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| Restoration: Returning the Torah of God to the Disciples of Jesus | 
 enlarge | Author: D. Thomas Lancaster
Publisher: First Fruits of Zion
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (15 reviews)
Sales Rank: 263659
Media: Paperback
Pages: 193
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 0.6
ISBN: 1892124211
EAN: 9781892124210
ASIN: 1892124211
Publication Date: August 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 The Beauty of the Messiah June 8, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is, obviously, written in support of a very controversial view, which you may or may not agree with. Even if you disagree, however, you will find a lot of meaningful insights in here that are simply not taught in traditional Christianity.
My favorite example is the biblical festivals, which are outlined in this book. It still blows my mind what a deep connection there is between God's festivals, instituted in Leviticus 23, and our Messiah's life. One could argue that every major event of Yeshua's [Jesus's] life (birth, death, resurrection, sending of the Holy Spirit) took place on the very day of a festival with a connected meaning!
While the author includes plenty of Scripture along with other writings to support his view, his overall approach is not to try to explain every little verse (usually Pauline) that traditional Christianity uses against Torah. Instead, he paints a picture of Torah life in which we can see our beloved Messiah in every stroke of the brush. If you are looking for a detailed exegesis, this is probably not the book for you. Hope Egan's book "Holy Cow! Does God Care about What We Eat?" actually includes an appendix with writings by Lancaster that show more completely why several specific NT Scriptures were not intended to abolish the dietary laws or Torah -- that book may be more helpful if you are wondering about some specific passages.
In support of Lancaster's view, however, I have noticed that everyone who speaks against it relies almost exclusively on the writings of Paul. Let's keep in mind that the Torah itself was given by God, not by men! If we tried to rely on Yeshua's own words, we would find scarce support for abolishing the Torah. Better yet, go back even further. What is the concept of Messiah based on? It is based on the Torah and the Prophets -- the Hebrew Scriptures. As the last chapter poignantly points out, God taught in the Torah that any prophet performing signs and wonders who teaches against Torah is a FALSE prophet. That means that when devout Jews reject Jesus, it is often because we misrepresent Him as teaching against the Torah. You MUST keep these things in mind before skipping to the end of the Bible and using Paul's writings to bash Torah. You must also learn to recognize the meanings of euphemisms that were used in the NT (such as "yoke", "under Law", and "circumcision"), and to distinguish when Yeshua or Paul refer to the oral Torah versus the written Torah. All of these things are discussed in the book.
The most striking thing I have noticed, however, is that those who speak against this view use phrases such as "scary implications." When I first contemplated following Torah, it scared me to death and seemed like a huge burden. When the Spirit finally got through to me, I realized something very important: The Torah, correctly interpreted by our Master, is not a burden at all. My justification before God has already been accomplished, so I have no need to be anxious about it. Living out Torah commands only increases my passion for following Yeshua. Every time I choose to do something as simple as not eat pork, it is an act of worship for my Creator. I have come to see, as Lancaster puts it, the "beauty of Torah life." Folks, the Torah is a wonderful GIFT from God. It is not something to fear! Go read Psalm 119, and then consider reading this book with an open heart.
 Great for Law-Keepers; awful for understanding the Bible April 18, 2007
8 out of 25 found this review helpful
I agree with D. Niblack's review. This book uses flattery, gross distortions of many Scriptures (mainly Paul's), and unsound understanding of the gospel in order to persuade the reader to return to keep the Torah or Old Testament Law in addition to faith. The author claims a Christian (Jew or Gentile) is justified by faith, but as a result of love and obedience to God, the believer should also keep the law. He cites as evidence the fact that most Christians already keep much of the moral aspects of the law. He further buttresses his case by dubiously (actually falsely in my opinion) claiming that keeping the law of Moses was the norm for the early church until stamped out by persecution of the Jews.
Deftly mixing truth with error, he is highly effective. In addition to the absurd manipulations of Paul's writings, he builds his entire argument on the premise that the Apostles (including Paul) and early Christians (Gentiles as well as Jews) kept the Jewish law. He makes this assertion with absolutely no evidence other than claiming the existence of some early Christian sects with this belief. Since early church history is rife with strange sects, this belief can hardly be taken as sanctioned by either God or the Apostles. In his claim that Paul also kept the law, he sidesteps Paul's own testimony contrary to the effect, in particular "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." - Gal. 2:19.
He devotes an entire chapter to twisting Paul's writings to say the mean the exact opposite of their clear meaning, blaming the traditional understanding on anti-Jewish prejudices. For example, he cites Col 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Instead of the rather obvious meaning (based on the overall context as well as the understanding of the rest of Paul's teachings) that the Colossians should permit no man to judge for not keeping these days, he turns it completely around to say that they should not allow anyone to judge them for keeping these Jewish holidays. Interestingly, the New Testament does not record anyone who would forbid or judge them for keeping a Jewish holiday (except for Paul, but then Paul wouldn't be writing such a statement in that case), but rather records over and over the work of the Judaizers who would judge a man for not keeping the Mosaic law.
In another chapter, he asserts that instead of using the NT as a lens with which to view and interpret the OT, we should use the Torah (Mosaic Law) as a lens to interpret the NT. In one fell swoop without a bit of support from Scripture he throws out the entire NT, particularly the Pauline epistles in many readers minds.
In summary, this book is an excellent source for those who do not understand the gospel and prefer the rituals of Judaism to Christ. For those who believe Christ is sufficient for them, they need not read such cleverly devised fables and doctrines of men.
Real Eye-Opener March 12, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Lancaster presents some great arguments as to why all Christians (both Jew and Gentile) should observe the commandments of the "Old" Covenant. He explains that the "New" Covenant is really the "renewed" covenent - the "Old" Covenant that is written in the hearts of believers (as opposed to to the old covenant written in stone).
This book should be considered an introduction to Torah Observance. After reading this book, I have a hunger to perform more in-depth research in this area. I believe that is one of the primary motivations of Lancaster in writing this book - to motivate Christians to research this topic in-depth.
Early Church Fathers? November 16, 2006
8 out of 14 found this review helpful
In response to a few reviewers out here I too wonder about the early church fathers.
We tend to hear about all of the wonderful and Godly things they did for the church but when you read some of their comments it seems that they were 100% anti-Semitic and only tried to capture the power of the risen Christ for themselves in a politicized version of Christianity. It was as if they figured they would harness the power of the Cross or have the believers run all over them.
From Chrysostom onward to Martin Luther I have read quotes that seem quite odd to me.
Apparently the Christian Easter celebration was always held during the time of the Jewish Passover. The Passover had meaning in Christ. Constantine (Council of Nicaea) in a very apparent anti-Semitic move said, "It is unbecoming that on the holiest of festivals we should follow the customs of the Jews; henceforth let us have nothing in common with this odious people." It was then that Easter was changed. The celebration was taken from God's calendar and placed within the traditions of men.
Interestingly Jesus was a Jew who lived as a Jew and celebrated/practiced the customs of the Jews. How could early church fathers make anti-Semitic statements yet still claim to be in the spirit of Christ who was a Jew?
A quote attributed to Martin Luther states......"First, their synagogues or churches should be set on fire, and whatever does not burn up should be covered or spread over with dirt so that no one may ever be able to see a cinder or stone of it. And this ought to be done for the honor of God and of Christianity in order that God may see that we are Christians....Secondly, their homes should be broken down and destroyed. Thirdly, they should be deprived of their prayer books and Talmuds in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught.
Fourthly, their Rabbis must be forbidden under threat of death not to teach anymore.....Fifthly, passport and traveling privileges should be absolutely forbidden the Jews. Let them stay at home. Sixthly, they ought to be stopped from usury. For this reason, as said before, every thing they possess they stole and robbed from us through their usury, for they have no other means of support..........................
On and on it goes.
Our church history seems to be plagued with these types of ideas. If they are true then why should we even believe that the church has been properly formed and ran? Also, how can we trust the interpretations of Scripture that were given by men who had such hatred within them for a certain group of people. Why would they interpret any Scriptures from a Jewish perspective? Perhaps we do not understand because we have taken the Scriptures out of their original 1st Century context and made them mean whatever we wish. Besides Jesus called on us in to make "disciples" not Christians. The term "Christian" has been defined and re-defined so much that it can mean whatever we wish it to. Usually the definition is far from what Christ intended. And we wonder why Christianity and the modern church is what it is!
My question is----Have we fallen for a lie? Have we truly given into the traditions of men that we were warned not to give into?
As Christians we are taught that the Pharisees were such a terrible group of people. Interestingly Jesus said to follow what the Pharisees teach but do not do what they practice. Apparently the teachings of the Pharisees had the stamp of approval by the Lord Himself. What He didn't approve of was the fact that they knew what was right yet turned away and practiced something different. That sounds much like modern Christianity. We take the Bible,read what it says and teach it then turn around and practice whatever we wish that seems so far away from the original teachings.
The older get and the more I study the more my mind begins to wonder about whatis true and false about the form of religion we practice and call Christianity.
For further reading about this history I would suggest:
"Standing With Israel" by David Brog. The first few chapters are well worth the price and effort.
great! October 13, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I think that Thomas Lancaster is very in tune with the Holy Spirit and is moving with the Spirit in the restoration of the Judaic roots of Christianity.It is obvious that he has extensively studied, researched and prayed over the roots of Christianity. I think you have to be a very mature believer and be willing to think outside the box of what has been traditionally taught in the church or be a Messianic Jew yourself to truly appreciate the magnificence of what God is doing through the restoration.
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