Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement

Recently it's come to my attention that the Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM) is growing in popularity through Facebook pages like Jesus Christ is KING (JCK), which has over 2 million likes. This page is deceptive in that it does not say straight up that they are with the HRM and posts a lot of innocent looking inspirational quotes, but mixed in with those are many posts that are legalistic and based on dangerous and false theology.

Some of their false theological beliefs are:

• we must observe the Sabbath
• we should observe OT feasts
• we should observe OT dietary laws (such as not eating pork)
• we should avoid holidays such as Christmas
• the NT is not the inspired word of God but is based on a lost Hebrew version
• unorthodox or heretical views on the Trinity

One of the key leaders in the HRM movement, Jim Staley, has a Facebook page 'Passion for Truth Ministries' which currently has 145,853 likes. As with the JCK page it is insidious in the way that it posts a mixture of truth and error.

Below is an example of a post from 'Passion for Truth Ministries' that in about 2 months has had 14,646 shares. As you can see it's good advice, but it's fluff like this that gets them a big following so that they can hook people into other false doctrines.

It is also a fact that Jim Staley has been arrested for fraud, but this hasn't stopped the JCK page from posting his teaching videos on their page. Jim Stanley also claims special revelation from God that goes beyond what the Scriptures say and distorts its meaning. (See also Missouri Secretary of State: News Release and Passion for Truth's Jim Staley Admits to Cheating Elderly Investors).

Here's a meme that was shared on JCK that is highly ironic - wolves warning everyone to beware of wolves. Matthew 7:15-16 says "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

For a brief summary of the HRM see this article - What is the Hebrew Roots Movement?.

Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement Video Part 1
This video clearly explains what the HRM is and why it is dangerous:
Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement!.

Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement Video Part 2
(Note - he oversimplifies the issue of divorce and taking to court - remember Paul took the Romans to court - so it's not always wrong to sue).
Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement #2.

Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement Video Part 3:

Exposing the Hebrew Roots Movement #3.

In discussions about this I was surprised to see one HRM follower arguing that we are under the law and that she thought that was a good thing. It's like these people have never read anything in the Bible other than the Old Testament and the Gospels. (For more on this topic see: Are Christians under the Law?)

For Further Reading / Research

• The Law of Moses and the Law of Messiah
• Who were the Judaizers?
• What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it?
• What is the Mosaic Covenant?
• Do not think I came to destroy the law
• Coke adds life - snopes.com
• Can We Please Stop With This "Yahshua" Nonsense - Ask Dr. Brown
• Is Christmas Pagan | Stand to Reason