After a teaching on Psalm 15, on who to be righteous, the christian speaker that followed, although praising the quality of the teaching, felt the need to state how such a teaching shows him how unworthy he is and how much he needs Jesus.
On a Facebook page, a christian states that the term “merit” doesn’t exist in the Jewish Bible (yes, he doesn’t know Hebrew), essentially showing his bent and presupposition that no man can be worthy, can be righteous, can be meritorious. The same mistake is perpetrated in his words, “a man is unable to keep the law” because somehow it demands God’s perfection.
Such a mindset amongst christians betrays their mutilated beliefs that prevents them from actually reading the Jewish Bible for what it says.
We have Deuteronomy 30, Psalm 19 and Psalm 119 which show that righteousness (not absolute perfection) according to the Torah is possible and within reach for any human being. But the question can be asked, how can the Torah righteousness be within reach if people make mistakes and commits sins?
This is the blinding mistake christians make in order to put down and insult God’s teachings within Torah in order to raise higher their devotion to a man, Jesus. I just want you to think about this:
How can it be claimed that the Torah demands perfection when the Torah itself provides remedy for mistakes, transgressions and sins?
I’ll ask this another way:
Is it sensible to say that Torah tells a person that they must do everything right and absolutely perfect on one hand (never making one mistake), and then on the other hand give a person instructions on how to get forgiveness for when mistakes occur?
Can I be blunt with you? Knowing what God’s Law says and knowing the message of the Jewish Bible, it is utterly ridiculous to make such a claim of everlasting unworthiness, that nobody can meet the Law’s “impossible” standards. Why? Because in those same teachings you learn beautiful lessons of forgiveness. Take for instance:
GOD, GOD, compassionate and generous, patient, and abundant in kindness and truth. He preserves kindness unto the thousandth generation. He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin …. (Shemot [Exodus] 34)
When you have places, more than just the quote above, in the Torah that tell you that God forgives, it shows you that the teachings of the Torah include a place for people to mess up and for them to receive forgiveness. Such a person is not cast off from God or becomes unworthy for one mistake, but can use the teachings of the Law itself to draw back to God.
So when a person talks about keeping the Law, it’s not just about getting every single command right. Being righteous is not about being absolutely perfect. It’s about using the teachings of God’s Law to draw close to his truth. It includes both the procedure for correct behaviour and also the procedure for correcting yourself if you go wrong. This is why even though there isn’t a righteous man who has never made a mistake (Qoheleth [Ecclesiastes] 7:20), it is rightly said that a righteous man falls seven times, but he gets back up (Mishlei [Proverbs] 24:16). And that man is still righteous even though he has fallen because he can use the very same principles in the Law to draw close to the righteousness God has given to man.
Don’t fall into the christian mistake of equating righteousness with perfection. Don’t fall into the erroneous teaching that no man can be worthy. Noah was righteous before God. Moses had enough merit to say to God “if I have found favour in your sight,” something that a wicked man can never say.
A person can be worthy.
Leaving Jesus 
I would be rich if I had a dollar for every time a Christian asked me “Do you keep the law perfectly”?
That is usually after I tell them that G-d says we can overcome sin on our own. Try telling that to a Christian and stand back for their response! I give them several verses from the Hebrew bible that say we can do it, and then they come back with the line…………………… So you think you can keep the law perfectly? Good luck with that.
Then I try to explain something similar to what you have written, but it falls on deaf ears. They say I am “self-righteous” and keep repeating the same verses over and over again.
Well of course I’m going to repeat the same verses over and over again! I use what Rabbi Singer teaches, to explain to them, what does G-d say?
Self righteous? Why, because I follow what G-d teaches?
How can they say we are the ones who are blind (I know, because their bible tells them so) when they can’t even agree to what G-d says in the Hebrew bible??
Sorry, just had to vent because I just had a debate about this over the weekend!!
I’ve been in the same damn debate as well. You may not have heard of it, but in the 70s there was a band called “the doobie brothers”. they sang a song called what a fool believes. Part of the meaning of that song is when a fool believes something, a wise man can’t reason the fool out of that belief. I’m learning that with christian arguments. Their heart is so invested in the lie that it is all they see. That’s not to say there’s no hope, but a lot of times arguments with the acolytes of that religion just ends in frustration. Believe me, I can understand the desire to vent after a bout of frustrating head-against-brick-wall action.
Of course I know of that song! What a great comparison!
They don’t want to hear or see anything you may bring up, even if it is true, because all they believe is what their bible tells them too. They are so “ingrained” with their “holy spirit” they don’t think anyone else that goes against what they teach knows anything because we don’t have the “holy spirit” in us.
But I am seeing more and more Christians leaving Christianity and embracing the teachings of Judaism. Rabbi Singer and Skobac have their hands full as they are being flooded. i just watched the latest of Rabbi Singer’s Youtube videos and it is relevant to our conversation. You can find it here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3Zhon9Symw
Keep up the great posts David!
I’ll check out the vid. Thanks for your friendship! Have a great day!
And to backup my claim of more and more Christians embracing the teachings of Judaism –
It’s an ok article. Some promising statements. It’s a shame the seven laws for the children of Noah is either not mentioned, misrepresented or given a quick statement equated somewhat with becoming a Karaite. But it is good that some christians are forsaking idolatry because of Torah
For me, I still cannot convince any christian that G-d does not ask for perfection. I can easily prove that blood is not always needed, that Jesus sacrifice is not a sacrifice according to the law, I can explain Ezekiel 18, but they wont dodge. Because the non-testament say so! Anyway, David also would be consider self-righteous! Judge me according to MY righteousness, he said.
There’s no point in trying to convince. Only listen, give a suitable response to at least show the counter-view and then let it go. but you may know this already
remi4321,
Hey, I like that one, I think I’ll use it next time! Thanks.
King David asked G-d to judge him according to his righteousness, so I can ask G-d the same thing! If it is good enough for King David, it’s good enough for me!
Do you ever get the “you are self righteous” line when debating with Christians?
If you say to a xtian “David said ‘Judge me according to my righteousness'”, sure you will be thrown you are self-righteous!
For a christian, only Jesus was righteous, but not according to the tanakh. Better show that G-d is merciful and that his wrath is not kindled on the first sin.
Psalm 25:
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
Psalm 30
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
Opposite to Hell that last forever and ever and ever and ever for one sin.
Psalm 145
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
Pretty much all the book of Psalm, but Christian will add “with Jesus blood” to any bible verse.
How many time I heard Isaiah 1:18 and they link it with Jesus, but forget the last part!
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
When you believe in Jesus?
No!
If you are willing and obedient,
But nothing can convince them, I just don’t try any more, because honestly, any christian I know will get angry if I give them those verses, or they will tell me I twist scriptures. So, no point!
It just like trying to convince them that the prophecies they are using does not talk about Jesus. For them, blessed is he who believes (in Jesus) without seeing! They are the equivalent of Psalm 145…
Good reply remi!
Yes, I can’t even count how many times I am told that I am interpreting the verses wrong or twisting the meaning! Ha! That’s EXACTLY what THEY are doing!
Then when you ask them – So the Jewish people don’t know their own language and that is why, as you believe, we interpret it wrong?
The answer after that usually is – The Rabbi’s changed the meanings so it won’t look like it points to Jesus.
That’s when I say – Do you seriously believe that? We have a lot better things to do then try to look at every verse in the Hebrew bible and try to change it so it doesn’t look like Jesus to you.
That all part of the Zionist conspiracy theory, you know… The JEWS want to dominate the world and don’t want to acknowledge Jesus as messiah… Same old, same old… And we should not rely on the masoretic text, we should check the Septuagint… to have all the lie of Origen.
Forgot to mention the other thing Christians say to me all the time when this subject comes up.
They say “you cannot do it in your own strength”. That is when the “self-righteous” line comes in as they say if you think you can do it in your own strength, then you are self righteous.
I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t see anywhere in the Hebrew bible where G-d says we cannot do things on our own. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite is true as we are told many times that we can do it. Why in the world would G-d instruct us to turn from our evil ways if He didn’t think we could do it??
Yes, we can ASK for strength and G-d’s help, but at the end of the day, the decision and action is ours.
They usually use Psalm 14 and Isaiah 64:6. But of course those passages are taken out of context…
I mean, as far as I know, there isn’t a scripture that says you cannot change on your own, that only G-d can change you. As a matter of fact, if I am correct, the Hebrew bible teaches us the complete opposite. That we CAN change and G-d has given us the power to do so. We just have to “choose” correctly. Not saying it’s that easy, but if G-d says we can do it, that is all I need for encouragement.
I’ve heard Christians use Zechariah 4:6 – “not by might, not by power, but by My spirit”.
Then I tell them that pertains to war, that G-d is saying don’t think you won the war yourselves, with your own might and power.
Their reply – We interpret it differently.
No kidding! Too bad you are interpreting it wrong!!
For christian, as soon as you have sinned once, you are not righteous and their god will send you forever in hell for that. There is no scripture that say you cannot change as far as I know either. In fact, many bible verses say you can be righteous. Many say that G-d will not remember your sins if you do right, but because the non-testament say the opposite, they will usually put two “spiritual” fingers in their ears because if you can be righteous without Jesus, then you don’t need him. Daniel was righteous (according to the Bible) and Daniel never offered sacrifice (as an adult at least).
They usually say that Daniel believed in the future messiah, so I include that when I explain to them and tell that “Daniel believe in the future messiah is not in the scripture” before they come to the objection!
Great reply remi!
I never thought about Daniel being righteous and not offering a sacrifice!
Thanks!
Just as a side bar – Do you have a website, Youtube page, or Facebook page where you have more information on the refutes of what Christianity teaches? I would be very interested if you do. 🙂
Hi Serchinmyroots, I do not have any website. I usually post comments on dailyminyan.com thought.
Cheers
Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out!