Should Christians engage in Hebrew rituals?

[LowPost42]

While I was in Jerusalem, I met an interesting Jewish man who, in the course of discussion, mentioned that his view of the Tanakh was that it showed us exactly how God wants to be worshipped, served, etc. His point of view on following the law was that it's how God wants to be treated, not as an impossible yoke.

Given that point of view, might he be onto something? As he is a Jew, I understand. As a Christian (released from the law), is it worth gaining an understanding of the ordinances handed to the Jews in order to further honour God?

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Have you ever heard of "Adversus judaeos" (against Judaism), by Saint John Chrysostom int the Autumn of 386 AD?
Soemtimes it is called "against the Jews" which is not proper since it's against Christians practicing Judaism and not Jewish people themselves.

https://retrofilmsin.files.wordpres...judaeos-againstthejews-chrysostom-386-387.pdf

Forgive me...

 

[SnowyMacie]

Well, for starters the central point of Christian worship, The Eucharist, is essentially the Passover meal. Beyond that, vestments have roots in Jewish priestly garments, the liturgy also has roots in how a Jewish worship service was conducted.

 

[Dave-W]

Have you ever heard of "Adversus judaeos" (against Judaism), by Saint John Chrysostom int the Autumn of 386 AD?

Unfortunately yes. Horrible piece designed to condemn the Sect of the Nazoreans. (Messianic Jews)

 

[GingerBeer]

While I was in Jerusalem, I met an interesting Jewish man who, in the course of discussion, mentioned that his view of the Tanakh was that it showed us exactly how God wants to be worshipped, served, etc. His point of view on following the law was that it's how God wants to be treated, not as an impossible yoke.

Given that point of view, might he be onto something? As he is a Jew, I understand. As a Christian (released from the law), is it worth gaining an understanding of the ordinances handed to the Jews in order to further honour God?

He - as a 21st century Jew - is not obeying the law, he makes no sacrifices, has no priests in Aaron's line, and has no temple in which to make sacrifice or have a priest make sacrifice for him. The law requires sacrifice and priests in Aaron's line - read the law and see for yourself that Passover, the day of atonement, and all the other feast days have sacrifices.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

The very first council of the Church (ACTS 15) dealt with the "Incident at Antion".

The council proclaimed Christians did not have to follow Mosaic law and could ignore the Judaizers.

Forgive me...

 

[HereIStand]

Having knowledge of Jewish rituals is fine. Integrating them into Christian worship and spiritual life, no.

 

[Tree of Life]

While I was in Jerusalem, I met an interesting Jewish man who, in the course of discussion, mentioned that his view of the Tanakh was that it showed us exactly how God wants to be worshipped, served, etc. His point of view on following the law was that it's how God wants to be treated, not as an impossible yoke.

Given that point of view, might he be onto something? As he is a Jew, I understand. As a Christian (released from the law), is it worth gaining an understanding of the ordinances handed to the Jews in order to further honour God?

Yeah it can be beneficial to participate in certain Jewish practices so long as they're understood in the proper light. For example, there's a Mennonite group in Pennsylvania that has created a replica of the tabernacle for educational purposes. It can be a beneficial thing to go see, touch, and smell that kind of thing. It'll enhance your understanding of the "elementary principles" that the New Testament talks about. Same with OT feasts like the Feast of Booths.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Should Christians engage in Hebrew rituals?

I would say no, tho non Christian Jews that do come to Christ will most likely continue in Judaism, IMHO. [Too bad this isn't a poll thread]

Luke 5:
37 "And no one is casting Young/neon <3501> Wine into Old skins, if yet no surely shall be ruined the Young/neoV <3501> wine of the skins, and it shall be being poured-out and its skin shall be perishing.
38 but Young/neon <3501> Wine into New/kainouV <2537> skins is to be cast and both are preserved together.
39 and no one drinking Old immediately is willing Young, for he is saying, 'for the the Old is kind/mellow'".

Hebrews 8:13 in the to be saying `New/kainhn <2537>,' He hath made Old the first.
The yet being aged and being obsolete nigh of disappearance

The Destruction of Jerusalem - George Peter Holford, 1805AD
The Destruction Of JERUSALEM
An Absolute and Irresistible PROOF OF THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY:

..........The Temple now presented little more than a heap of ruins and the Roman army as in triumph on the event, came and reared their ensigns against a fragment of the eastern gate, and, with sacrifices of thanksgiving, proclaimed the imperial majesty of Titus, with every possible demonstration of joy.
Thus terminated the glory and existence of this sacred and venerable Edifice,.......................

Having knowledge of Jewish rituals is fine.
Integrating them into Christian worship and spiritual life, no.

Agreed..........

 

[Tree of Life]

OT rituals for the purpose of education and enhanced knowledge of Scripture - Yes.

OT rituals for the purpose of divine worship - No.

 

[Tree of Life]

The reason why it would be a mistake to return to OT forms of worship is that the appearance of Jesus Christ has radically altered the way that we corporately worship God.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

OT rituals for the purpose of education and enhanced knowledge of Scripture - Yes.

OT rituals for the purpose of divine worship - No.

The reason why it would be a mistake to return to OT forms of worship is that the appearance of Jesus Christ has radically altered the way that we corporately worship God.

Excellent posts!

Heb 10:1
For the law having a shadow of the coming good things -- not the very image of the matters, every year, by the same sacrifices that they offer continually, is never able to make perfect those coming near,

Studies In The Scriptures - Tabernacle Shadows - Chapter 1

TABERNACLE SHADOWS OF THE BETTER SACRIFICES

CHAPTER I

THE TYPICAL TABERNACLE

The Camp--The Court--The Tabernacle--The Brazen Altar--The Laver-- The Table--The Lampstand--The Golden Altar--The Mercy Seat and Ark--The Gate--The First Veil--The Second Veil--The Significance of These and Their Antitypes.

.....Realizing God's care in making the "shadow" should not only give us confidence in its correctness, that not one jot or tittle of it shall fail until all be fulfilled (`Matt. 5:18`), but should also awaken in us so great an interest in God's plan as would lead us to examine closely and search carefully for the meaning of those shadows.
And this, with God's promised blessing, we now purpose to do, assured that among those who are truly God's consecrated ones--his children begotten of his Spirit--"he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."..............

 

[1213]

...is it worth gaining an understanding of the ordinances handed to the Jews in order to further honour God?

If you do it to honor God, I think it is ok. If you do it to gain salvation, I think that is not reasonable.

And about religious worship, I think this is the best:

Pure religion [religious worship] and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27

 

[paul1149]

It's been said that the best commentary on the New Testament is the Old Testament, and the best commentary on the Old Testament is the New Testament. There's a lot of understanding that is to be gained from the OT types, but ultimately they are but shadows of the NT reality. The current move toward understanding our OT roots adds depth to our faith, but when it becomes Judaizing we have a major problem. Paul was clear to Peter at Antioch that even Jews don't keep the Law (Gal 2).