'One Law' Doctrine

From time to time I receive questions from people about various beliefs. Over the years, what I have done is write 'position papers' on various of these issues. I am going to start posting these position papers on the blog, because they cover topics that are commonly discussed and wondered about. The one I am beginning with addresses what has been called the 'One Law Movement' or 'Doctrine', which says that non-Jews are are equally responsible to keep all of the Torah as the Jews are. I begin, below, with a specific question that was posed to me.


Q: Being that there are some scriptures that refer to "one law" or the "same law" for the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you, where do you stand on Gentile believers following Torah?


A: The reason that this issue, like so many issues in Messianic Judaism, is so controversial is because there is so much confusion regarding it. What most people end up doing is completely disregarding the historical, cultural and geographical context of what is said in the Scripture. They mistakenly believe that every word of the Scripture is totally applicable, as is, in every place, for every person, for all time. But, any serious study of the Scriptures shows this is not the case. A case in point are the prophetic Scriptures that have already been fulfilled. Do we continue to regard them with the same impetus after they have had their fulfillment?

There are those Scriptures which are clearly universal for all mankind (such are the Ten Words or Commandments), while there are others that were specific to certain groups of people. Being able to differentiate between the two categories is not always easy. Sometimes it's plain, sometimes cloudy.

There are a series of questions that must be asked in order to determine application of Torah commands. They are as follows:

Is this command universal or specific?
Is this command specifically related to a particular time in history?
Does this command have to do with living in Eretz Yisra'el?
Does this command relate to Temple worship?
Does this command have to do with the Hebrew priesthood?

As you consider the commands of Torah, if they specifically have to do with living in the Land, remaining "clean" for Temple worship or instructions given to the priesthood, they cannot be done, because we do not live in the Land, there is no Temple and their is no priesthood. In fact, to attempt to do them would be a sin, because they would be in violation of the specific commands of HaShem. Obviously, if a command was for a period of time in the past, it too is out. When we eliminate the commands that fall into these categories, we rapidly whittle the list from 613, down to somewhere between 160 and 170 commands which are currently doable. What's amazing is that most Christians are already keeping many of these commands without even knowing it. The other aspect of this is to take what the Torah says in the context of all of the Scriptures. Does a particular view/teaching, given by people, 'jive' with the rest of the Bible?

In the Torah, most of the commands are clearly given specifically to the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov. The Gentiles have no responsibility to keep them. The only exceptions are the laws that are universal. Let me illustrate by recounting some things in the Torah. The Cohen Gadol was given specific instructions as to what he was supposed to do. To not do them, or not do them properly, could cost him his life. However, if a Levi attempted to carry out the commands given to the Cohen Gadol, he would surely die. The Levi had no obligation to observe the commands given to the Cohen Gadol. Likewise, any common Hebrew that attempted to serve in the Temple would have been subject to death. The commoner had no obligation to observe the commands given to the Levi'im or the Cohen Gadol. Thus, various commands are given to specific persons or people groups. Never is there a command addressed to Gentiles specifically, save for the references to which the question refers. Gentiles have always had a choice, and still do, as to how much of the Torah they will observe.

During the First Century, prior to Yeshua, there were three categories of people in synagogues:

Hebrews
Proselytes/Converts
God-fearers

The Hebrews, obviously, were born into Judaism. The Proselytes were non-Jews who had gone through a full conversion process and had become 'Hebrew'. The God-fearers, on the other hand, believed in the One, True God (YHWH) as the only God, but did not feel it necessary to take on the covenant responsibilities associated with becoming a convert. The same is true today. There are those who are called by God to be 'joined' to Israel, who completely change their lifestyle and live just as the Jews do. There are others who know they are to be associated with Israel, but do not want to take on all the 'Jewish' stuff. The Hebrew word translated "sojourn" does not simply mean to live in the same area, but refers to a deep connection in relationship between the Hebrew and the Gentile (such as a Gentile slave or a Gentile who has chosen to convert).
The specific references, to which the question alludes, are specific to a time in history (Israel in the Land, with a Temple and a priesthood), to a geographical location (Eretz Yisra'el) and to a set of conditions that no longer exist. So, to expect that all Gentile believers today are supposed to equally keep the Torah commands given specifically to the Hebrews, is not an accurate understanding. Now, if a Gentile is convicted and convinced that they are to keep them, as the Scriptures say, "...let each man be convinced in his own heart." But, there is no place in the Scripture that states that Gentiles are to keep all of the commands given to the Hebrews. In fact, in Acts, there are only four requirements given for Gentile believers to have fellowship with the Jewish believers. It then goes on to say that they will be taught the Torah in the synagogues, on Shabbat. The idea is that as they sit in the synagogue, they will learn what each one needs to follow HaShem in the manner pleasing to Him. Even then, that too was under a certain set of parameters as specified by a specific time in history, certain cultural conditions and a particular geographic location.