The following "Confronting Issues" booklets describe a variety of important topics facing today's Messianic movement.

ADDRESSING THE FREQUENTLY AVOIDED ISSUES MESSIANICS ENCOUNTER IN THE TORAH
© 2009 TNN Press

Focusing on God’s instructions in the Torah is an undeniable part of not only the Messianic lifestyle, but also the Messianic experience. Ever since the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, the public reading of the Torah to instruct God’s people on what was acceptable and unacceptable behavior has been a regular practice, something that is also witnessed in the Apostolic Scriptures, and continues in the traditions of today’s Jewish Synagogue. The repetition of hearing Moses’ Teaching is important for men and women of faith, particularly in understanding the fuller meaning of “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). The statutes and commandments of the Torah are to make God’s people different from the rest of the world, possessing qualities and wisdom that attract outsiders to Him (Deuteronomy 4:6).

When the Torah is examined and carefully scrutinized, and not just surveyed for people, places, and events—it becomes quite clear that Torah observance is much more than just Shabbat, the festivals, and kosher. A great number of ethical and moral issues/commandments become significantly conscious to the Torah reader. Likewise, a person has to encounter a world going not only back some 3,300 years to the time of the Exodus, but multiplied millennia to the Creation of the cosmos itself. The questions and the controversies that the first five books of the Bible present to us, not just as students of God’s Word, but specifically as Messianic Believers—are quite significant. Many people do not know what to do when the social norms of the ancient period are different than those of today, and are often at a loss when reading the Torah. Not infrequently, such issues are just avoided or outright ignored in Messianic Torah study.

As the Messianic movement prepares to enter into a new chapter in both its spiritual and theological development, there is much in the Torah that needs to be explored by us. Today’s Messianic community need not find itself (unnecessarily) lagging behind in a variety of important areas, as having a better handle on them will help us in both our Biblical Studies and in understanding the mission that the Lord has laid out for us—to be a kingdom of priests and a light that can make a difference in the world (Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 42:6)!

THE "EPHRAIMITE ERROR":
CRITICAL ERRORS
© 2009 TNN Press

The "Ephraimite Error" white paper was originally produced in 1999 by the International Messianic Jewish Alliance (IMJA) to combat a teaching that it saw as very dangerous to the Body of Messiah. People believing in the Two-House teaching of Judah and Ephraim were effectively branded as cultists and heretics, and the subject matter was something to be quickly put aside and never discussed again. The "Ephraimite Error" is commonly referred to when the Two-House teaching arises in various Messianic congregations.

 In spite of such negative words, the subject matter is not something that is going way. The Holy Scriptures do prophecy of a greater restoration of all Israel in the end-times: a restoration that includes the House of Judah, the scattered House of Israel/Ephraim, and companions from the nations. Viewing this restoration objectively has been made difficult as a direct result of the "Ephraimite Error," as one needs to be able to sort out the legitimate data from the noise. TNN Online editor J.K. McKee does this, addressing six critical errors advocated by the white paper:

1. No alternative interpretation of the two sticks prophecy of Ezekiel 37 is given
2. The false idea that we teach that non-Israelites cannot be saved
3. The false idea that the Two-House teaching is a reworked form of British-Israelism
4. The false idea that the Apostolic Scriptures do not at all speak of the Two Houses of Israel
5. The false idea that obeying God’s Torah is optional and is thus not necessary for non-Jews
6. The false idea that Two-House teaching and its proponents represent a dangerous threat to the State of Israel

The "Ephraimite Error": Critical Errors is an excellent tool to have when trying to moderate the disputes that have erupted between Messianic Jews and advocates of the Two-House teaching. It attempts to provide a mature approach to the issues at hand. It addresses where the white paper is in error, but also where improvements and refinements can be made to the Two-House teaching.

DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT
ANNUL THE BIBLICAL APPOINTMENTS?
© 2008 TNN Press

Today’s Messianic community believes and advocates that our Heavenly Father is restoring the celebration of the Biblical appointments or moedim, chiefly found in Leviticus 23. Messianic Believers find great enrichment every year going through these annual festivals, rehearsing God’s plan of salvation history. We bereave the fact that too many of our Christian brethren have not partaken of the blessings of knowing things like the Passover, Shavuot, or Sukkot.

Some say that because of Yeshua’s sacrifice at Golgotha (Calvary), the Torah or Law of Moses has been abolished, and thus the moedim or appointed times are done away with, annulled, and abolished. Some believe that they might be important for us to understand in an historical sense for understanding the Bible, but not to be followed as standard elements of our orthopraxy. There are those who say that the Apostle Paul gave us specific instruction in his epistles that we are no longer to celebrate the “Old Testament holidays.”

Does the New Testament Annul the Biblical Appointments? takes a look at Galatians 4:9-11, Colossians 2:16-17, and Romans 14:5-6, providing answers to the Messianic or Christian Believer with critical questions.

LOOKING AT THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
© 2008 TNN Press

How many of you have been bombarded with the idea that “the End” is certainly close, because of all the “unusual” geological and meteorological activities that seem to be occurring at a rate never seen before? How many of you have been told certain things about all of the earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, comets, and even blood red moons that are heralding certain doom?

It is said of all the scientists that it is the geologist who is the best suited to view the Earth in its entirety. This means that he or she will understand how this dynamic Earth on which we live is connected to the geological, climatological, and astronomical events we see all around us on the ground and in the sky, and help others understand. God has created an amazing place on which to place His Creation!

Margaret McKee Huey of Outreach Israel Ministries, a geologist, tackles some of the important signs of the End that are seen in the Holy Scriptures. This teaching, Looking at the Signs of the Times, addresses important end-time phenomenon from a scientifically minded perspective.

ANSWERING THE "FREQUENTLY AVOIDED QUESTIONS" ABOUT THE MESSIAHSHIP OF YESHUA
© 2008 TNN Press

One of the oldest debates that has existed between Jews and Christians for two millennia is whether or not Yeshua of Nazareth is the promised Messiah. Most of Judaism has rejected Yeshua as Messiah for a number of reasons, and has developed arguments against who He is. These reasons shake the faith of the naïve and undiscerning.

As a direct response to the rise of Messianic Judaism in the past thirty years, and Jewish people coming to faith in Yeshua, the anti-missionary movement within Orthodox Judaism has arisen. Anti-missionaries target Jewish Believers for re-conversion back to a Messiah-less Judaism. Now, as many Christians have investigated their Hebraic Roots and shown a greater love for the Jewish people and traditions of Judaism, many have found themselves as easy prey for the arguments levied against Yeshua by the same anti-missionaries—and many more are denying the Lord.

In Answering the “Frequently Avoided Questions” Against the Messiahship of Yeshua, TNN Online editor J.K. McKee demonstrates how weak many of the anti-missionary arguments are, especially as they are presented from an Orthodox Jewish theology that sits in a textual and historical vacuum. Ten of the common reasons given against Yeshua’s Messiahship are carefully refuted from an engaged perspective. Also considered are some of the future challenges that exist in Messianic theology that are directly connected to people who renounce faith in Yeshua as Messiah.

ANSWERING THE "FREQUENTLY AVOIDED QUESTIONS" ABOUT THE DIVINITY OF YESHUA
© 2008 TNN Press

Whether or not Yeshua the Messiah is Divine, or was just a human empowered by God, is an old debate going back several millennia. It is not that surprising that the Divinity of Yeshua has been under attack in today’s emerging Messianic community. Per a great deal of hostility displayed toward “Christian theology,” many consider a Divine Savior to be an errant belief that needs to be discarded—and claim to have Scriptural support for their case.

In recent days, a sector of Messianics have arisen that forcibly assert that Yeshua is not God in the flesh. They have used a variety of means to do so, primarily by catch phrases and overly-simplistic assertions made about Biblical concepts. While some claim to have support against Yeshua’s Divinity, does their support really stand up to close scrutiny? Have people stayed away from the subject because the “frequently avoided questions” are actually very easy to answer?

In Answering the “Frequently Avoided Questions” Against the Divinity of Yeshua, TNN Online editor J.K. McKee demonstrates this issue to indeed be one of salvation, and the level of engagement of anti-Divinity Messianics to be surface level at best. Also included is the article “What Does the Shema Really Mean?” which analyzes the oneness of God, and whether or not the Father and Son can co-exist.

THE EFFECT OF MYSTICISM AND GNOSTICISM ON THE MESSIANIC MOVEMENT
© 2008 TNN Press

As today’s Messianic community strives to return to the First Century faith of the Disciples and Apostles, we will not just be facing “common problems” like adultery, idolatry, or even sins such as lying. We will also contend with some of the very specific religious problems that the First Century ekklēsia faced. Very few when examining Scripture, unfortunately, fail to consider it in its historical context. Many do not have an understanding of First Century Judaism, Greco-Roman religion, Second and Third Century Christianity, and the various mystery religions and cults that existed. Too many fail to consider the gross religious errors that were circulating throughout the First Century that affected the early Believers in Yeshua—and how some of these same errors are affecting Believers today.

Have you encountered any current Messianic teachings that relate to Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, numerology, Hebrew letter pictures, the Bible code, or the Gnostic Scriptures? Do you ever question where these things actually come from and where they are seen in religious history? Are you wondering if these things have any Biblical basis and true spiritual value? TNN Online editor J.K. McKee directly addresses the problem of mysticism and Gnosticism in the Messianic movement, and how we need to be aware that these things are being used by the enemy to draw many people away from the truth of the gospel and mission that God has for us.

YOU WANT TO BE A PHARISEE
© 2007 TNN Press

Having the accusation of being a “Pharisee” is one that is not only commonly used by some Christians against Messianic Believers, but has become integrated into the vernacular language of many Christians relating to any individual or group that is perceived as being legalistic and/or archaic in their approach to society and the Bible. It is perceived among many people that being “Pharisaical” is a status that no born again Believer should even try to attain to, because after all, were not the Pharisees the primary antagonists of Jesus Christ? Did not Yeshua have most of His conflicts with the Pharisees and the Pharisaical religious system? Did He not rebuke the Pharisees time and time again for their keeping of the Law?

Few are aware of the fact that the foundational ideas of Messianic faith are firmly rooted within the tenets of Pharisaism. The beliefs in angels, demons, miracles, an afterlife, the Holy Spirit, and the resurrection all stem from the Pharisees. Without a theology based in Pharisaism, today’s evangelical Christianity has little to stand upon.

TNN Online editor J.K. McKee addresses the significance of Pharisaical theology to Messianic Believers, and how we can work beyond some of the extremes we often face.

REVISITING THE TWO-HOUSE TEACHING
© 2007 TNN Press

The Two-House teaching of Judah and Ephraim has become a lightning rod in much of the Messianic community. Many believe it is a claim to a person’s lost “birthright,” whereby all Believers should begin to take a stake in the Land of Israel and make aliyah. Many others also believe that the Two-House teaching is a form of racially-based salvation, with redemption only available to physical descendants of the Patriarchs. Is this really what the Two-House teaching is as defined by the prophecies of Scripture?

Those who recognize what the Two-House teaching actually is—a critical and often overlooked component in the end-time restoration of God’s Kingdom—are often sidelined from the extremism that commonly dominates the current discussions. Yet, an objective and moderate approach to the issue is absolutely imperative if all Israel is to be gathered together prior to the return of Yeshua.

In Revisiting the Two-House Teaching TNN Online editor J.K. McKee explains what the restoration of Israel is from the Scriptures, how Israel has a mandate from God to bless the entire world, and how Messianic Believers must change their approach to this topic in order to be effective in His service.

THE QUEST FOR CREDIBILITY
© 2007 TNN Press

Today's Messianic movement is reaching out to fill a need in the lives of people who desire renewal in their relationship with God. Many have been blessed as they have adopted a lifestyle of Torah obedience and in understanding the ministry of Yeshua from a First Century Jewish perspective. Yet as the Messianic community has grown, so have there appeared various obstacles to some of the objectives we believe that the Lord is desiring to see accomplished.

What three areas of teaching will seriously discredit the Messianic movement in the minds of those who are sincerely convicted about the message of Torah observance and the restoration of all Israel? TNN Online editor J.K. McKee addresses these three areas: (1) Denial of the Divinity of Yeshua the Messiah, (2) Denial of the Inspiration of the Greek New Testament, (3) Treating Christians with utter contempt and hatred.

How are we to become a force of positive change for the community of faith in the coming years? How will we be considered believable? These, and other pertinent questions, are asked in The Quest for Credibility.

THE ROLE OF HISTORY IN MESSIANIC BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
© 2007 TNN Press

The need to understand the passages of the Bible in their original historical and cultural contexts cannot be overstated in an age when criticism against the Scriptures is at an all time high. How is today's Messianic movement to adopt a more valid historical approach to Scripture that considers the larger world that Ancient Israel found itself? How are we to properly employ extra-Biblical literature in interpreting the Biblical text? How are we to understand the worldview of those who originally participated in the Biblical events?

These are some very important questions to consider as today's Messianic theology moves ahead, and as we contemplate our role in an ever-decreasing world beset by globalization and multi-culturalism. How important it is for us to understand the diversity of the Bible, and how it might effect our role and mission as the people of God today?

TNN Online editor J.K. McKee addresses this subject in a thorough, challenging, yet reasonable way―as Messianic Believers seek to be a people who can be used effectively in God's service today.

THE TOP TEN URBAN MYTHS OF TODAY'S MESSIANIC MOVEMENT
© 2007 TNN Press

Over the past ten years (1997-2007), the Messianic movement has been able to grow in leaps and bounds. New people are coming to a revelation of their Hebraic Roots and congregations are budding. But the theology of the Messianic community and our Biblical studies have largely not been able to keep up with the growth. As a result, this has led to a significant number of concepts and ideas floating around that are not only non-scriptural, but also non-factual.

What are some things that have been permitted to circulate in the Messianic movement that classify as being non-factual, and at best someone’s opinion? What are some of the areas where we need to progress in order to become a mature and stable move of God? What are some of the challenges before us?

In a detailed yet pragmatic way, TNN Online editor J.K. McKee tackles the challenges of the “top ten” urban myths floating in our midst. He encourages a positive change on behalf of Messianic Believers so that we can all be empowered by the Lord to make a significant difference on our local communities and the world at large.