False Teachers Once True

The first person I ever heard teaching about Torah was Monte Judah of Lion and Lamb Ministries. I had recently found a radio station on iTunes called Solace Radio and he was one of the 'programs' they supported. It was then that I eventually learned of other Torah Teachers of the Hebrew Roots mindset, such as:

• Mike Clayton 
• Bill Cloud 
• Brad Scott 

This began the new learning process for me and my husband about ten years ago. Later we heard of Mark Biltz, Perry Stone, Rico Cortes, and others that many in 'the group' seemed to know, like and agree with. In my zeal for more about this Torah teaching idea I searched the internet and found a few web sites that rounded out this new world we had entered: 119 Ministries; Jim Staley's Truth or Tradition; Michael Rood's A Rood Awakening, for examples.

Through the various teachings and insights of them all, my husband and I became firmly rooted in the Hebrew origins of Scriptures and continue in study of His Word to this day. We gleaned many a nugget and felt the joy and blessing from the Creator as we carnal Gentiles started leaving the old Babylon worldly system. Yet we were believing in men and not taking what they were saying back to Scriptures at that time. We, like many Christians before us, were following the leader, without question.

We started wondering about those people and what they were teaching and what, exactly, were we learning. Once we understood the Old Testament was just as important as the New Testament, the more we read and studied Scriptures for ourselves the more we realized they were straying from His Path and taking us with them. Most had left Churchianity years ago but were still dragging religious baggage with them, trading the cross symbol for the star of David. Others were trading religions: Christianity for Judaism. We do acknowledge that they served their purpose as Stepping Stones that got my husband and I lined up with our Creator and His Path of righteous living, but I will not recommend any of them so that those new to the Hebrew origins of Scriptures will not be tempted to follow false teachings. Many will sit back and listen without consulting the Creator on all things.

As the years went by and without intentionally doing so, we measured ourselves against people who helped open our eyes to the truth about Yah's Instructions for His Creation, but when those teachers seem to have gone down a rabbit trail or adopted Jewish traditions it was time to leave them and move on, continuing in our studies, reading Scripture and staying on YHWH's Path of Righteousness. Many who were seeing the truth still fell into a religious comfort zone, traps set by Satan.

Mike Clayton was a great teacher and able to put the Word of YHWH into simple stories for those new to reading the Old Testament. He was easy to understand and seemed a trustworthy teacher to have along the Hebrew Roots journey. I copied a few of his teachings and shared them here and there because they were perfect for getting folks interested in Torah. But since then Mr. Clayton has changed his name to Mikell, doesn't use the Name of our Creator, thinks Israel has already been gathered and puts too much emphasis on today's Jews. He's taken many trips to Israel and offers tours. All these things do not make him a bad person, but like many he has been tripped up by Judaism, trading his Christian religion for a Jewish one. This is not someone who should continue teaching the Word of "G-d" because he is no longer teaching the whole Truth. I do not doubt that Mike Clayton loves YHWH and truly believes he is doing the right thing, but he is also mixing and mingling doctrines of man with the pure word of our Creator. If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but do not let your guard down else you get sidelined by that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

My same sentiment goes for Bill Cloud: If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but keep your guard up else you travel down that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

Mr. Cloud is another one of those likable down-home fellas who came out of Churchianity after learning that Torah is YHWH's set of Instructions for everyone - not just the Jews. But, like many others, he allowed the religion of Judaism to replace the religion of Christianity as he continued to adopt traditions of man. This may be because he was taught by a rabbi. I began to question his view of Torah years ago when I attended one of his seminars on a Sabbath day and noticed he had an assortment of CDs and Books displayed on a table, all for sale, on the Sabbath. I had learned enough about Yah's instructions to know that this wasn't right. All it takes is one contrary thing to raise an eyebrow of mine and spur me into research mode. These guys were valuable stepping stones in my journey and taught me how to read and study Scriptures for myself as I began to take their teachings back to the Word of our Creator, so they served their purpose in that respect.

If you think you need to learn the Hebrew Language then Brad Scott is the guy for you. I think he pushes the language topic a little too far, however, knowing Hebrew idioms and poetic prose does indeed help us to better understand Scriptures and clear up errors in translations. It is not necessary for us to be speaking and reading the Hebrew language as a whole in today's world, yet I believe it will be the language restored when we enter Y'shua's kingdom. I am content to wait until then. Mr. Scott goes beyond simply teaching the Word of Elohim and makes Scriptures seem as a mystery that needs to be understood by seeking deeper meanings. We are to be seeking YHWH as if looking for treasures and not picking and choosing a Hebrew word to analyze for an hour or two. That is one of those famous rabbit trails readily available in any Hebrew Roots group. I am not accusing Mr. Scott of being a bad guy, but his teaching strays off course when he relies on science to prove a point. If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but do not become distracted else you end up down that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

I no longer recommend these teachers or websites because I hate it when a 'fellow believer' tells me to "eat the meat and spit out the bones". I shall never offer that advice to anyone. The bones are snares cast by Satan and I would never point someone in that direction. If I find something true and worthy of sharing in a site that is riddled with bones, I will not send someone there looking for it, but will dig out the nuggets and share them as a quote without leading anyone astray.

I post this topic hoping to bring awareness to those of you who are still relatively new to YHWH's Path and learning to live according to His Instructions (aka Torah). You will more than likely hear of these popular teachers in the Hebrew Roots learning curve and watch the videos. I will simply say avoid them and continue reading Scriptures for yourself. These teachers have come to represent, in my view, bait dangling on a hook: it looks good and we're hungry for His Word, but once they get you hooked they will take you to the wide gate along the broad way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matthew 7:14) There is almost no avoiding these 'teachers' when one awakens after hearing and recognizing the Good Shepherd's voice. We are called to come out of Babylon, that pagan religious mindset, which means leaving all religions behind and returning to the Faith once delivered. 

One more mark against good men teaching traditions: They should not be advertising their 'studies' for sale, or providing shofars, tzitzits, shabbat candles or prayer shawls for sale, nor asking for donations, as this is not what was taught by Y'shua. This behavior reminds me of the flea market and money exchange that was set up in God's House in Jerusalem. On one particular Sabbath day Y'shua entered and tossed them all out. 

It's A Learning Process

It has taken me over twenty years to get to where I am today, both physically and mentally but most of all spiritually.  Today is the first day of Sukkot in this year 2018. Six years ago my husband and I celebrated all His Set Apart times with the Hebrew Roots Group that helped us learn to read Scriptures as a whole and understand that His Instructions are for all of us, not just for the "Jews". Equipped with that valuable information we came into covenant with our Creator and the study of Scriptures became a big part of our daily life.  This is how we learned about man-made tradition being mixed and mingled with His Instructions by folks today who have been side lined by Judaism.

When we begin this journey on His Path of Righteousness, His Spirit begins to reveal and comfort us with The Truth. Once we dump the usual 'holidays' it is easier to continue having our eyes opened. When we realize we've pretty much been brainwashed from birth then the call to 'come out of Babylon' makes more sense. It is a learning process. The Light Goes On and we see more of His Word as He intended -- both He and His Son never stopped teaching us with those parables! I, on occasion, have experienced the feeling while reading a verse that I could hear the written word - that's like having that Light Go On.; the Ah-Hah! moment; and later realizing it was His Spirit that made the connection for me.  I will never go back to those old pagans ways!

As I look back at my own learning curve I can see many who have the same desire to understand Scriptures and know what it means to come into covenant with our Creator. I can see the same rabbit trails and stumbling blocks that weren't so obvious to me early on which are snagging folks now.  My desire is to share knowledge gained just as the Apostles pointed out Scriptures were written for their benefit so they would not make the same mistakes that those people did.  It is true! His Word has survived over six thousand years albeit damaged by some translations but it is His Spirit who will let the truth shine through as long as we continue to read it, no matter which version you have (although I will suggest tossing out these two stumbling blocks: the King James versions, and the New Living Translation).

Folks have been conditioned to follow the leader because the leader seems to be so smart.  The leader has pointed out many things that didn't make sense before, but don't forget that he is on the same learning curve as the rest of us. None of us will know and understanding everything until that day comes and He inscribes His Instructions on our inmost parts.  Many leaders stop or get stuck in the 'know it all' mindset because they have become entrenched in the concordances and interlinears and trusted yet misleading commentaries, and have quit relying on Scriptures and allowing His Word to interpret itself. Some have been snared by pride and arrogance. This is not to say that I am against a little outside help now and again - that nudge in the right direction - for example gaining some understanding of the original texts and cultural idioms is very helpful in understanding the bible you read and clarifies the errors of some Greek interpretations which have carried through hundreds of years. Over those hundreds of years folks have adopted traditions along with the Instructions given us by the Creator. It's time to separate the truth from the deception.  Just keep searching for YHWH, the Truth, as if looking for treasure and His Spirit will respond within you.

Once you've learned the Hebrew origins of Scriptures the next step on His Path is to come out of the Hebrew Roots movement into the Faith Once Delivered.

Jude 1:3 ~ While I take all pains to write to you of our common life, it is needful for me to write to you, encouraging you to maintain a conflict for the faith which was once delivered to the Set Apart believers.

What does that mean, the faith once delivered, and why do we need to fight for it? Keep reading:

Jude 1:4 ~ For some have obtained entrance who, from the beginning, were registered beforehand under this condemnation: wicked men who pervert the grace of Elohim to impurity and deny Him who is the only MarYah (Master YHWH), and our Master, Y'shua the Mashiyach.

Study and Learn

I desire to share the knowledge contained in Scriptures in regards to giving up the traditions of man which have been handed down through the generations. In Scriptures this is referred to "inheriting the lies of our fathers". This is a touchy subject for Christians who think they are doing the 'right thing' by keeping holidays "in the name of Christ". It has also become a stumbling block for those who believe they are keeping Torah. Many have substituted one religion for another.

If we take up the practice of Bible Study, we must study the whole thing and not just what pleases us. I had a friend who got tired of my perceptions of Elohim because she said I was part of the 'doom and gloom' club. She told me she was born again at a young age. I think she became too comfortable with that claim and ignored Yah's warnings, like many others, by sweeping them under the 'doom and gloom' rug.

It most certainly is doom and gloom for sinners and we were all born of sin which is why Yahweh gave us His Only Son, that we may choose Life and realize we can leave doom and gloom behind us! The study of Scriptures is a Learning Process. While we learn His truth, our eyes become opened and we recognize His Voice in all things. As we learn we continue to grow spiritually and more understanding is given us. There were things He said 'back in the day' that couldn't be understood because it was for a future time. We are that Future Time.

I think it is absolutely wonderful that our Father is so loving and caring that He gives everyone every single possible chance to return to Him. Soon, there will be no more time - and it's not that He has run out of patience, rather, He always keeps His promises and the end of this world shall come.

If you have a hard time accepting truth once you've found it, don't hesitate to ask me about it, or others in the Faith in Yahweh group. I will do my best to help shed His light towards a better understanding. We are on His Path together, helping one another along. This challenges me to continue to seek Yahweh our Elohim as if He were treasure!

It is a learning processes - we ask - we learn - we gain an ounce of understanding and keep going! It is the most important lesson of our life.