Notes on Hebrews: Chapter 6
Luke begins Chapter 6 by delineating the points of elementary doctrines that the Hebrew Christians should be mindful of. He then states in no uncertain terms that if any of them were to fall back into the former religion (the Jewish faith) of works, then they could not be allowed back in to the fold of Christ. Luke is not allowing them to remain in the limbo between their former lives as Jews and their new lives in Christ.
Be diligent is Luke’s exhortation. Move on with your life in Christ and do not allow yourself to be pulled back in by the Jewish Orthodoxy. The transition is made all the more difficult by your vacillations. Keep in mind that it is God who has promised you rest taking an oath unto himself and God cannot lie.
If you have spent any time reading this blog of mine, you will have gathered that I am a critic of Orthodoxy. For what it’s worth, I want to go on the record as stating that I do not consider myself an enemy of the Orthodox as some individuals relish the title. I am merely the younger brother who sees the elder’s works and desires only some of it. Nevertheless, if you are Orthodox and you do consider me an enemy, then might I remind you that Jesus has instructed you to love me.
To the 1st century Jewish synagogue, the Messianic Jews that Luke writes to in the Book of Hebrews, were heretics. Paul, Peter, James, John and all of the other Messianic Jews were heretics. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with a contemporary Messianic Jew, you will discover that they do not consider themselves anything but Jewish. In fact, Messianic Jews consider that, since they recognize that the Messiah has come in the person of Jesus, they not Orthodox Jews are the true harbingers of Judaism! This is precisely Luke’s point in Chapter 6 of Hebrews. If you have concluded that Jesus is Messiah, how then can you go back to being an unfulfilled Jew performing meaningless rituals under men whose Orthodoxy is their banner!
At the outset of the 21st century there are more and more Christians willing to part company with Orthodoxy for the sake of Christ. I am one of those. The leaders of Orthodoxy will condemn us and claim that we have lost our way in not heeding the scriptures. The scriptures are not my banner. Jesus is my banner (yeshua nissi). It is through Jesus that I understand the scriptures and He has taught me to read them differently than what you have taught me. I like His way better. He teaches me that I somehow have to love my enemies, while you teach me it is proper to wage war against the Muslims. He teaches me not judge lest I be judged, yet you teach me to call brothers heretics. I can go on and on but I think the point is made. The Orthodox church will continue but if you understand the scriptures at all, you will see that the Kingdom ofGod is more than just the Church proper.
