Should I identify as a christian if I am walking in Torah?
Have you struggled with labels related to your identity? I have many times. But now, more than ever, I find labels to be misused and often confusing in our modern culture, especially the label of “Christian”. If you read the first Pursuing Torah blog post, I addressed the plethora of emotions we may encounter when our eyes are first opened to the fullness of Scripture, realizing things need to change. This alone can cause us to take pause and rethink how we label or identify ourselves.
When I first came into Torah, I remember feeling like I didn’t want to identify with Christianity, because every Christian I knew did not believe God’s instructions are good, or relevant for today. None of them were keeping the Biblical Sabbath or participating in His Biblical feast days/Holy days. Why would I want to identify under this title?
Although I didn’t see myself aligning with the label of Christianity, I am not of Jewish heritage or upbringing, so I could not be labeled a messianic Jew. I felt for a short period of time like I was in an identity crisis. Where exactly did I fit? It is not uncommon to feel isolated or without identity when you begin this journey. If this is how you feel, you are not alone.
We have to think about our identity because people ask: Are you still a Christian? This caused me to feel like I had to give an acceptable definition to people about my “spiritual” identity. I am a believer in Yeshua (Jesus) as my Messiah, so I could identify as Christian. It would not be an incorrect statement. After all, the literal meaning of a Christian is a follower of the Christ, correct? However, I do understand Christians today reject the Jewish heritage of Messiah, and do not live the lifestyle He lived. The goal of finding our true identify is to strip away the man-made doctrines and do things the way our Messiah did them.
There is great debate about whether or not Yeshua or any of the actual disciples referred to first believers as Christians. Yes, we see the word in some translations, but some commentators feel that it was a derogatory statement. Since they were not Jews, but wanted to follow in the footsteps of Messiah (gentiles keeping the commands of Torah) they had to be called something. Paul referred to himself as a “follower of the Way.” He also called himself a bondservant or slave to Messiah Yeshua, an emissary called and set apart for the good news of YHVH. It appears to me; he defined himself by how he felt about Yeshua. A bondservant, a follower… He was in submission to Messiah, and kept the same lifestyle. Paul kept Sabbath, the feasts, and only ate clean food- Even after Messiah was resurrected (Acts 24). Shouldn’t we make the same choice if we claim to follow Him?
This identity crisis can strengthen our journey as we seek to understand who we are IN Yeshua. Let’s look to the Word. After my own identity crisis, here are the statements I now use to identify myself to others:
1. I am Israel. By choosing to walk in His Covenant, as a set-apart people, I am indeed Israel. The covenant was specifically for Israel and those grafted into Israel. “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:5. We see this in Leviticus 24:22 where YHWH says there is one right-ruling, one law, for both the sojourner and the native. Also Hebrews 8:10 says “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” This is the new covenant. Romans 11:17 states gentiles can be grafted into the covenant given to Israel. We see this in the New Testament writings.
2. I am a follower of the Way, because Yeshua says in John 14:6, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His example is the Way! It is the Truth (Psalm 119:142). Paul Says: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets” Acts 24:14. Paul walked in the way, which was in accordance with both Messiah and the Torah.
3. I am Torah pursuant because I desire to follow the Living Word made Flesh, Yeshua, as discussed in John 1:14 “And the Word (Messiah) became flesh, and lived among us”. Yeshua did not come to do His own will, but the will of the Father. I want to be like Him.
4. I am a WHOLE Bible Believer. I believe every word is relevant, beginning to end. I believe what is written in the book of Timothy “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”. As a reminder, when this verse was penned, the Torah was the only scripture they had.
I would encourage you to think these things over, considering the truth of your identity in Messiah. What do you feel is accurate? Relevant? It is important to be prepared to answer these questions as you go along your journey.
