I like reading through comments on posts and videos. On several videos lately where they are trying to point out misconceptions in the Church on what the Bible says, much as I do here, the left comment has been coming out of the woodwork.

This ties in with my last Church vs. Bible post. If the Church has misunderstood Paul and taught the Bible from him as a foundation standpoint, then what we have learned from Church isn’t what Paul was teaching. So using these passages that talk about going back to what we have learned and not stray from it do not apply. After all, mainstream Christianity would have to agree that this doesn’t apply when looking back at its history. All the Protestant denominations we have nowadays, all separated because of different doctrinal beliefs. The Protestant faith, splitting off from the Catholics because Martin Luther saw the Church was doing something he didn’t agree with. The Orthodox splitting off from the Catholics because of different viewpoints. With all these splits in the Church, only one of them could be in the right to use that verse. Or none of them have the right.

You see, actions speak louder than words. With Paul, we have the luxury of having both: his words in the form of his letters, and his actions in the form of Luke’s account in Acts. Luke, being a second witness, can attest to what Paul was actually teaching. What Paul actually means when he says “follow me as I follow Christ”. In what way does Paul act? He follows the Torah.

Acts 20 – He is tries to hurry to make it for Shavuot (Pentacost) in Jerusalem.
Acts 21 – Being accused of teaching Jews not to follow Torah anymore, the Jersusalem council advises Paul to perform purification rights as spelled out in Torah to show these claims are untrue. Paul complies.
Acts 23 – Paul condemns the High Priest, not knowing it was the High Priest, of accusing him of breaking Torah yet breaking Torah in order to strike him. When told it is the High Priest, Paul apologizes and quotes the Torah on the command to not speak evil of a ruler.
Acts 24 – Paul confesses in front of everyone that follows YHWH and the Law and the Prophets.
Acts 28 – When witnessing to people, Paul uses the Law and the Prophets to convince them about Yeshua.

There are several other passages we could list as well when it comes to Paul keeping the Sabbath and other actions. Again, actions speak louder than words. If we go on the understanding the Church has of Paul, that he taught the Torah was no longer to be observed, then Paul is a hypocrite, because he himself kept Torah. Not only is he a hypocrite, he must be double minded as well because he says to follow him in his actions.

Challenging what we have been taught isn’t going against God. God Himself had this line prophesied: Jermemiah 16:11, 19
Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.