Olive Tree Theology
One of the important doctrines that The Road to God Ministry (TRTGM) adheres to is called Olive Tree Theology. This religious viewpoint is our number three tenet in our Articles of Faith. Unfortunately, Olive Tree Theology remains one of the most misunderstood doctrines throughout modern Christianity as it stands in contrast with many Messianic Jewish doctrines.
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| " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 (KJV) |
| My life verse from the Bible (Romans 1:16) has given me spiritual direction throughout my Christian life. Even with my formal education I still live day-to-day by the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:16. The Road to God Ministry serves by following Romans 1:16. The Ministry has a series of directives in our Articles of Faith and it is through these Articles that the Ministry functions. I personally believe that the success of The Road to God Ministry has been due to adherence to the Articles of Faith. |
| Unfortunately, there is one article, the third, that confuses many people; Believer and Lost alike. Our third Article of Faith reads, |
| 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. |
| It took me over 20 years of study to convince myself the truth of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus); that He is not only the Messiah, but the Son of God. Through these two decades 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 public 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 happiness 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. In truth the congregations demographics meant little to me, until I saw a hidden hierarchy in the members of the congregation. The Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles had a separation between them as the Jewish member "gets the best seat." I do not think that the congregation was doing this intentionally, no, I believe that they believe what is occurring is wrong in any way.
Let me state right here that I am not judging anyone. I hate the sin not the sinner.
It was during the sermons that I noticed that every single one of the sermons where Jewish oriented. Never did I hear a sermon directed towards the Gentile Believer. That, I believe, is the exact type of danger that brings about that separation between Jew and Gentile. I also realized that every evangelical and witnessing effort was always for the Jew alone. We were taught, that the New Covenant was written by Jews and for a Jewish audience. 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.
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| Thus we come to today's Olive Tree Theology teaching. One of the first things I learned of the the false-doctrinal view that there is an urgent need for two houses of worship; Messianic synagogues for the Jewish Believer and a Gentile Church for everyone else. Thus I was being indoctrinated with the belief that there is a desperate need for a separation between Saved Jews and Gentiles. When I realized the truth 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 during worship. If anything this seemed straight out false. I could not, and still don't, know of any Scripture calling for the separation of Jews and Gentiles. |
| 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 the more I contemplate this doctrine over the past few years I have come to realize it's true importance. Biblically, there is no call for separation of Believers, in fact, Scripture gives us examples and commands us to do the opposite. In the Gospel of Matthew we read, |
| And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Matthew 15:38-39 |
| It is here that we not only see the separation between Man and God made with the tearing of the veil, but it also indicates all divisions to be nullified. In verse 39 we read of the centurion, a Gentile, who stands at the base of the cross, with many other Jewish Believers, declaring his faith in Yeshua. |
| Of greater impact comes the words of the Apostle Paul when he writes to the Church of Galatia. It reads, |
| For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26-28 (KJV) |
| It is here that we are told specifically that all Believers stand equal in Christ. Some read these verses to mean that there no longer is a Jew in God's eyes, but this is simply not true. When you read the Bible literally you will find many indications of when a verse is literal and when it is to be taken as an analogy. In this case the verses are not only reading that there is no Jew or Gentile, but also that there is no longer any men or women. As we know that gender is for life, then so too does being a Jew or Gentile. |
| Yet what we can take from the passages in Galatians is that in Adonai's eyes there are no difference. All believers are loved as one. For once we become true Believers then all the God's sees when He looks at us is the perfect person of Yeshua (justification). If God sees us as one, then why are we working so hard to divide what He has brought together? |
| The usual response I would get to this line of thinking is that the Messianic synagogues are more concerned with all things Jewish and to combat Replacement Theology. My response is two-fold; for if we read the Bible as the literal words of Adonai then we have no choice but to worship as a single congregation or church. Also, though I agree in combating all things that relate to Replacement Theology, when worshiping in a single house of God one should be able to retain their Jewishness...I know I have. The key is having a church that takes the Bible literally. |
| Another dangerous trend that has emerged within the Messianic Jewish movement. This is the strong urging that many Messianic congregations have in observing Rabbinical Jewish traditions in the hope that this will show other Jews they are still Jewish. Now please do not mistake my point-of-view for as an evangelist to the Jewish people around the world (and also as my own growth as a Jew) there is a vital need to show other Jews we are still Jewish; it's part of our character and has been important to some degree with every Jewish person I have ever met. In the steps of leading a Jew to Yeshua, the first step is often in establishing the precedent that they can be Jews and still believe in Messiah Yeshua. Can our Jewishness, our traditions not be practiced wherever one may choose to worship or must this be taught only in a Messianic congregation? |
| In my testimony of how I came to be a Believer in Mashiach I spent the past 30 years in study, both formal and informal. I have found that one of the greatest apostate falsehoods of Judaism is centered on the Oral Traditions (aka. Talmud). As believers we are told in Scripture that there is only one truth in our lives and that is the Word of God. But the Mishnah, Midrash and Talmud are traditions and opinions written down by the esteemed Rabbi's who were captured during the Babylonian Exile. It was here, without a Temple to worship at that the Rabbi's gathered and formed the first synagogues. The Oral Traditions were written almost 700 years after Moses. As a devout believer in Jesus I trust in God's Word. I came to the view that the Oral Traditions are just that, traditions and not Scripture. I am not the only one who held this view, for Yeshua Himself denounced many of the traditions spoken by the early Jewish rabbi's. |
| So if we know that these traditions are simply the commentary of learned men and not Divine inspiration then why is it we continue to follow these traditions to the letter? Why is it many Messianic Jews of today (and not all by any means) feel they must act more like a Rabbinical Jew? We must keep in mind that these traditions are each the viewpoint of a rabbi and not God. Further commentary, by additional rabbis have continued to be made and recorded, often discussing the same thing that was already written down! I just do not understand the need to continue following false oral traditions. If we, as saved Jews, if we continue practicing traditions that we know are false, will that not show are loved ones we are acting in a hypocritical fashion? I believe the answer is yes. |
| Under the view of Olive Tree Theology all Jewish Believers have the freedom to worship as they please as well as celebrating Feast days. One of my favorite verses in Olive Tree Theology reads,
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col 2:16-17 (KJV) |
| These verses simply state that we all have the freedom to be who we are as Believers if we are doing them in the right fashion, "in Christ." For myself, the idea of following, preaching or teaching Talmudic views is a grave error on the part of many today. But if there are some who wish to do so, for the purpose of enrichment...more power to you. We just should never be preaching how wrong the Pharisees and Sadducee's were while we continue to live as they did.
That is Olive Tree Theology.
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| Jesus Paid It All |
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