(a.k.a. Finnegan)
UONYC
(formally UNION OF TWO HOUSE MESSIANIC CONGREGATIONS)
To continue our investigation, let us look at a member group of UONYC by the name of Yahshua Ohr HaOlam (YOHO) and see what we shall discover.
First
of all there is guilt by association, for Amos 3: 3 asks "Shall two walk
together, except they have agreed?"
Therefore
all points in which UONYC has been found wanting, we may associate with it's
membership.
But let us look at YOHO's own statement of beliefs and teachings (there will be of course some duplication of UONYC).
This is conveniently laid out in 28 points, a "Miscellaneous" section, an * footnote, and an ** footnote. Keep in mind that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump" :
1 Corinthians 5: 6; any false doctrine contaminates all.
Point
1 is a good start in stating that Yahweh is one, a unity. No problem.
Point
2 states that Yahshua is the Messiah who was promised. Still OK.
Point
3 is fine in dealing with Yahshua's virgin birth.
Point
4, in light of popular religious teachings, leaves a bit to be desired. Here
it is stated that salvation is a promise, a gift of Yahweh to those accepting
Yahshua as Messiah; that in this acceptance we have salvation assured to us, and
Matthew 24: 13 used as the only reference.
There
are two obvious problems with point 4:
(1)
There is no mention of obedience, only OUR accepting Him. This smacks of
the "just sign on the dotted line" approach of nominal Ch--stanity.
(2) The reference to Matthew 23: 13 reads "But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved." This has nothing to do with merely accepting Yahshua as Messiah; it deals with our endurance (or lack thereof) in the faith throughout the coming tribulation in order to achieve salvation at Yahshua's return (or to miss out). YOHO has badly proof texted in Point 4.
Point 5 deals with the Holy Spirit being given to the obedient. This is certainly true, but perhaps more than just Acts 5: 32 should have been referred to. It is in fact an excellent point; for if any organization or individual is found to be disobedient, including promoting false doctrine, they CANNOT have the Holy Spirit (which leaves only one other spirit).
Point 6 has it that our righteousness, and demonstration of love for Yahweh and Yahshua is in our keeping His commandments. This is a very sharp blade, in that while true as given, one aspect of the commandments is that we cannot add to nor diminish from them (including adding man-made traditions): Deuteronomy 4: 2, 12: 32; Isaiah 29: 13; Matthew 15: 4-99; Mark 7: 5- 13; Revelation 22:18-19.
Point 7, Torah is for all peoples, Yahshua came to establish it, and it will be the rule in the Kingdom. All true.
Point 8 contains two main points: sin is the transgression of the law: 1 John 3: 4; and, we are free from sin's bond by the acceptance of Messiah's blood and being in "harmony" with the law. "Harmony" is a rather weak term which could (and later will) be easily misinterpreted by those still influenced by nominal Ch--stanity.
Point
9, the "Old Testament" is the basis for the "New
Testament" and both make one complete unit cannot be argued against.
Point
10, has it's problems. It starts out well by stating that the Sacred Names
(Yahweh and Yahshua) are to be used by all believers, using substitute names for
the Almighty is strictly forbidden and will cease in the future. This flies in
the face of UONYC practice and there is no mention of the obnoxious practice of
using substitute names for the Messiah nor of using the pagan titles.
The
next sub-point is that Yahshua made the Father's name known. True.
The final sub-point is that using the Sacred Name unifies the believers. This is, unhappily, NOT true. There are today well over 4000 disunited groups on the internet alone. Yahshua himself said that many false prophets (preachers) would come in his name, even calling him "Master" and yet they would be unknown, and thereby rejected, by him: Matthew 24: 4-5; 7: 22. No, it takes more than just using the Names, it takes obedience and endurance: Matthew 24: 13.
Point 11 deals with the weekly Sabbath. All-in-all good but needs to be strengthened towards the end of the statement from self-serving work should not be engaged in, to self-serving work is not to be engaged in.
Point
12 addresses the Memorial Emblems at Passover but confuses the night of the
Passover Memorial with the Night to be Much Remembered (first day of the Feast
of Unleavened Bread).
The
last sentence states that all males taking Passover should be circumcised in
accordance with the Abrahamic Covenant.
Here
in lies a VERY LARGE doctrinal problem. When perusing their articles we
find not that males should, but MUST be circumcised. The short form is that YOHO
takes the Pharisaic/Rabbinic stand that a male must shed at least one drop of
his own blood in the act of circumcision in order to be accepted (according to
Rabbinic writings this is necessary if one's sins are to be forgiven). This
brings up many problems among which are:
(1)
YOHO demands the blood sacrifice of circumcision which questions the sacrifice
of Messiah.
(2)
Is it not personal salvation that matters rather than a supposed affiliation
with physical Israel? Let Yahshua judge when he returns.
(3)
Did "young Israel" sin in the wilderness? They had to observe
Passover, yet those born in the wilderness were uncircumcised. Yahshua 5: 2-7.
(4) It is stated in their articles that circumcision must occur now; for if it is put off until we become spirit beings it will be impossible to fulfill the requirement of shedding one's own blood for spirits beings have no blood.
Are
we not to become spirit beings? Yes, John 3: 6-8, 1 Corinthians 15: 35-38, 1
Thessalonians 3: 13-18. Are spirit beings, such as angels, sexual (carnal)
beings? Certainly not as we would understand the concept; or is the false
doctrine of angels mating with women being advocated? If there are male angels
(and there are not) are there also female angels? (no), or the host of heaven a
"bit edgy" as it were (ridiculous!)? Is it to be 'male now, male
forever' and 'female now, then female forever?' If so why , since reproduction
(certainly as we think of it) is of no purpose and is never mentioned? As to
circumcision itself, are we not to remain in whatever condition we find our self
at the time of conversion? Yes, Romans 2: 25-29, 4: 8-12; 1 Corinthians 7:
17-19; Galatians 6: 15-16; Colossians 3: 11.
Point
13, is about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Again the weak term
"should" appears rather than "must" in regard to purging
leaven out of our properties.
Point
14, deals with counting and the observance of Shavouth (Pentecost). Here a
great weakness raises it's head in the form of the single * footnote referred
to. The count and observance as stated in the body of the point is correct;
however, the footnote allows that NOT ALL of the UONYC members follow the
correct Scriptural count but follow the Pharisee's (Rabbinical) methodology. In
order not to be "contentious" YOHO and UONYC put themselves as
deciding that Yahweh did not mean it when He stated that there is to be NO
addition, NO deletion, NO modification to His Law. Messiah surely could not have
been including them in his condemnation of those who put men's traditions ahead
of Yahweh's Word (but He did). They feel that it is better to be
"contentious" with the Almighty rather than admonish those in error!
Points
15 and 16, deal with the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement; they
are fine in as far as they go.
Point
17, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, is almost correct. It
is actually seven days for the Feast of Tabernacles; and a separate feast on the
Last Great Day, the eighth day.
Point
18, is on Chanukah. The only glaring correction is that none of the eight
days are a High Holy Day, the weekly Sabbath occurring here is exactly that - a
weekly Sabbath.
Point
19 and Point 20, concerns with the observance of Purim, and the
visible New Moon for setting the months. Both are fine.
Point
21, the "Two House Message" deals with the future reunification of
Judah and Israel. Although this will surely happen they take it so far as to
have fallen into a pseudo Messianic/Pharisaic/Rabbinic religion with false
doctrines and practices (even to the point of acquiring Hebrew names, a practice
that is not evident in the Apostolic assemblies). This appears to be a greater
concern for these groups than does personal salvation.
Point
22, describes the end-time believers as those accepting Yahshua as Messiah,
and being Commandment keepers. As we have seen they are not commandment keepers
and they reject Yahshua as Messiah/High Priest.
Point
23, has the Kingdom being established on this physical earth. True enough.
Point
24, has that true believers should (again the weak term) be baptized. The
method described is correct. It would be better to say that true believers must
be baptized unless this is not possible rather than should.
Point
25, has that tithing is not important for membership into the True Body.
Both Yahweh and Yahshua say differently. The only real question is the method of
enforcement: mandatory income tax form review, everyone doing as they see fit,
or honor system. All three are used in various groups.
Point
26, states that the Clean Food Laws should be followed. NO, they MUST
be followed!
Point
27, deals with the truth about Gehenna and that Satan is real.
Point
28, really nullifies Point 21 in correctly allowing ALL peoples to be
considered eligible for inclusion in greater Israel.
The
"Miscellaneous" section is of special interest. On a cursory reading
it looks great; but, in context with the problems already pointed out, the ones
in this section are eye openers.
Some
of the problems are:
-
The leadership of YOHO will not tolerate sin or false doctrine and will defend
the faith "vigorously." As previously seen this is a false statement.
-
No collections are taken at services, however there is a deposit box for
donations, free-will offerings and tithes. The issue of tithes has already been
addressed; however, "donations" is another word for offerings and
there can be no offering until the tithes are first paid.
-
Next comes government with head-coverings mixed in. The leadership part seems
rather vague. Personal problems are to be handled in accordance with Matthew 18,
except when correction is "necessary." Doctrinal disagreements are to
be discussed with the Head Elder, putting the problem in writing may be
"asked." Yet, the leadership does not intend to tell anyone how to
live; yet, head coverings, talliths, tzith-tzith are all optional except when
officiating. The apparent contradiction about leading yet not telling anyone how
to live (isn't that what decisions do?) is confusing enough, but head coverings
being enforced (but only at certain times) is too much.
Their
stance on head coverings for men, optional for non-officiating women and those
who have not yet come to believe this doctrine, is in direct violation of 1
Corinthians 11: 2-15 and Numbers 5 : 11-31 (note verse 18). The only man
officiating with a head covering (mitsnepheth) was the High Priest; the
supporting priest having an item translated in may ways including a headband (migba'ah)
. This is now, and forever more, Yahshua (Hebrews 7: 26); therefore do they make
themselves Yahshua? This is sacrilege!
This
is anti-Messiah! Do they make themselves supporting priests? They do not have
the authority! Does a woman officiate anywhere in True Worship? No, never!
Finally
in this section the final authority lies with the Rabbi, Rosh Zaken, or board of
Zakenim (although they don't want to tell anyone how to live and will enforce
doctrine only if in doing so they don't incite "contention").
The
single * only refers to the allowance of mixing dairy with meat products.
Conclusion:
It is obvious that YOHO, UONYC, associates, and similar
organizations/congregations have gone FAR AWAY from the faith "once for all
delivered"; Judah 3. No, they are more caught up in a spirit of pseudo
Judaism than in the faith taught in the Scriptures. Unhappily they deceive those
who are not taught to think of the implications of a doctrine or practice (a
partial fault of "modern education"), especially their own. There are
undoubtedly some sincere people who join themselves to such bodies as YOHO but
find only polluted truth; these are easy prey for the False Prophet,
anti-Messiah, and the Beast System. Such organizations are a half-step away from
animal sacrifices.
May
it be Yahweh's good will to bring at least some out of such parts of Babylon.
This organization, having been weighed in the balances, is found to be heavily wanting; a path to destruction.
THEREFORE:
Therefore The Mick judges these people to be in serious false doctrine and you should be aware of this organization!
Judging by Urim and Thummim this group fails the test!
THE BLACK STONE!
And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; Elah hath numbered your kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; You art weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. Daniel 5:25-27