The Centrality of Yeshua : FFOZ Blogs

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The Centrality of Yeshua

By Jacob Fronczak | Comments
July 3, 2012

In my blogs for First Fruits of Zion, I will be addressing two different groups of people who often speak totally different languages: Messianic Gentiles and evangelical/mainstream Christians. This post is directed toward Messianic Gentiles.

One of the most challenging statements I ever heard addressed to a Messianic audience was this: "Maybe we need a little less 'Torah' and a little more 'Yeshua.'"

A lot of people were offended by that statement. Less Torah? Who does this guy think he is? Torah is wonderful! It's beautiful! It's important! It's inspired! Why would we want any less of it?

The speaker was Boaz Michael, and I was in the audience. I was startled at what I had heard. I've had a few years to reflect on his statement, though, and I have come to agree with him.

One of the functions of the Torah is to make its practitioners different. Moses told the Israelites before they went into the land:

See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)

The Torah was designed to make the Israelites different from all other nations. The world is supposed to be able to look at Israel and be amazed at the wisdom of God. The Torah sets Israel apart as distinct, unique, and holy. In Exodus 19:5-6 God states, "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Many Messianic Gentiles have taken the idea of separation and holiness very seriously. They have consciously made themselves look different from mainstream Christians. Many have gone further than this, though, in that they have prioritized the things which make them different, among all the other aspects of their faith - often, to the exclusion of other aspects of their faith. The result is that some things that are not really of central importance, like celebrating Chanukah instead of Christmas, become hills to die on. They are blown out of proportion. They are all some people ever talk about!

This unbalanced, out-of-order faith doesn't cause people to look at the Messianic world and praise it for its wisdom, and how great its statutes and rules are. Instead, it causes people to wonder how we have missed what is really important. Like the Pharisees, we have done really well at some things, but in the process, we have missed some of the things that are really central (Luke 11:42).

One of these central things is the person of Yeshua. Yeshua's life, mission, and teaching are absolutely central to our faith, whether Messianic or Evangelical or mainstream Protestant or Catholic or Orthodox--all of us have Yeshua at the very center of our belief system. If it weren't for Yeshua, we Gentiles wouldn't have the relationship with God, with the Torah, or with Israel that we enjoy today.

The central, most important commandments, according to Yeshua, are not the commandments of the holidays or of wearing tzitzit or any of the other "distinctives" of the Messianic faith. Instead, the greatest commandments are love of God and love of neighbor (Matthew 22:35-40). We are supposed to be loving; we are supposed to treat others the way we want to be treated. These are ideas all believers should be able to hold in common, and they should be absolutely central and a guiding force as we seek to incorporate the rest of what God has commanded us.

Not only Yeshua's teachings, but his person and identity as the living Word are core, foundational beliefs that should guide and direct our lives and our religious practice, regardless of our denomination or how we interpret and apply the Tanakh.

Many Messianic Gentiles may have to take a step back and reassess where Yeshua fits in their day-to-day walk. Is he of primary importance? Is he central? Or has he taken a back seat to a few of the more conspicuous commandments of the Torah, to holidays and food laws? Has Yeshua, our only connection to Israel and to the commandments of God, become secondary to the commandments themselves?

If we can get our priorities straightened out, and if we can get Yeshua back on the throne where he belongs, at the center of our faith, it will be much easier to get our message across to broader Christianity. Yeshua is our connection point, our common ground with broader Christianity. Christians want to know Yeshua better. They want to understand Yeshua. Messianic Jews and Gentiles have a unique, Biblically based, Yeshua-centered message that, when presented in an authentic way, poses no insurmountable problems for a committed Christian, because they can see that what they are learning is focused on the object of their faith, Yeshua the Messiah.

On the other hand, if all we have to communicate to people is a Leviticus 11 diet or a new set of holidays, people will miss the critical importance of our message. They will think we are trying to convert them to Judaism, instead of showing them the potential depth and richness of their own faith in Messiah. We will have failed to make that vital connection that helps people understand why the Torah is important.

In this way, taking a step back, taking the time to refocus, taking some of the time we have been spending in the Torah and using that time to revitalize our relationship with Yeshua, will actually lead to more people keeping more Torah, as we will be better equipped to bring Yeshua's message to the nations.

What do you think? Have you ever needed to refocus? Can you identify with needing to spend a little less time in the Torah so that you can spend a little more time with Yeshua?

About the Author: Jacob Fronczak is a writer and teacher for FFOZ, has contributed to Messiah Journal, and is also engaged in special First Fruits projects.

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Archived Comments

I really appreciate this post. You make a lot of good points for us non-Jews to consider as we try to walk closer to our Rabbi and show others around us the blessing of Torah and our Hebrew roots.

AbigailCW | August 7, 2012 8:08 PM

Many people talk as if making Yeshua central automatically means compromising the Torah, or that treating other people in such a way that they don't grow to hate you automatically means compromising the Torah. To me the heart of Yeshua's message is exactly the opposite.

Jacob Fronczak | August 2, 2012 8:44 AM

I agree we are to "Love" our neighbor. However, the problem is that this blog defines "Love" as=compromise Torah so The Church won't hate our movement. It totally contradicts the Deut. which clearly says to do nothing but TALK ABOUT TORAH(Dt.6:6-7) to our children, grandchildren. In fact 4:6 says to talk about Torah because it is when "THEY HEAR" Torah they praise those keeping Torah. This is the same tactics churches use to become Mega-Churches,i.e., they abandon Torah Talk for friendship. This type of witnessing is all friendship and no evangelism. These type of teachers the world loves!

Sidney W. | August 1, 2012 10:28 PM

For those of us raised as Missionary Baptists, FFOZ represents a bunch of Jewish extremists who've gone to the far left of Judaism! But for me, 20 years in the ministry as Pastor & teacher, finding FFOZ was the greatest release from ignorance I'd ever experienced! It's taken me a while to place & focus in the mindset, but I will never go back to what I was. Only when one steps out of a musty ole ring called "Baptist" will you begin to see how much corruption has leaked in the Church due to fear, timidity, & inherited ignorance! May Yeshua bless FFOZ & those of us who hold it dear to us!

Dr. Greg Burks | July 24, 2012 12:49 PM

Not only is Yeshua greater than Torah, but according to Jewish sages, even Israel herself is more important and greater than Torah:

R. Simeon ben Yohai said:

"Who was created for the sake of whom? Torah for the sake of Israel, or Israel for the sake of Torah? Was is not Torah that was created for the sake of Israel? Now, if Torah, which was created for the sake of Israel, will endure forever and ever, all the more so Israel, who were created for their own sake. (Eccles. R. 1:4, §4.)"

Gene Shlomovich | July 22, 2012 11:09 PM

That makes complete sense. Thanks, Jacob.

Karen | July 3, 2012 10:27 PM

and how much more emphasizing European rabbinic interpretations of the Torah over Yeshua...amen and amen - good thoughts, keep 'em coming!

Kevin | July 3, 2012 10:04 PM

@Karen, for the purpose of study, to apprehend the meaning of the text as the original audience heard it (always a worthy goal), the original context is always the starting point. For purposes of application - how we are to apply what we read to our own life and practice - everything is mediated through Yeshua. Not only does he have ultimate halachic authority, but as concerns us Gentiles, the Torah was not given to us directly, and only applies to us as Yeshua (or his servants, the apostles) specifically directed it to be applied.

Jacob Fronczak | July 3, 2012 9:43 PM

Jacob,
A follow on question: Does the centrality of Yeshua require that we read all the text of the Hebrew scriptures from the perspective of the Apostolic texts? Or should one read the Hebrew scriptures in the context of the time and the audience for which they were (individually and collectively) intended?

Karen | July 3, 2012 9:10 PM

@Karen, I understand the concern. As far as I have been able to tell, early non-Jewish Christians pushed certain ideas way too far and ended up with an unbalanced, anti-Torah, anti-Jewish theology. Unfortunately, in many Messianic circles, the pendulum has swung too far back the other way, and Yeshua is minimized, or reduced to nothing more than the personification of Torah. Restoring balance is difficult because there is always the chance one will overcompensate.

Jacob Fronczak | July 3, 2012 8:58 PM

Jacob,
I would love to talk about this. I guess my central concern is that "Yeshua is greater than Torah" is so easily misunderstood and it translates quickly into "Yeshua trumps Torah" and "Yeshua replaced Torah". It is easy to see how the mistakes of the past cause some to pull back, and to try to compensate for supercessionism by tipping the scales in favor of Torah. This seems like a safe place for many Messianic Gentiles who have been hurt and or shocked by (some) evangelical representation of the mission of Jesus. Tender topic. Nice article.

Karen | July 3, 2012 7:37 PM

@Joan, many people think there is an exact one-to-one correlation between Yeshua and the Torah. I don't have space in this comment to fully address this idea but I hope to address it in a future blog. Suffice to say at this time that Yeshua is greater than the Torah. They are metaphorically identified in many ways because they share many aspects, but they are not exactly the same thing. A great starting point for this study would be the first part of Hebrews 3.

Jacob Fronczak | July 3, 2012 7:14 PM

Once upon a time I was a part of the problem... (I'm so sorry Abba).
Now I want to be part of the solution...

Thank you for your blogs Jacob... they truly strike a chord.

Pastor Roman Asbill

Roman Asbill | July 3, 2012 5:00 PM

You make a great point, Jacob. Based on my experience with my mainstream Christian family, I would just point out 2 things:

1) Regarding the holidays, it is their very inherent connection to Yeshua that makes them so fascinating and meaningful.

2) Sometimes mainstream Christians have their focus a little off, too. It's hard to get someone to see the beauty of Torah holidays when they are still stuck on the fact that you're undecided on the pre-trib rapture idea. Some of them seem to see belief in a pre-trib rapture as a requirement for salvation. It can be frustrating!

Carrie | July 3, 2012 4:55 PM

I certainly agree that when all a person talks about in spiritual conversations revolves around the academic or halakic peripheries his mind associates with Torah the result is not going to honor the Holy One. But the Torah itself is life, health, and peace, and the very Living Word of the Creator. The signature and personality of Messiah is all over, all in and all through it. We do not need to spend 'less time in the Torah' in order to spend more time with Yeshua; we just need to spend more time in the heart and spirit of Torah as opposed to debating and declaring our opinions.

Bill Bullock | July 3, 2012 4:07 PM

I don't get it! Torah and Yeshua are one and the same. John tells us that the Torah put on skin and dwelt among us in bodily form. You don't have to chose one or the other. Our goal is to be like our Master in everyway. He said, I have come to do the will of the Father. Bezrat HaShem, may this be our hearts as well.

Joan MacDonald | July 3, 2012 3:00 PM

Amen and amen, Jacob.

Now be prepared; some folks might feel the need to throw a shoe at you.

MJ Belko | July 3, 2012 1:43 PM

Well said. My son asked me recently about why Yeshua's death wasn't a human sacrifice. I tried to explain. A couple of other guys who were there tried to explain. It didn't work out well. We need to understand Yeshua much better than we really do. What is Torah for us without him?

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