At Beit Lechem we routinely give a lot of grace to people that have closely held beliefs that are different from those of Beit Lechem. They are welcome to attend here as long as they are not trying to convert our attendees to their point of view (This is different from asking our leaders questions based on a genuine desire to understand our position) We welcome questions. However, Core Members do not support the below movements or theologies.
While ignoring the sweep of the entire Bible, this view is typically based only on Rav Shaul’s admonition in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 that women are not permitted to teach men even when the women are under the authority of a male Rabbi.
This is not a comprehensive view of all the various forms this has taken over the centuries. This view holds that the Christian Church replaces Israel and is the recipient of all of God’s promises, prophecies and covenants; Often, that the Tanach, what Christians call the Old Testament, or parts of the Tanach, are not useful for instruction in godly daily living.
Again, there is a wide range of views, however, basically it is a belief that every member of the body of Messiah is actually a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whether they know it or not; Jewish believers being descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah, and Gentile believers being descendants of the “lost” northern kingdom of Israel.
As always, there is a wide range of beliefs. It often teaches that the Greek New Testament, and all forms of Christianity, are corrupt and, knowingly or not, Christians practice pagan customs and philosophies. It also typically teaches that God desires that Gentile Believers take on Jewish biblical customs and identity (again replacing Israel). They also frequently believe that rabbinic writings, including the Talmud, do not provide insights helpful for understanding Scripture.
Adherents say that Believers, both Jewish and Gentile, have the same obligations to the Torah / Tanach. The logic is often that Gentiles are grafted into the Jewish Olive Tree so they need to do as the Jews do if they want to please God. They also say if all the commandments are holy, then it must be unholy for anyone not to follow all the commandments as Judaism does. They also might say that at Sinai there was a mixed multitude that was circumcised to receive God’s covenant to Israel so Gentile Believers should also be circumcised.
The belief is that due to errors or modern astronomy, or a better understanding of Scripture, corrections need to be made to the current Rabbinic methods to calculate the date to begin the Counting of the Omer and the dates of Moedim / Festivals, and Fasts.
Teaches that in order to not blaspheme one must pronounce God’s Sacred Name (the Tetragrammaton) as “Yahweh” and not as Adonai, HaShem, Elohim or God or any other name. And the Moshiach’s / Messiah’s name must be pronounced as “Yahshua” and not Jesus, or Yeshua or any other name. They disallow names used in any language other than Hebrew so Greek, Chinese, Spanish, etc. are all blasphemous. There is disagreement within the movement as to how the names should be pronounced (Yahowah, Yahweh, Yahvah and a number of others)
Is a belief that for someone to receive something from God through prayer or some form or act of faith, they must have perfect faith, otherwise the miracle, healing or whatever they are seeking will not be provided.
Believes that Scripture teaches that the world is literally flat and not spherical; that mathematics is wrong and it is an optical illusion the seems to show the curvature of the earth; that there are conspiracies to hide the fact that the world is flat.
They say the six pointed star in the Israeli flag is pagan and is idol worship of Saturn or of some other false god.