Messianic Christianity - false teaching?

This will be my second attempt to write this post, having accidentally deleted my first draft.  But that's okay, because the second draft is usually better anyway.    The Bible warns us that false teachers and heretical teaching will abound.  I have found this to be true, because even in mainstream Christianity inaccurate and often detrimental teachings are common. 

Just for the record, I believe every single word of the Bible was inspired by God, both Old and New Testaments.  I don't try to dismiss certain scriptures as outdated and not applicable today.  I just believe what is written and that's what makes me less afraid to stand before God on Judgment Day, knowing I haven't twisted His Word to justify some sin of mine. 

Because I believe the entire Word of God, both Old and New Testaments, I have concluded that  a somewhat popular movement is very cultish and even possibly heretical.  It is called various things by its followers, namely "Hebrew Roots Movement", "Torah-observant", and "Messianic Christianity." 

The following is an informational excerpt from tabletmag.com:

     'These are non-Jews who have no intention of converting to Judaism yet follow laws, customs, beliefs, and practices commonly associated with Judaism.  And while they do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the messiah - though in these circle he goes exclusively by his Hebrew name, Yeshua, they are EMPHATICALLY not Christian. 

     They do not celebrate Christmas or Easter.  They do celebrate Passover and Sukkot.  They do not display crosses or other traditional Christian symbols, but will wear the Star of David and post mezuzahs on their doors. 

     The movement's central belief is that the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) is still binding - that God, or Yahweh as they call him, did not intend for Yeshua's appearance to render irrelevant the lessons of the Old Testament, whose rules and instructions remain valid.  Specific theology varies from ministry to ministry and person to person.  Most strictly observe the Jewish Sabbath, and do not eat pork, shellfish, or other foods prohibited in the Torah, and the vast majority believe that women should keep their hair covered and not wear pants.  Some fulfill mitzvoth (the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Old Testament Law and additional ones of rabbinic origin) that aren't explicitly stated or detailed in the Torah, such as praying the rabbinic liturgy and observing Hanukkah.' (end of quote)

This is not meant to be a comprehensive study on Messianic Christianity, but an introduction to a decidedly false teaching that you can explore more on your own if interested.  There are scriptures that address these beliefs to some extent, as many of the first believers after Christ's Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost were Jewish.  But to accept this movement as heretical, you first have to believe that the ENTIRE Bible is God's inspired word, both Old and New Testaments (which it doesn't seem they do).  Therefore, Paul's teachings and admonitions are not only relevant and God-inspired, but of utmost importance when deciding if Messianic Christianity is a false, if not heretical, teaching.

Two of the things that disturb me the most is the dangerous sense of superiority exuded that they are the only true believers on Earth, and also the fact that they don't feel a need to spread the Gospel.  The first has its roots in Pride, which the Bible makes clear is abhorred by God.  It also ignores the entire teachings of Grace and Salvation by Faith in the New Testament.  The second disobeys a direct command by Jesus as he ascends into heaven to spread the gospel. 

However, Messianic Christians do feel called to minister in the land of the Jews, Israel.  But since you can't proselytize (attempt to convert) in Israel, this is not fulfilling the mandate to spread the gospel.  All they can do is labor in the vineyards, which is a sure help to the owners, but not so much to their souls.

Christ made it clear that a new thing was coming, a better thing.  This better thing is known as the New Covenant or New Testament.  It's "new" because it replaced something "old".  Messianic believers do not recognize the New Covenant, so I can only assume they do not fall under the dispensation of grace, which means they are probably not truly saved or born again.  I hope for their sakes this is not the case. 

God made it clear through Paul's New Testament writings that anyone under the law will be judged according to the law, and therefore will be condemned because no one can keep it perfectly.  It only takes one slip to be guilty of failing to keep all of the law (James 2:10).  While Christ was on earth, he taught the Law and kept the feasts.  This is because the New Covenant didn't take effect until after his resurrection, so he was being obedient to His Father while the earth still labored under the Old Covenant.

Then the Lord chose the apostle Paul to be the bearer of the vast majority of New Testament teachings.  "Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead." Galatians 1:1  Paul, chosen by God to teach us about the Law and Grace, makes it ABUNDANTLY clear that the law was a schoolmaster to teach us and show us how sinful we are.  It awakens our conscience.  "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith came, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster."

That is all the Law can do.  It didn't save the Old Testament people, and it can't save us.  If it could, Christ would have come for nothing, because we would have already had a means to salvation and eternal life.  In fact, for those who place themselves willingly under the Law, they are actually cursed by God.  "Cursed is every one who doesn't continue in ALL things which are written in the book of the Law.  Gal 3:10" 

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being Gentile), but (he made) a new creation (neither Jew nor Gentile) Gal 6:15."   Also, "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, because the just shall live by faith."  We are actually heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is a covenant of faith because Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gal 3:7). 

Nowhere in the New Testament (New Covenant) are we taught that we inherited the Mosaic Law.  "For these are two covenants; one from the mount Sinai (Mosaic Law) which gives birth to bondage, but we are the children of promise Gal 4:24, 28."  "For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise; but God gave it (the inheritance) to Abraham by promise."

In fact, Paul was so concerned about the Jewish Christian's clinging to the Law that he questioned their salvation (Gal 4:11).  Paul never spoke of the Law except to link it to bondage, to ineffectual living, to war with the Spirit, and to past times before the better thing came (Christ and the Holy Spirit). 

This movement also believes in observing all the Old Testament feasts.  Regarding that is the scripture Romans 14:5-6, which also addresses not eating certain foods - "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.  Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."

Followers of Messianic Christianity have obviously chosen to ignore or discount most of the New Testament, which can only be because they don't believe the apostles were chosen and called by Christ himself.  But I do.  And I think it is dangerous to not believe the New Testament is as valid and as inspired as the Old Testament. 

I wouldn't want the apostle Paul questioning my salvation because it appeared I wanted to live under the Law.  I want to live according to the freedom Christ brought, under the power of the Holy Spirit he sent to help us live obediently.  Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin.  I do not desire to live a life of sin.  But I do desire Christ's freedom.

And that's why I would never, not ever, choose to follow the false teachings of Messianic Christianity.