Does the modern church teach, practice and copy the behavior of our Messiah, Yahusha (Jesus). When one looks at the appearance and customs of the church today, it can look a little off. I think back to those WWJD bracelets that were popular in the 1990’s, “What Would Jesus Do?” I think I had one. Perhaps you did as well. But why did we wear them? And more importantly, did our actions match the message?
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27
I think those bracelets contain a wonderful message. But do we adhere to that message? How did our Messiah walk? Are we living contrary to His actions and teachings? What do the Scriptures say about the behavior of our Messiah? If someone truly is a Christian, then they would emulate the behavior of Christ, right? Here are a few of Yahusha’s (Jesus) actions.
- He followed His Father’s Commandments
- He encouraged His followers to follow the Commandments
- He observed the Father’s Appointed Times (Feast Days)
- He differentiated between clean and unclean animals
- He honored the Sabbath
- He understood the weightier matters of the Torah (law)
These are well-known among even the most casual Bible readers. The Messiah walked in the Father’s commandments and instructions, known in the Hebrew as “Torah,” and often translated in English as “Law.” As the sinless Lamb of God, it was necessary to do that to fulfill His role as High Priest.
Unfortunately, the institutional church has distanced itself from the behavior of the Messiah. This is what many modern churches teach:
- It is legalism to follow God’s Commandments
- Christmas and Easter replace the eternally-commanded Holy Days
- God’s instructions regarding food are no longer necessary
- The true Sabbath has changed or is no longer part of the covenant
- The Torah (law) is labeled as a burden, slavery, or bondage
- Jesus kept the law, so we don’t do that anymore
When you think about it, most of modern Christianity walks contrary to the way the Messiah walked.
I used to get frustrated with pastors who taught this way. But it’s not their fault. They have learned doctrines passed down through the years. As Jeremiah prophesied, the people will soon wake up and lament over their inherited theology.
“O Yahuah, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the nations shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited only FALSEHOOD, FUTILITY, and there is no value in them.’” – Jeremiah 16:19
This passage refers to the end times. And we are the recipients of such lies.
Over time, “church councils” and “church fathers” began to distance themselves from the Hebrew faith and Romanized a religion. They took Roman holidays (Saturnalia, Ishtar), added Christian veneers, and called them Christmas and Easter. Pagan gods were rebranded as saints. Creeds were emphasized over Scripture. Names were modified or omitted. Laws and Times were changed. Daniel prophesied that the adversary would do this.
“And it speaks words against the Most High, and it wears out the set-apart ones of the Most High, and it intends to change appointed times and law…” – Daniel 7:25
And now our faith looks nothing like how the Messiah walked.
The Scriptures say that Yahusha (Jesus) did not come to abolish His Father’s commandments. He came to show us how to walk in them in truth and spirit.
“If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love.” – John 15:10
Yahusha did not rebuke the Pharisees and religious leaders for following the law (See this teaching – Why did Yahusha rebuke the Pharisees). Rather He chastised them for adding man-made traditions to God’s instructions. They were adding heavy burdens to the Torah that were not part of the covenant. They required ceremonial circumcision to be part of the faith (Acts 15), forced man-made rituals of handwashing (Mark 7), and attempted to clean the outside of the cup, instead of the inside (Matthew 23), among many other things.
Yahusha came to walk perfectly in God’s Torah (law). Will we? No. And neither did the ancient Israelites. But many wanted to follow His instructions. And when they didn’t, they received grace through the priesthood and sacrificial system. The same is expected of us. Follow His commandments. But when we fail, realize that the Messiah made the perfect sacrifice through HIS priesthood, which also provides grace. (See this teaching – What Changed with the New Covenant).
We are told to be perfect, first by the Father, Yahuah, and then from His Son, Yahusha.
“Be perfect before Yahuah your Elohim.” – Deuteronomy 18:13
“Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48
Just because we will make mistakes does not mean we don’t attempt to walk perfectly in the instructions of the Father (His Torah). Our faith is more than just “believing” in Messiah. If you believe in Him, you will listen and obey Him also. He taught us to walk in the commandments (John 14). And He calls us to do and teach even the least of those commandments (see Matthew 5:19).
Paul tells us this,
“Become imitators of me, as I also am of Messiah.” – 1 Corinthians 11:1.
John emphasizes it even more,
“The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, EVEN AS HE WALKED.” – 1 John 2:6
You cannot teach holiness if you distance yourself from God’s commandments. When you do, the faith falls flat. Holiness means to set yourself apart, obey the Father’s commandments, and walk more like the Messiah each day. WWJD.
FAITH IN MOTION 