Advice For New Brethren

To Avoid Being Drunken On The Wine Of Mystery Babylon

Try Not To Follow Blindly:

One of the biggest problems of why many become lost into denominational traditions without being even aware that they stand against truth is because they follow blindly the leaders aka pastors, rabbis, and priest without question.  Somewhere this false idea is put over many new believer’s head that they are not to question the words spoken by their leaders. 

Here’s a scripture that new believers should look into when they are rebuked for questioning or begin to fear they are doing something wrong by investigating something that is being told to them in Acts 17:10-12;  “10   But as soon as night fell, the brothers sent Sha’ul and Sila off to Berea. As soon as they arrived, they went to the synagogue. 11  Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh (scriptures) every day to see if the things Sha’ul was saying were true.

Here we have that despite the fact that Shaul (Paul) was himself an emissary (apostle) of Meshiach, those of Berea still examined what he said by the Tanakh, they did not take his word for it simply cause he carried the title of emissary.  So if Shaul can be examined of what he said, surely mere priest, pastors, and rabbis can be scrutinized for what they teach.  Don’t be afraid to question, challenge, and research things people tell you.

Read The Scriptures As A Treasure Chest That Needs To Be Pried Apart:

You should realize that the scriptures are a very powerful and valuable jewel that takes digging to bring up it’s total glory! Realize that upon reading it in it’s entirety will not glean all it’s value but you must be a faithful treasure seeker and continue to read it over and over again!  In this you’ll (via the spirit) will begin to glean more and more information, instructions, and truths!

Knowledge is power to an extent and the more you read for YOURSELF without injecting manmade bias and teachings the more you will know for yourself.  You will have scriptural ground to stand on in your own understanding that the FATHER has blessed you with. Always read scriptures without bias and never allow traditions to cloud your conclusions. 

Read it prayerfully and intently, not just taking a casual stab at it like a hobby.  You should read scriptures with the intent of gaining knowledge or information in each day you read it.  I truly suggest that you obtain a scripture CD program linked on my site or if you are without a CPU you should obtain helpful study tools. These should be used as much as possible along side your scripture study.

Read It From Beginning To End:

One major mistake made by new believers is that they are told that they should start off reading in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and sometimes specifically told to read the good news of Yochanan (Gospel of John).  This is a terrible mistake as it would be no different than telling someone to get from Florida to Washington State instructing them to start off with a map in Montana. 

The Tanakh (Old Testament) is the greater portion of scripture and the foundational portion.  The Meshiach himself followed what was written in it as well as the Emissaries (Apostles) and early believers of the faith.  Many make the mistake of not understanding that those who were of the faith read and gained understanding from the Tanakh and had no NT to read from.

One must also remember that the Brit Chadasha outside of the “Good News” is mainly made up of letters (Epistles) that explain in a magnified manner the Tanakh. You will find as you learn scripture that a good portion of statements in the Brit Chadasha are quotes from Tanakh or a subject dealt with in Tanakh that’s being clarified for those reading the letters.

One should start in the beginning and learn the Torah (First Five Books Of OT).  By this they will gain a better understanding of what’s being said in the Brit Chadasha and WHAT’S NOT being said.  As one learns Torah to some degree then they can (if desired) then begin to read the “Books Of Good News”  to gain an understanding of how we live in the covenant of Yisrael in today’s day.

Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Pressured To  Submit To A Group:

Don’t EVER assume that you must submit to the doctrines of a particular group, always investigate every aspect of their beliefs/traditions and reject what it is you don’t see as truth according to scripture.  Many churches use scare/pressure tactics to keep their members in some state of check concerning what they accept as truth.  Many churches/organizations try to cause their members to limit their exposure to only things taught in their particular organization.

Don’t Get Hinged Down In Blind Loyalty To One Particular Group:

Don’t EVER assume that you HAVE to be loyal to one organization/group.  Many organizations/churches bring about an unspoken rule that you can only be apart of one church. Many churches assume that they are without error and that every other church is wrong.  From my experience/knowledge and that of others I know personally, no church today has a corner on truth.

I truly suggest that one takes part in fellowship groups, forums, etc. and be very careful with attending churches today.  I would suggest personally for one that feels they must attend some group to help them along with their beginnings that they attend a Seventh Day Adventist Church, Messianic Synagogue, or some Torah Keeping House Fellowship.  Let it be known now that I am not apart of any of the above nor do I fully agree with any of them, however for a new beginner I feel these would be helpful to some extent.

As you go on your journey realize that it is best not to honker down to only one group and what they say.  It is truly best to listen to other people (with investigative ears), check out other groups, and most important of all, learn for yourself through prayer and the spirit.

Don’t Be Taken By The Phrase “Don’t forsake the assembling of yourselves as the manner of some is…”

Many take that to mean that no matter what they have to be some part of an organization.  Fellowship is good and needful but it does not require subjecting yourself to falsehood to obtain it,  fellowship can be done with as little as two people.

How To Handle Teachings:

First a serious new believer should pick themselves up the various tools needed to make the journey better as one would when they are trying out some new sport or adventure.  Just as tools are required for those activities so is it the same when it comes to taking on the journey of faith.

The scriptures are obviously the most important thing to posses but there are other tools that one should purchase immediately!  On my LINKS page I list some great Scripture programs that are very useful for learning scriptures, studying, and learning the original terms used in scriptures.  Any of them are a great asset to a serious learner of the word.  We are not called to simply have a pastor do the studying and reading for us during a church service. NO we are called to take on the word of the Father for ourselves as well!  These programs usually come with various versions of scriptures which is very helpful.

If you do not own a computer, other great tools that can be used are; various version of scriptures, do not get stuck in the mentality that only one version is the best, obtain various version to be able to compare what is written (understanding that no translator is perfect).  I would suggest obtaining “The Scriptures”, “The Complete Jewish Bible”, and the “American Standard Version” for starters. 

You will also want to obtain a concordance, Strong’s is usually a good concordance book but you can shop for others as well.  You will also want to purchase an interlinear Hebrew/Greek Scriptures and also a book dealing with the original terms and their definitions.

1.       Challenge Them: Challenge anything you hear rather it be from a book, internet, a church, friend, and even traditions you held as truth at one time, and even doctrines you currently hold as truth.  Challenge yourself without bias to why you believe something is true.  Check out an opposing opinion once you have SOLID foundation in scriptures for yourself. Always be opened minded (not one easily convinced or ready to swallow) to opposing viewpoints.

2.      Avoid The Swallowing Syndrome: As said, do not swallow without examination anything you hear.  Take the effort to study for yourself, there are too many tools available so that the average Joe can study any scriptural topic desired.

3.      Check All References: People and Pastors tend to try to prove a doctrine with a handful of verses here there and everywhere.  I suggest that you take a subject and study all of it’s mentions in the scriptures from Genesis/Bereshith to Revelation. Focus on what the original term was, how the audience OF THAT TIME would have taken it, study the CONTEXT surrounding such verses, and then come to a conclusion.

4.      Hold It As Possible Truth Until Settled For Yourself, But Don’t Cement It Before You Have Full Knowledge Of That Subject: You should only hold something as true confidently if you have done your own unbiased and personal study into the matter.

Understand The “Hebraic” Context Of All Scripture VS. A Western/Greek Perspective:

A new believer needs to understand a very IMPORTANT fact concerning the scriptures they pick up to read, they need to understand that 99% of the authors that were inspired to write the scriptures were Hebrews.  These individuals were Hebrews, lived a Hebraic lifestyle, had a Hebraic perspective, and wrote in a Hebraic manner.

This is important because many new and older believers read the scriptures with a modern Westernized mentality thinking that this is the way to understand scripture.  THIS is the one MAJOR way many come to totally misunderstand scripture and begin to believe on false doctrines/beliefs/traditions.

I will deal with an example that many fail to understand.  Many read the word “God/god” in scripture in a Westernized perspective that says the word “God/god” strictly deals with a supreme being in the heavens.  MOST in today’s culture in America would immediately assume you are speaking of such when you use such a term.

HOWEVER what is not realized is that today’s English “Bibles” translated “God/god” from the Hebrew word “Elohim” and Greek term “Theos”.  What usually one has no idea that those two terms are used in a much broader manner than the term “God/god” in English.  The terms Elohim/Theos are used even in scripture to identify judges, authority figures, mighty ones, gods, and “God”.

Understanding such a simple fact would help someone extremely in understanding scriptures!  Here’s an example: “Exodus 7:1 And YHVH told Moshe, look I have made you a Elohim to Pharoah…”  There is absolutely no problem with this usage as Moshe was an Elohim to the children of Yisrael.  However he was not seen as equal to YHVH the Supreme Elohim of the universe. This can be seen using  “Strong’s” Definition/Concordance, an interlinear bible, or other various tools that define the term Elohim/Theos.

Another example would be; most readers come across verses that mention the term “spirit” or “ghost” and immediately think of the context in terms of Westernized thinking. In other words they begin to read into the text the idea of a ghostly figure/object. The think of the idea of a human having some inner figure that floats around out of the body but this is not the way in which those scriptures are written.

The Hebrew term “ruach” and Greek term “pneuma” are terms that mostly deal with wind, breath, life, and mind.  Most scriptures that use these terms are dealing with the “mind” of a person and not some invisible/ghostly object as portrayed in Western society.

The above is a very small taste of the damage done by believers who never come to understand that scriptures  are very Hebraic, were written from a Hebraic perspective, by Hebraic authors.  Now this does not mean that today’s Modern Rabbinical Judaism is truth. I’m simply saying that truth used the Hebrews as an avenue of truth in ancient times.  One must realize the perspective, idioms, language, etc. of the time and not inject Western thought into the text.

I am not saying that with every single word you must immediately think of ancient times, the spirit will truly help you understand as you go through the entirety of scriptures.  But you have to open your mind to the fact that it is Hebraic and not Western.

As a summary I say again that personally I believe a new beginner should learn scripture for themselves (actual effort) using scripture study tools, fellowship groups, forums, tinvestigating various positions for yourself via the internet and books.  This is of course the hard way and many are too lazy to learn for themselves but would rather someone spoon feed them and that’s a serious problem today.  This usually leads to believing in false doctrines and grasping onto erroneous traditions as truth without even knowing it.