Most large (I can not think of an exception) Messianic Ministries teach a “broad road†theology. The very fact that they are large and popular should be a clue. These “ministries,†for the most part, are still going in the ways of the world. I am writing this because a couple of them in particular are all over Facebook and get thousands of likes per day by ignorant people who do not know Yehovah’s word and who help promote these false ideas unwittingly. We must exercise caution by learning to discern the signs of a “broad road†ministry.
“Thus says Yehovah of hosts: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless. They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of Yehovah. They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘Yehovah has said, “You shall have peace.â€â€˜ And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ †For who has stood in the counsel of Yehovah, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?†(Jer 23:16-18)
That said I would like to make you aware of some things that should throw up red flags in your mind. Most people like ministries which maintain the status quo and do not challenge them to move beyond their comfort zone. They love the doctrines and traditions that they have accepted as true all their lives and ministries that reinforce those views. Unfortunately, many of these doctrines do not conform to the very words of Yehovah that were given to Israel’s seed (perversely know as “the children of Israelâ€) through Moses and His other Prophets.
Here are some things I look for:
Caution! Are They INCORPORATED With The Kingdoms Of Men?
Is the particular ministry INCORPORATED with the STATE, or do they operate a 501c3 organization with PERMISSION granted to them by the Federal Government (their true elohim, lawmakers and judges) or both?
Yehovah’s people are not to have covenants with the world.
“You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their elohim. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their elohim, it will surely be a snare to you.†(Exo 23:32-33)
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness [Torah-less people]? And what communion has light with darkness?†2Co 6:14
Caution! Are They Building Their Own
Kingdom Or Yehovah’s Kingdom?
When Yeshua taught , His focus was always on Yehovah and His Kingdom. From Creation, the good news that all Yehovah’s true men have brought to the sons of belial has always been that Yehovah reigns!
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.†(Mat 6:9-10)
“How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your Elohim reigns!†(Isa 52:7)
Jasher 3:7 “And all the sons of men then assembled to him, for all who desired this thing went to Enoch, and Enoch reigned over the sons of men according to the word of Yehovah and they came and bowed to him and they heard his word.
8 And the spirit of Elohim was upon Enoch, and he taught all his men the wisdom of Elohim and His ways, and the sons of men served Yehovah all the days of Enoch, and they came to hear his wisdom.â€
Caution! Are They Teaching That Anything Has Changed?
Do they teach that ANY of Yehovah’s eternal and unchanging word has passed away or changed? Do they promote New Testament or Talmudic ideas that have no foundation in Moses and the Prophets?
“To the Torah [Yehovah’s word given to Moses] and to the testimony [Yehovah’s words given to His other prophets]! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.†(Isa 8:20)
“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.†(Deu 12:32)
“Every word of Elohim is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.†(Pro 30:5-6)
Caution! Do They Teach That There Are Gentiles In Yehovah’s Kingdom?
Do they teach that there are only two kinds of men in Israel; the Ezrach (the one born in the land) and the Ger (the stranger that dwells with them) who both keep the same instructions from Yehovah?
“Therefore remember that you [we are talking about men], once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, … being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world.†(Eph 2:11-12)
“One law shall be for the native-born [Ezrach] and for the stranger [Ger] who dwells among you.†(Exo 12:49)
“One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly [the Ezrach men] and for the stranger [Ger] who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger [Ger] be before Yehovah. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger [Ger] who dwells with you. †(Num 15:15-16)
“You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born [Ezrach] among Israel’s seed and for the stranger [Ger] who dwells among them. But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born [Ezrach] or a stranger [Ger], that one brings reproach on Yehovah, and he shall be cut off from among his people.†(Num 15:29-30)
Caution! Who Do They Say Is The Savior?
Do they teach a trinitarian (3 in one) or a binitarian (2 in one) theology that makes Yeshua (Jesus)Â and Yehovah, one in the same? Do they make Yeshua the Savior?
“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of YEHOVAH shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as Yehovah has said, among the remnant whom Yehovah calls.†(Joe 2:32)
“You are My witnesses,†says Yehovah, And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no Elohim formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am Yehovah, and besides Me there is no savior.†(Isa_43:10-11)
“For who is El, except Yehovah? And who is a rock, except our Elohim?†(2Sa 22:32)
“Yet I am Yehovah, your Elohim. Ever since the land of Egypt. And you shall know no Elohim but Me; For there is no savior besides Me.†(Hos 13:4)
Caution! What Do They Teach About The Role Of A Man And A Women?
Do they teach the differences between the duties and responsibilities for men versus those for women; or do they treat each sex the same?
Yehovah did not give His commandments to all the people at Sinai. Not even all men! He gave them to His Ezrach men AFTER they left Egypt (with their families) and came into covenant with Him at Passover. And he told us (I am an Ezrach man) to not even go near a woman for 3 days before he spoke to us. The only time Yehovah directly spoke to a woman and told her what to do was in the garden after the fall of her man.
To the woman [×”×ש××”] He said: … thy desire shall be for thy man [×יש×ך], and he shall rule over thee.†(Gen 3:16)
Men rule over women, not Yehovah!
Caution! Do They Pervert Yehovah’s Passover Instructions?
Do they teach a True Passover, or rather a “Sederâ€, “foot-washing†or “communion serviceâ€? Is there any foundation for doing any of these in Moses or the Prophets?
Caution, Caution, Caution! Broad Road Ahead!
These warning signs are not easy to hear. I know! But that is because we have learned many lies, worthless and unprofitable things. I am here to help you, and I want to help you deepen your knowledge and understandings so that you can live in wisdom.
Our safety is in knowing and understanding Torah (Yehovah’s words given through Moses) and His other prophets. Do not accept something as true just because it comes from a large and well-known ministry; its large size IS evidence that it is promoting a “broad road†theology.