15. Discouraging and or denying one
relationships with family or friends not affiliated with them or the Messianic
/ Natsari movement.
16. Using guilt and other forms of
manipulation, to obtain money from followers
17. Personally attacking ministries and
ministers and not false teachings or doctrines they claim such ministries and
ministers are promoting.
18. If they tear down more than edify.
19. Pressuring followers to wear certain
clothes that falls outside the realm of Torah, like a certain robe, coat or
hat.
20. Forcing followers to forfeit worldly
goods and personal property.
21. Communal compound living that is not
a legal Kibbutz and that denies or cuts of communication to the outside world.
22. Any form of hate expressed in word or
deed against any religious, ethnic, government or lifestyle group. We are to
love the person but hate the sin.
23. Focus on Eschatology (End of Days),
and Conspiracy Theories more than Torah and Messiah.
24. Claiming that they or their ministry
are a manifestation or incarnation of a Supernatural, Divine or Biblical
personage. For example that they are the two witnesses or their ministry is the
Melchezedikian Priestly order, etc.
25. Disorderly worship which bears the
marks of sensuality or animalistic shamanism of ancient and or pagan cults.
26. Refusal to answer questions on
doctrine and Scripture.
27. Insistence on accepting and adherence
of their interpretation of Scripture without question.
This by no
means is an exhaustive or complete list; it nonetheless touches on the main
issues plaguing the Messianic and Natsari Movement today.
If you could
say yes to anything on the list above in regards to a ministry and or minister
you adhere to or follow. Then congratulations, you are likely involved in some
form with a cult.
One of
Webster’s definitions of a cult is as follows:
“A System of
intense religious veneration of a particular person, idea, or object,
especially considered spurious or irrational by traditional religious bodies.”
The list
above simply gives greater clarity and specificity to Webster’s definition.
Ultimately
the litmus test lies in the Written and Living Torah. Does what a particular
Messianic and or Natsari group line up
with what is in the Written Torah and does this group attempt to walk such
principles out in the footsteps of Messiah Yeshua? If you answer, “No”, then
what you likely have is a cult on your hands.
Remember, just
because one is standing in a garage doesn’t make of a car or a mechanic,
likewise just because one claims to be a Messianic or a Natsari believer
doesn’t mean they are one. We determine the validity of ones claim by the fruit
they bear and hopefully this list will help you become a better “fruit
inspector”.
Shalom,
Rabbi
Yehudah ben Shomeyr
