Talmidi Noahidism as an alternative to Paullist Christianity and Islam
Introduction: The Questions that need answering
What if a non-Jew is attracted to the ethical and spiritual teachings of Yeshua, but does not want to follow Jewish rituals and customs, or be obligated to the Mosaic Torah? For nearly 2000 years, we have been told that Paul’s Christianity is the only possible option for such Gentiles, and that Paul’s solution of providing Gentiles with belief in a messiah-saviour to replace Torah observance, was the only answer to the question, “Do you have to convert to Judaism in order to follow the teachings of Yeshua?” It is widely claimed that Paul was the person who liberated Gentiles from becoming subject to Torah (even Bart Ehrman claims this), because even today, it is still widely believed that Jews want to impose the Mosaic Torah on the entire human race.
However, these claims are not true. We have never tried to impose the Sinai Torah on the human race, and James provided our starting point for the other non-Torah option that was available to Gentiles: Talmidi Noahides (cf. Acts 15:28-29).
Yeshua’s teaching was centred on repentance and living the Kingdom of God; in contrast, Paul taught to his Gentile Believers a message focused on being saved from your sins, because only the death of Jesus Christ could save you from your sins; and that, in order to be ‘saved’, you had to believe in the death and resurrection of ‘Jesus Christ’. This was the alternative option to the Sinai Torah that Paul gave to Gentiles, which eventually became Christianity. We have been told for 2000 years that this was the only option that ever existed.
James put forward ethical Yahwism for Gentiles at the Convention of Jerusalem
The Book of Acts (Acts 15) provides a pro-Paullist view of what happened at the ‘Council of Jerusalem’ (as it is referred to in Christian tradition), which took place in the summer of the year 49CE. The picture that Acts paints is of Paul presenting his differences to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and he is reconciled with them. However, the account that Paul himself paints in Galatians (Gal 2:1-10) is very different – he is dismissive of the apostles in Jerusalem, and the account in the Clementine Literature suggests that in reality, Paul’s Christianity and James’s Community of the Way parted ways at that meeting.
Historically, previous attempts at reconciling Gentile culture, for example Hellenist Greek culture, with Jewish culture resulted in a mix of Hellenist philosophy with Jewish beliefs (so becoming Hellenist Judaism). Paul presented a case for things the other way round: a mix of Hellenist beliefs with Jewish ethics. Initially, this would have seemed rather strange to the Jerusalem elders: to follow a Jewish prophet, but without following Judaism – after all, no one had ever asked this of any other Hebrew prophet of God before.
The question under discussion at the council was this: What is the minimum that Paul’s Believers would have to do, in order for Jewish Followers to be able to share table-fellowship with them? James’s solution (Acts 15:28-29) was a minimal form of ethical Yahwism; as long as Paul’s Believers followed the Noahide laws, they could follow the God of Israel without having to follow Torah or be circumcised – and therefore be able to share fellowship with Jewish Followers. Such a way of living would be perfectly acceptable to God; James and the elders probably saw Paul’s ministry as a way of introducing ethical Yahwism to Gentiles – at least, in the beginning.
The modern world has presented this problem in another way. There are Gentiles who wish to follow the God of Israel, YHVH, as One and indivisible, without following Torah. This has produced the modern Noahide movement. In addition, there are those Noahides who wish to follow the ethical teachings of Yeshua as well. This situation prompted modern Talmidaism to provide the option to Gentiles of becoming Talmidi Noahides (Noahides who agree with the beliefs and spirituality of Talmidaism). You can self-identify as a Talmidi Noahide without the need to undergo any kind of conversion process (unless, of course, you wish to have some kind of official introduction to Talmidaism, and be acknowledged at the end of it).
The Yahwist alternative to Christianity for non-Jews
In the original Yahwist religion followed by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was understood that even non-Hebrews could follow YHVH – the Jebusite priest Melchizedek worshipped and followed the same God as Abraham; presumably other Jebusites did too. Melchizedek didn’t need to become a Hebrew or be circumcised in order to worship God (as El Elyon, God Most High). And Noah, who worshipped Yahh, was neither Jewish nor a Hebrew, and yet he worshipped the same God as we worship; he neither followed Torah rituals, nor was he circumcised.
This is the ancient alternative that Talmidaism has for non-Jews, who are attracted to Talmidi beliefs, to the ethics and spirituality of Yeshua, as well as to the God of Israel and all Nations, but who do not wish to follow any Torah rituals and customs. In the Bible, the pre-Sinai ethical code of Yahwism is called, ‘The Way of Righteousness’ (ha-dérekh Tzédeq), and is governed by the Universal Covenant (the very first covenant, one of humane ethics, which is applicable to all of humanity). Tzédeq is the religion that Noah taught his sons. This was meant to become the ideal religion for humanity, because it emphasised the way in which a human being could best live, and be acceptable in the sight of God.
Talmidi Noahidism as an alternative for moderate and liberal Muslims
Islam sees itself as the natural religion of humanity (that you are born Muslim). However, it must be pointed out that humanity was not meant to embrace sociopathy, and Islamic societies don’t naturally tend towards tolerance of other religions (Quran 9:29 – “Kill those who do not worship Allah or obey the Prophet”). There were times in history when Islam did become moderate, and was briefly renowned for its scientific and mathematical learning. Alas, modern Islam is generally anti-Science; the violence in the recorded words of Mohammad in the hadiths, and the violent dictats of Allah in the Quran, unfortunately were constant reminders to moderate and reformist-minded Muslims that this is not what Mohammad created Islam to be (a political method of controlling conquered populations). Reform of Islam is just not possible, because of Mohammad and the Quran; no matter when and who tries to reform it and make it more acceptable, it will always be dragged back to its origins in the Arabian wars of the 7th century against non-Muslims.
Consequently, Moderates in the past have had to leave Islam completely and form, for example, the Druze or the Baháʼí religions. Talmidaism is an avowedly peaceful alternative to Islam (because that is the central foundation of what Talmidaism is supposed to be – the peace and love of YHVH). Therefore, someone who wants to leave Islam doesn’t have to sacrifice their cherished beliefs in the Unity of God and in Yeshua as a human prophet, by going over to Christianity; they can still keep these core beliefs and become Talmidi Noahides.
Islam took its view of Yeshua from surviving Ebionites who lived in Nabataea and Arabia; you could even say that the ethical side of Talmidaism is what Islam was supposed to be, but without its inherent violence.
Universalism in Talmidaism versus Islam
Islam teaches that universal peace will only be achieved with the whole world being converted to Islam (in Islam, ‘peace’ merely implies, ‘universal submission to Islamic authority’). In complete contrast, like most Jews, Talmidis do not expect everyone to convert to Judaism, but that there will be a time of universal peace at some point in the distant future, when all peoples, cultures and religions will live side by side in peace (eg Isa 2:4). Part of the mission of Judaism is therefore to heal the world, and to prepare it for this future time (Tikkun Olam: healing and restoring the world to the way that God meant it to be, so that everyone can get along and live in peace). We don’t all need to be the same religion, but we do all need to learn the same mindset of how to get along.
As a universal religion, Islam also Arabizes the cultures it takes over; in Muslim-majority countries, non-Muslim religions and cultures are suppressed, often quite violently so. In contrast, Gentile Yahwism would value different cultures – the approach of Talmidaism is for non-Jews to value their own cultures. A Talmidi Noahide does not need to abandon their cultural identity in order to be a Talmidi Noahide. Talmidi Noahidism is a viable alternative to both Paullist Christianity and Islam; not being forced to do something you are uncomfortable with is all part of the process of growing to love YHVH.
I’ve listened to a lot of ex-Muslims who say that they left Islam because it was unable to answer uncomfortable questions about its practices and history. Talmidaism on the other hand encourages us to ask questions, to search and to examine, and engage in critical thinking. However, a Muslim is forbidden by the Quran to question or criticise Islam (Surah 5, verse 101). Only through a critical examination of faith does faith become stronger, because a faith that does not permit questions cannot weather criticism. An innocent, peaceful religion which has genuine, honest values and beliefs, should have nothing to fear from critique or questioning, because YHVH is your eternal Rock. A strong person of faith is able to accept honest criticism of their faith, and would not be upset or angered by genuine critique, and most definitely would not react violently or with death threats. You are only forbidden to ask questions if your religion has something to hide.
YHVH as our universal Saviour, not a messiah
If there is anything I’d like to pass on to other Talmidis from my own experience of God, it is a living and intensely personal relationship with YHVH, as our Saviour and Redeemer. There is nothing that Paul’s ‘Jesus Christ’ can do that YHVH cannot do for us a thousand times over. The only difference is, that no one has to die in order for us to be ‘saved’.
Torah is the vehicle of survival for the people of Israel; it is for those men and women who wish to live holy lives as priests to the Nations (Ex 19:6), and enables the Jewish people to fulfil our God-given mission to the world (Torah enables us, as Jews, to do the job that God entrusted to us to do). Paul didn’t seem to understand the purpose of Torah; that ‘doing Torah’, in and of itself, does not cleanse you of your sins – YHVH alone does this:
“I, and I alone, am the One who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isa 43:25).
If you remain a horrible person inside, then no amount of perfect and faithful ritual observance of Torah will ever cleanse you.
The phrase, ‘for My own sake’, implies that if YHVH did not blot out our sins, we would not be able to approach YHVH without endangering ourselves, and we would not be able to be ambassadors of YHVH to the Nations. Repentance enables all of us (i.e. not just Jews) to approach YHVH in spirit, so that our souls can be cleansed and healed, by the Glory of YHVH, of our sin-induced injuries. Just as a smelter’s fire burns away the impurities in precious metals (cf. Mal 3:3), so also the fire of YHVH’s Glory burns away the impurities of sin within us, so that we can be healed and made whole again.
A follower of YHVH is not expected to be perfect in all their ways – neither Gentile Noahide, nor full Israelite; we just have to be willing to try our best to adhere to YHVH’s system of ethics, principles and values, because YHVH’s love is always there, regardless. Whatever imperfections we might have as a result of our sins, YHVH will heal us by the cleansing power of YHVH’s Glory, if we are ready and willing to come before YHVH in a spirit of repentance. By repentance we are forgiven (cf. the episode of the prostitute who barges her way into Simon’s house, and is told by Yeshua that she has been forgiven because of her repentance, Mk 14:3-9; see also Lk 24:47, cf Lk 1:77, 17:3) Through repentance, we are enabled to come before the fiery yet cleansing presence of YHVH. And for YHVH’s own sake, YHVH protects us, so that we can approach YHVH to be healed and made new again.
We don’t need a messiah for our salvation
We therefore don’t need to turn to any messiah to ‘save’ us, because YHVH has already promised us that YHVH alone is our Saviour:
“I – and I alone – am YHVH, and besides Me there is no other saviour”
(Isa 43:11; literally, ‘I / I / YHVH / and-besides-me / there-is-no / saviour). This means that no one and nothing else can be YHVH – no equivalents, no stand-ins, no substitutes, no incarnations; only YHVH is and will ever be YHVH, and we don’t need any other saviour.
A Vision of the Future
Talmidaism presents an option for non-Jews to follow YHVH (and Yeshua), without having to follow Torah rituals, customs or legal requirements – this is Talmidi Noahidism. It is a way of enabling non-Jews to walk a path of righteousness before God, and be accepted completely by God.
I foresee a time in the future when the overall community of YHVH would be made up of Noahides, Godfearers and Israelites – each of us following YHVH, according to our individual ability, and our devout personal calling from God. A Talmidi Noahide can still identify with the people they were born amongst, and they don’t have to be at enmity with their own people. They can treasure their own cultures, their own people and country, and still be Talmidi Noahides.
Summary
We are not deliberately taking people away from Christianity or Islam; we are here for those who are dissatisfied with both, and wish to have a third option.
Do you have to convert to Judaism in order to follow the teachings of Yeshua? The Talmidi answer would be no. Do you have to follow the Mosaic Torah given at Sinai, and follow all its customs and rituals and be circumcised, in order to be ‘saved’? No. (Incidentally, what Christianity means by ‘saved’ and what Judaism means by saved are two different things; in the Israelite faith, all human beings eventually get to heaven).
Talmidi Noahidism is a viable alternative to Christianity, for individuals who want to follow YHVH (as One) and the teachings of Yeshua (as a fully human prophet). Talmidi Noahidism is also a viable alternative to Islam, for moderate and liberal Muslims who wish to leave Islam, but still cherish the Unity of God, and value Yeshua as a fully human prophet.