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Monday, March 16, 2015

Cut Here: Why the Torah Cannot be Divided into Self-Contained, Individual Laws

Does the Bible give a specific set of laws to Gentiles?  

Some groups in the Messianic movement would say "yes" (see, for example, David Rudolph's 'Paul's 'Rule in All the Churches').

They would, in fact, be forced to argue that the Torah must be cut into self-contained units forming a set of individual Gentile laws.  They would agree that some laws originating from the Divinely Revealed Torah such as "love the Lord your God" are binding on Gentiles but other laws (they can't say precisely which laws) are not binding on Gentiles.  But they fervently maintain (without knowing precisely how to do so) that the Torah must be cut into pieces.

I have a question:  just where are these dotted-line cutting guides in Torah?

But here is a better question:  what evidence does David Rudolph and his UMJC brethren have that the Torah is NOT an interdependent system of laws?

For such men to assert that the Torah may be divided into self-contained units presupposes that the entirety of Torah is NOT an interdependent system.  But this is easily proven to be false.  After all, do not all the commandments serve the single purpose of making Israel holy unto G-d:
"That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God," Numbers 15:40
Maharsha says:
"The multiplicity comes from the recipient, because to the Giver, blessed be He, they are all as one precept.  But a human cannot grasp it thus, because multiplicity is inherent in matter and time, which are innate to his nature...for we can only understand through multiplicity.'
This is supported by Torah itself which refers, in somewhat puzzling grammar to the multiplicity of the singular commandment:
 "You shall faithfully observe all the Instruction (Heb. kol ha-mitzvah) that I enjoin upon you today, that you may thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your fathers" Deuteronomy 8:1
Each law in Torah must be followed in accordance with the totality of laws of Torah.  You simply cannot cut out a self-contained law because no law is self-contained--but needs the entire legal system of Torah.

And so I say to David Rudolph and the UMJC:

Show us the cutting lines of Torah!

And, if you cannot, then be done with your lies!




11 comments:

  1. Another excellent post. One Torah for ALL!

    But I would then challenge you on the Oral Law.... Is it similarly a unit? Or, under the 'do not add, do not take away from the (written) Torah' does the Oral fall apart as something purely optional and divisible.... ;)

    Shavua tov!

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    1. If it is a "law", oral or otherwise, then it is the will of G-d (i.e. Torah). The issue is manifold:

      --what are the criteria for identifying laws of Oral Torah?

      --what Messianic institution (or institutions) will have the power to determine halachah authoritatively?

      --what kind of coercive power will such an institution (or institutions) have?

      This last question is important. Because it isn't really a legal system if the laws cannot be enforced.

      This is the next leap for the Messianic movement...




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    2. Personally, I think only the Mashiach Himself can straighten that crooked stick out... Otherwise, it is just the hearsay tradition of men passed down with zero binding authority, though it may have some quality guiding principles.

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    3. Binding authority means the power to coerce. You have this power over your household. If this power is wielded at the level of the household, why can't it be wielded collectively by elders over a community of households? Etc.

      In fact, if it can be done in a secular community (e.g. United States), how much more should Messianics be able to accomplish it in their community? Do we not have the Ruach and the Scripture to assist us?

      It's possible to do with His help...

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  2. I am confuse, aren't the non jews, like "ffoz people trying to become torah observant?"

    What kinds of examples would be considered to be gentile laws are they thinking?

    I know of a first one: Gentiles do not be like Christopher Detwiler who goes by multiple alias such as Boaz Michael to the donors but yet, have another alias on file with the secretary of state of mo. & w/ irs. 990 as Boaz Detwiler.

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    1. Anonymous,

      Thank you for your comment. First Fruits of Zion is a very confused organization run by Boaz Michael, a Gentile who underwent a "halachic" conversion (which involves denying Yeshua indirectly by agreeing to accept rabbinic halacha that makes Yeshua to be a liar). This Gentile, "Boaz Michael", requires Gentiles to identify as Christians whilst he himself identifies as "Jewish." He is full of contradictions.

      I cannot understand his reasoning because he is irrational.

      Boaz is living in a fantasy. He has convinced himself that he's "authentically" Jewish, he has convinced Gentiles that he is an authentic Messianic teacher and has consequently become very wealthy through First Fruits of Zion.

      His goal is to destroy the One Law movement. He has said in the past that anyone who promotes One Law is a rebellious follower of Korach.




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  3. May I have your permission to reblog this at https://lambsservant.wordpress.com/ ? I will include a link to the original article.

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    1. Yes, absolutely. Anyone may have anything from this blog.

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