Response to Being a Heretic
 | In early February of 2010, The Road to God Ministry was made the target of an insulting paper claiming that “Olive Tree Theology” was a “false and heretical teaching” and should therefore be avoided by all true Christians. This paper was penned by one man who felt he had the "spiritual authority" to speak, not only for his congregation, but for all Christians, and in doing so create his own doctrine of what is right in the eyes of the Lord. In turn I cannot respond by judging, for to do so places a responsibility upon ones shoulders that goes far beyond the line of minister or even pastor. |
| | Olive Tree Theology is a very simple doctrine. There is one olive tree of faith. Upon that tree existed two branches, Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve betrayed our Lord they were cast off the tree to fall upon the earth where they eventually died. Before they died, new branches were born from Adam and Eve; branches like Cain and Abel. All of these branches had births of new branches time and again before their deaths. Yet note, none of these branches were upon the tree! |
| | Thousands upon thousands of years later a branch emerged upon the tree, Yeshua. It was through the blood of this branch that was to be cut from the tree then ascend back that we too can be grafted upon the tree. |
| | Everyone, Jew and Gentile have been upon the ground. Everyone! The only difference between the two is the Jew has had the DNA, the culture, the heritage of our ancestors. It is when we accept Messiah Yeshua, Jesus the Christ, as our Lord and Savior that we each, regardless if we are Jew or Gentiles, become grafted on to that mighty Olive Tree. |
| | The Jew is on no better level then the Gentile believer. The Gentile is on no better level then the Jewish believer. With this being the case, why must we worship in separate house of the Lord? Is it because of culture? Is it of denominations? It is not because of the Bible! The Book of Acts shows Paul finding Jews to lead new Gentile congregations, to help teach them; not so they can be Jewish, but so they can learn the history of Christ. If we cannot worship with our brothers then there is a serious error in our current doctrine. |
| | In Romans chapter 11, the Apostle Paul speaks of the olive tree. He speaks several important points regarding this... |
| | 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:16-25 (KJV) |
| | Now through the prior bible verses you will note several things and you will also note several things missing. The first item is that the natural branches, though they were once part of the tree, there is no time frame as to when. So this bears a simple question of logic. Are human beings born without sin? Are we born saved? Of course not! No one has since the time of Adam and Eve. As stated earlier, the natural branches are part of that olive tree; by being part of its true bloodline, but we were cut off just like everyone else. The Gentile are wild branches grown apart from the tree awaiting the opportunity to be grafted on the tree just as we are. Second, in all of the passages that Paul speaks of the olive tree and the branches, both natural and wild, it is important to notice that he ALWAYS uses the term grafted. By using this term he is stating a single graft or in other words that we are being grafted on for the first time. No where is he saying the natural branches are being re-grafted upon the olive tree which would have been proper if the natural branches were already on the tree and then cut off. |
| | Now this is not to discount Antisemitism in any fashion. Nor do I discount Replacement Theology in any fashion. To be honest both issues are hot topics with me. I know for a fact first hand that both issues do exist in many Gentile churches. Yet, I am also learning more and more that they also do not exist in some churches. I am learning that many Gentile churches are simply waiting to learn more of their Jewish past but they are held back by fear and a lack of anyone to aid them. How are we as Jews supposed to teach our Gentile brothers of their Jewish past if we separate ourselves in Messianic synagogues? Plus I see nowhere in the New Testament that gives instructions that there should be two centers of worship, one for Jews and one for Gentiles. This idea of two houses of God is not of the Lord, but of man, as it is bred of the past two millennia of discrimination, fear, hatred, and false doctrine like Replacement Theology. It is up to us, both Jews and Gentiles to change this! |
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