HEBREW ROOTS MOVEMENT
In their desire to be authentic believers, a growing number of Jews and Christians, have left their traditional religions and merged into one of the many emerging forms of a movement that desires to  return to Hebrew or Jewish roots. A quick internet search will identify many links to commentaries and ministries related to this movement. The list below is only a small sample of sites that provide history,  descriptions and evaluation of this movement.

Investigating these and other sites reveals that the Hebrew Roots movement is identified by several different generic names: Messianic Judaism, Messianic Christianity, Sacred Name Movement and the Worldwide Church of God. There are so many variations within this movement that it is hard to summarize key elements.  But it is generally true that they all recognize and value obedience to the Mosaic Law. Thus, Hebrew Roots religionists will follow Jewish customs like observing the Sabbath, the Major feasts, and dietary laws. Some will even go so far as to adopt Jewish style dress and other distinctive features of worship that brand them as Messianic believers. And they do all of this in the context of basic Christian doctrines that recognize Jesus as their savior.

Although we (i.e. authors) have dabbled in many of these movements, we emphatically claim that we do not subscribe to the teachings of any of them. In fact, we do not subscribe to any movement — including Judaism or Christianity. The way we see it, all movements are traditions created by men. They may say that they are based on the Bible, whether the Old Testament, the New Testament, or both, but whatever scriptures they say they follow are tainted, distorted and perverted by other doctrines created by men. Their religions are also defiled by failure to consider the Bible comprehensively, and the prevailing tendency to interpret it literally instead of symbolically. They all have their own sets of laws that govern their religions.

Galatians 3:19-26: What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; [and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one; but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now faith that is come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.

All political and religious movements are created by men. God  allows his people to participate in these movements but he keeps (i.e. guards, protects) and shuts them up until he releases them to faith which is a code word for New Covenant. God’s ultimate purpose is to lead everyone into New Covenant discipleship which is equated with faith which is the fulfillment of God’s spiritual laws. 

Because this is how God uses religious movements of all kinds, we should not be surprised that they exist and that religious people willingly join them. We should be concerned, however, if we do not examine what we believe, and why we believe it.

In the Bible, this process is called overcoming. and maturing.