The problem with Paul is that the issues he addresses are so complex without the historical/cultural background that when you try to bring those contexts in, people think you are twisting scripture. :sigh:

I think that we often miss the great opportunity for teaching that things like this offer. Instead of calling for the seperation of Torah people and those in the Church we should be using this as an opportunity to teach and show them the reality of the Torah, both living and written.

The Church is full of people like those in Ninvevah, who do not know their theological right hand from their left (Jonah 4:11). Should God not be concerned about them? Since this event I have had several opportunities to talk with not only the people of my congregation, but also other pastors in the area. This is a great inroad to teaching.

Some may use it for evil, but I beleive that God is powerful enough to use it for good. If we are open to doing the leg work, that is. The Rabbi mentioned above is seeing the opportunity to teach...are we?

Shalom,
Bill

I liked the comments so far, they seem balanced. I can not say that about every time we take on a subject like this. I think we need to address Paul from a different, yet contemporary perspective, that meets the needs of both our Hebrew brethren, and the ones in the Churches. For me, one of the main questions that got me considering to the whole subject of Torah (although there are Jews already in my family) was going Church after Church trying to find one I could fit in with. What I found was no matter if it is just a local independent Church/fellowshp with no denominational ties, or one part of a great world wide mainstream Protestant bunch, every one of them has rules. Laws. No Church does worship service with no order at all to it. At the very least, some one person decides how far the behaviors can go. So, they have rulers if not any written down laws. What most use as the basis for their arguments for whatever rules they set forth is the Bible. Very few have excluded Torah (as in their Old Testament) and use only a New Testament instead. And even those few can not fully explain a New Testament to their own without any knowledge of things like the 10 commandments. These people who say the Law is dead do not know what they are teaching. Because in each one of their fellowships they have laws. They say the Law is dead but then teach rules to their people. Almost all Protestant Evangelists teach grace means no laws apply anymore and then they turn right around and tell all their new born again believers they must now find a good solid local Bible believing Church to attend faithfully. Isn't that a rule? They do not really believe in no laws. Just that they want to make up their own. 90% of them teach adherance to the laws of our country, at the least. Every denomination kicks out unruly people. If a law stands, the Torah stands. If their laws are valid, why do they not even consider Torah? Mostly, for the same reason most of the Rabbi's have not considered Y'shua. Peer pressure, brain washing, and fear. I gave up trying to learn all their rules to fit in, and began to go with the Law and the Law giver. He is much more understanding of my lacks of knowing and sincerity than any human being ever has been. I think Paul would have let customs of orderliness stay in place but was never suggesting man's law replace God's. That is why ignorant men have turned his writings into. Paul was against chaos as much as any sensible person is. That's my opinion on it.

I read a similar article entitled "Who Killed Jesus?" by Dr. Bernard Starr in which he spoke very favorably about Jesus, but he also is very misinformed about Paul. From what I understood in his article, he sees Paul as the "founder of Christianity" who did away kosher and circumcision. The first thing that came to my mind was... they have to know about FFOZ!!!
The full article is found here: http://meaningfullife.com/social/racism/Who_Killed_JesusQUESTION.php

***Toby's Reponse*** Thanks for the article. I will check that out.