Rooted in Light: Unraveling the Dance of Torah and Truth

A Messianic Reflection on Faith, Reason, and the Call to Honor the Olive Tree

Alright, picture this: Shabbat candles flickering like they’re starring in a cozy indie flick, bathing a Messianic Jewish family—me included—in a warm, golden glow. We’re whispering Hebrew prayers to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, sealing it all with a heartfelt “Yeshua’s my guy.” This isn’t some dusty artifact in a glass case—it’s alive, kicking, and bursting with soul. I’m a Messianic Jew, tethered to the Messiah like a kite in a breeze, my roots plunging deep into Torah’s rich, earthy goodness. Then I watched The Way. Oh man, it’s this close to brilliance—truth tearing through like a lion on a skateboard—until it trips and faceplants. It tosses Jewish customs—Shabbat lights, Hanukkah vibes—like they’re yesterday’s leftovers. Really? I’m vibing with its heart, but that stumble hits me right in the feels. Worse, some Christians do the same, giving our candles and prayers the side-eye like we’re the quirky cousins at a family cookout. Come on, fam—why? We’re so close to getting it—why not just slap a high-five on your Jewish brothers and sisters and say, “Love your style, dudes!”

Logic So Near, Yet So Far

Logic’s no toy—it’s a ninja blade, cutting through the fog to bare the real deal. The Way swings it like a pro, rooting for Torah, shredding human fluff—until it slips. It shrugs off customs like they’re dead weight. Hebrew Roots and Torah-observant Christians spot the glitch—they’re like, “Heads up, ditches everywhere: Christianity on one side, Judaism on the other!” They’re right to scoff at Talmud’s wild tangents—oral law muddying Torah’s crystal clarity. Yeshua drops the mic in Mark 7:8-9: “You swap God’s rules for man’s nonsense.” Rabbis calling chair-moving on Shabbat “plowing”? That’s not Torah—that’s piety doing a bad stand-up set.

But wait a sec. I light those Shabbat candles to shout out my King—not to bow under some rulebook. Yeshua’s kicking it at Hanukkah (John 10:22-23)—not a Torah must, yet He’s there, strolling the temple courts like it’s casual Friday. Did He strap on tefillin, living out Deuteronomy 6:8? Probably—His jab in Matthew 23:5 nails the showboats, not the habit. Some say, “It’s just a metaphor, a ‘Mark of Yah.’” Cool—but if the Beast’s mark tattoos your skin, why’s God’s sign all artsy-fartsy? Paul’s got the chill take in Romans 14:5-6: “Do you, boo.” So why’s The Way—and maybe you—stuck on this “trash it” vibe? Guys, we’re this close—why not let me rock my freedom here?

Faith That’s Teetering on Greatness

Faith isn’t a wimpy spark—it’s a roaring blaze. The Way fans it hard, calling us to God’s playbook with flair—then dims the flame, swatting customs like pesky flies. Some in that crew yell “Judaizers!”—not at all Torah lovers, just the chain-pilers: “Do this, skip that, or you’re done.” Deuteronomy 4:2’s like, “Don’t remix the script, fam.” Chair bans? Mystical side quests? That’s not Torah—that’s humans going full rogue. But burning all customs? That’s just crafting a bland, DIY faith idol. Proverbs 3:5-6 slices both mistakes clean: “Trust God, not your brain farts.” Test traditions against Scripture—don’t just chuck ‘em.

Here’s where it stings: some Christians—maybe you—give us Messianics that judgy squint. Shabbat prayers? Hanukkah lights? “Aw, cute, but so last covenant.” Oh, come on. Ephesians 4:2-3’s pleading: “Humility, gentleness, love—stick it out together!” That squint’s not humble—it’s what The Way accidentally stokes. Romans 11:17-18’s like, “Don’t flex on the OG branches—the root’s propping you up.” Yeshua rocked tzitzit (Matthew 9:20-21), ate Passover (Luke 22:15), hung at Hanukkah—His Jewishness isn’t your junk pile. You’re grafted in, not running the show. Some say there’s no “Gentile Church” apart from Israel—just God’s squad, no borders. Truth—one Body (Ephesians 2:14-16). We’re so close, fam—why not cheer the root?

The Mirror’s in Reach

Here’s the deal: Hebrew Roots folks flag Judaism’s traps—legalism, mysticism, Talmudic word vomit—as newbie bait. Fair call. They say, “Start with Scripture’s meat, then peek at the sides.” Colossians 2:8’s got their back: “Don’t get snagged by human hot air.” The Way nails this—then overdoes it, slashing customs like they’re weeds. Nah, fam! My Hebrew prayers aren’t chains—they’re a VIP pass to Yeshua’s world. Why trash that? You’re fine with Christmas—zero Bible cred, hello—don’t come for my Hanukkah. Faith’s bigger: “All Israel’s getting saved” (Romans 11:26). Guys, why not fist-bump the root?

Look closer. You caught in logic that splits us? Twisting faith to dodge what’s not your thing? Some cry “anti-Semitism” at Judaism’s flops. Nope—truth doesn’t play favorites. We’re one—“fix each other with love” (Galatians 6:1), not sass. The Way’s so close—test it (1 Thessalonians 5:21). That custom-dumping? It’s not slick—it’s stiff.

Let’s Nail This Together

Psalm 133:1 declares, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Not as duplicates, but as a cohesive whole. Shabbat’s glow and Torah’s rhythm aren’t mere quirks—they’re signposts pointing straight to Yeshua, the living Word. John 8:32 promises, “The truth will set you free”—free to embrace heritage as a gift, not a burden to be torched. You’re part of “a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), a collective calling, not a lone ranger gig. Torah-observant friends, you’re on the cusp of something profound. The Way shines a light—watch it closely. Grab the mirror of Scripture and weigh your reasoning. That knee-jerk shrug at customs, that impulse to dismiss? It’s flimsy next to the bedrock of Romans 11:18: “The root supports you.” Our Jewish roots aren’t optional—they’re foundational. The Olive Tree stands firm, uniting us in purpose, not just sentiment. Let’s reason this out as mature believers: honor the heritage, test it against truth, and root ourselves in it—together. Can we rise to that?

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Footnotes

1. “Yeshua and the Feast of Dedication: A Historical Contextual Analysis,” Journal of Biblical Studies, Vol. 42, No. 3 (2023).

2. “Binding the Word: Tefillin in Second Temple Judaism and Yeshua’s Practice,” Messianic Jewish Quarterly, Spring 2022.

3. “Yeshua the Torah-Observant Jew: Customs and Continuity,” Christianity Today, Online Feature, January 2024.

4. “The Cultural World of Jesus: Hanukkah and Beyond,” Biblical Archaeology Review, Vol. 49, No. 2 (2023).

5. “Did Jesus Wear Tefillin? A Reexamination of Deuteronomy 6 in Context,” Theological Studies Online, December 2024.

6. “Yeshua and the Festivals: A Messianic Perspective,” First Fruits of Zion, Teaching Article, 2023.