| 3. Adhere to the tenet of Olive Tree Theology; Jewish & Gentile Believers of Yeshua can worship together and maintain their own cultural distinctiveness. This Article defines our belief and teachings of the doctrine entitled Olive Tree Theology. What is so unfortunate is that too many people have no idea what that is. Today, I will start a four-part series on the doctrine of Olive Tree Theology. It took me over 20 years to convince myself tyhe truth of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus); that He is not only the Messiah, but the Son of God. These 20+ years where a time of intense study. I did everything I can to prove Christ false. In the end I could only prove Him the true Son of Adonai (the Lord). So when I finally made my confession in Yeshua that we are all commanded to do in Romans 10:9 I naturally made my way to a Messianic synagogue congregation. My first years there were one of hapiness, knowing that I could remain a Believer and a Jew at the same time. But what I saw at this congregation disturbed me as well. What surprised me about my new congregation was that there where more Gentiles as members of the congregation then there where Messianic Jews. I also noticed, not at first but after a year or so, is that all of the sermons where Jewish oriented. Never did I hear a sermon diected towards the Gentile Believer. I also realized that every evangelical and witnessing effort was always for the Jew alone. An orthodox dispensational attmosphere was everywhere. After all, we were taught, that the New Covenant was written by Jews and for a Jewish audience. Again I could not see the Gentile in the "big picture." This congregation is where The Road to God Ministry began. Yet it was unsuccessful, boring no fruit in any manner whatsoever. In retrospect I know this is because we where not following Scripture in a literal sense. Too many times the Bible was being taken in a contemporary fashion that allowed personal interpretations. Thus I left the Messianic synagogue. Let me be clear in stating that these doctrine issue where only part of the reason I left for I had another personal reason. After a long trek to find a new spiritual home, my family ended up at a local General Baptist Church. It was here that I found a pastor who not only viewed the Bible literally, but held just about all the same doctrines that I did. It was also here that I began my formal education, attending semminary and receiving a BS in ministry and soon, with Adonai's aid a MA in pastoral ministry. Thus we come to todays Olive Tree Thology teaching. One of the first things I learned at the Messianic congregation is that there is a true and important need for two houses of worship; a Messianic synagogue and a Gentile Church. Thus it was being taught that there is a desperate need for separation between saved Jews and Gentiles. At first I found this to be hypocritical since the majority of members of the Messianic congregation were Gentiles. But I also could not understand the purpose or the Scriptural calling for the division of Jew and Gentile. If anything this seemed straight out wrong. I could not, and still don't, know of any Scripture calling for the separation of Jews and Gentiles. If anything, there only lies a clear calling for the opposite. Thus began my belief in Olive Tree Theology. This doctrine was originally created by Dr. David Stern, the translator to the Complete Jewish Bible. But as I have contemplated this doctrine over the past few years I have come to realize the true importance behind such a belief. Biblically there is no call for separation of Believers, in fact, Scripture gives us examples and commands to the opposite. In the Gospel of Matthew we read, |
