Matthew wrote:I like what you're saying Walt. It's definitely an area that requires clarification.
I've been lately watching a lot of material with Nehemiah Gordon, a well known Karaite Jew who has recently been doing a lot of ministry (conferences, videos, co-authoring books) with guys such as Michael Rood (Messianic), Keith Johnson (Methodist/Messianic) and Arthur Bailey (Messianic/Hebrew Roots). Now, with Nehemiah he shamar(s) the Torah but yet rejects Yahshua, whereas Michael & Co also shamar the Torah but yet still refer to Paul and use the word "Lord," i.e. Feasts of the Lord.
Then there's many Yada Yahweh forum members, who reject anything Paul and even call much of the NT "inaccurate" and "not Scripture," yet they too shamar the Torah.
So the conundrum: who will spend eternity with Yahweh?
I don't want to get into a "to Paul or not to Paul" debate
Abba Father tells us to keep His Torah and Miqra’ey, heed the warnings He gives through His Prophets and believe in His Son.
When Yahushua walked the earth, He didn't tells us to obey what His would write or to listen to Paul. He said that our Heavenly Mother would bring things to their remembrance (so THEY could record what happened) Luke and Mark weren't part of that group, and they never claim to be writing under God's authority. Luke clearly tells us he is writing under his own accord.
Yahowah repeatedly and clearly tells us the way to have a relationship with Him and have eternal life, and the "NT" writings are NEVER mentioned.
One can't reasonably assert, after true examination, that the "NT" writings are done in the same revelation, authority, methodology (except John in Revelation - where Yahushua had the opportunity to tell us to listen to Paul & Luke & Mark) of the "OT" writings, where Yahowah makes CLEAR when He is speaking thru the writers
If one wants to try to learn through those writers, they are free to do so
But to try to compel others that they must accept them is on some dangerous ground
Yahowah made it simple
Keep His Torah and Miqra’ey
Accept His Son
And He also calls His people to "come out of her"
MessiYah reinforced what His Father said and added "make disciple" (that's relationships He modeled for us) and be His witnesses (how we live, act and interact)
It's THAT simple, and people just make it more and more complex that it confuses and misdirects people.
Remember, originally Yahowah planned to have the 1st born son to be the Priests - it was to be about FAMILY, not a pastor and his congregation & church. It was Constantine (under his moms wishes) that churches were built.
MessiYah went to the Synagogues to confront the religious leaders - He went to the towns and countryside to reach the people - should it be ANY different today? Remember He was tried and falsely convicted in the temple - it was in a persons house that He had Passover, I think that says A LOT
And for clarity, I'm not addressing you personally Matthew (you too are a seeker trying to discern truth among the sea of voices), but using your post as a launching board to reach all the people that come here and read but don't join or post