There seems to be a consistent mindset within Christianity at large that we can choose how we want to worship and where we want to worship. It is common to see religious programming encouraging us to attend the church of our choice. My husband once asked a pastor why there were so many denominations. The pastor responded, "It's like ice cream! Some like chocolate and some like vanilla."
That doesn't quite make sense to me. Denominations vary so much in their understanding of scripture and their teachings. Most do have Jesus at the heart of their messages, however they can't all be expounding the truth of the gospel to their flocks.
Jesus (Y'shua) said in Mt 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
He continues in verses 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (had an intimate relationship with you): depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
We are told in John 1:1, 14 " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Y'shua revealed in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 8:12 quotes Y'shua, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
If believers accept that Y'shua is the word of God who was made flesh and that he is the way, truth and life, and the light of the world, then we must accept that he is also the Torah. But do we? Haven't many of our religious leaders told us to disregard the Torah? Haven't we been encouraged to base our beliefs entirely on the "New Testament"? Haven't we been told that the "Old Testament" has been done away with, that Y'shua nailed the Torah to the cross, that we don't have to obey the commandments?
Pr 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law (Torah) is light;
Ps 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
The bible is full of verses testifying that the Torah (instructions, commandments) are the way, truth, light and life of the believer. Y'shua is the living Torah. If we do away with Torah, we do away with our savior. He was the physical manifestation of Torah. He came to earth to teach us the way of Torah, to live it fully and blamelessly before us, to invite us to become one with him that we too could live it through him.
Y'shua, in no way, came to destroy the Torah. Mt 5:17-19 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (pleroo - fully preach). For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Re 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Re 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
It is up to every believer in Y'shua to search the scriptures daily and seek truth from the WORD himself. We must never place our salvation in the hands of man, no matter how sincere. Ps 118:8 "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Pr 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
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