As with every living thing, there are times of growth and maturing. So it is with the current state of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. While the Messianic Movement may trace its roots to the first century C.E., it has not truly begun to sprout until recently. Lying almost dormant for centuries, the seed of this Movement has been germinating just below the surface. Recently, however, the Movement has experienced a rapid period of growth. By all accounts, this modern Movement is still in its infancy. I'm not sure when the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement officially began, but I do know that in the last 25-30 years it has experienced a phenomenal period of growth, not only in North America, but also in South America, and even in the land of Israel. This type of rapid growth can only be attributed to the Ruach Hachodesh! With such rapid growth, we should not be surprised to experience major growing pains. Such is the case with the recent controversy over which calendar those in the Messianic Movement should be following.

There are two primary candidates in the running to be the Calendar of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. The incumbent candidate is the Rabbinic calendar used by the majority of Judaism, and the majority of the current Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. This calendar was created by Hillel 2 in 359 C.E. for the Jews in Diaspora. The calendar was based upon mathematical calculations of the rotation of the sun and moon for the meridian of Jerusalem. In this way, the Jews could keep track of their calendar as best as possible while living outside the land of Israel. For sixteen hundred years the Jews have been living by this calendar all over the world. This calendar has surely been a unifying factor within Judaism. As the Hebrew Roots/Messianic Movement has sought to establish itself as a legitimate, though grafted in, branch of the tree of the Nation of Israel, the calendar has played a significant role. By keeping the Sabbath, celebrating the feasts, following the weekly Torah portions, and observing the Rabbinic calendar, the Hebrew Roots/Messianic Movement has displayed a sincere desire to reconcile itself with its brothers and sisters in Judaism. From the start of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement, there has been an underlying willingness to establish an identity and secure a place in the Nation of Israel by adopting all things Jewish, including the Rabbinic calendar.

On the other side of the calendar debate is our second candidate, the Biblical calendar. Like the Messianic Movement itself, this calendar has its roots planted deep in antiquity, and yet it too, is for all intents and purposes, new upon the scene. Now that a part of the nation of Israel is back in The Land of Israel, there is a desire to return to the proper Biblical calendar. This calendar is based, not upon the mathematical calculations of the Rabbis, but upon the cycle of the moon and sun, as well as the state of the flax and barely. This calendar is based upon the words of the Torah itself. While this Biblical calendar is clearly used by the minority both within Judaism and the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement, there is a growing desire for scriptural integrity within these groups that draws people to this new candidate for Calendar of the Movement. As many Church members discover the pagan, man made traditions that influenced the Christian Church, causing it to forsake the Torah and its Hebraic Roots, they seek to come out of "Babylon" to become fellow citizens in the common wealth of Israel. These new citizens have a zeal for studying the Torah and learning the truth. Not wanting to be deceived again, these newly liberated brethren are seeking to live according to the commandments of Hashem, not the doctrines of men. It is not long, however, before these new citizens realize that Judaism, like Christianity, is also shaped by "the traditions of the elders". Thus, what is practiced in Rabbinic Judaism is not necessarily any more consistent with the Torah than what was found and rejected in Christianity. As the Ruach Hachodesh inscribes the Torah upon the hearts of these new believers, there is a growing desire to live according to the Word, instead of man's traditions. For many, when the Torah states that the New Year is to begin in the month when the barely is aviv, it makes sense to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Nissan (the first month), rather than in Tishrei (the seventh month). It also makes sense to inspect the barley, instead of religiously following the Rabbis calculations. This is especially true when the calculations of the Rabbis are clearly contradicted by the physical evidence of the barley and the new moon. So, we are witnessing a growing group of supporters for the underdog Biblical calendar. But with it, we are also experiencing the pains of a growing division within the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement.

Before a choice for a calendar is made there is another pertinent question at the heart of the controversy that must be addressed. I believe that the calendar controversy presently confronting the Movement is simply a symptom of a greater debate yet to be addressed. The central and fundamental debate is over the issue of authority. The true question being asked by the members of this infant movement is not which calendar is right, but what authority do we follow. Clearly the authority behind the Rabbinic calendar is the Rabbis. The Rabbis have established their authority through the writings of the Talmud, the Oral Torah. It is the Talmud that has established the Rabbinic calendar as the calendar for all Israel, including those in the Diaspora. On the other hand, the authority behind the Biblical calendar is the written Torah. The tension that is tearing at the unity of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement is simply the tension that exists when the written Torah and the oral Torah do not agree. The calendar is only one of many such issues. The real question that is begging to be answered by the respected leaders of the movement is, which authority does the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement recognize as normative for the Movement? Or more plainly said, "What is the place of, or, what authority does, the Oral Torah have in the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement?" Much of what currently shapes the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement is based in Rabbinic Judaism. The Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement clearly reflects a trend towards Jewish culture and practices. Present day Jewish practices are largely derived from the authority of the Talmudic writings and Rabbis. The problem with the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement's blind acceptance of the authority of the Talmud and the rulings of the Rabbis is the Talmud's rejection of Yashua as the Messiah. If the Rabbis and the Talmud are to become the authority of the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement then we must come to terms with the rejection of Yashua as Messiah, as well as other objectionable or contrary teachings. Let us look at how this debate directly impacts the Movement's choice of calendars. The Scripture teaches that Pesach is on the 14th of Nissan, the Feast of Matzoth begins on the 15th of Nissan, and that the First Fruits of the barley harvest are brought on the day after the weekly Sabbath (Lev. 23:9-11). There is clearly no numerical date assigned to the day the First Fruits of the harvest are brought to the temple for a wave offering. This is because, according to the Biblical calendar, there are a varying number of days between the Feast of Matzoth and the weekly Sabbath, which the First Fruits Offering follows. Why is this pattern important for Messianic Believers to understand? It is because this pattern is a part of the evidence that declares Yashua as the Messiah. In the year 28 C.E., the year that Yashua was most likely crucified, there were exactly three days and three nights between Pesach and the First Fruits Offering. Thus we see Yashua fulfilling the prophetic shadow picture evident in the Biblical Calendar. The Rabbis have altered this shadow picture by assigning a fixed numerical date to the First Fruits Offering. The Rabbis have declared First Fruits to be always on the 16th of Nissan. This minor calendar change radically altars the picture of Messiah. We should remember that the sign that Messiah Yashua gave to the Pharisees to authenticate His identity was the sign of Jonah, declaring that the Son of man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). There has been a great deal of teaching in the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement directed towards Christians, encouraging them to see the importance of the shadow pictures of Messiah in the Feasts of the Lord, while at the same time denouncing the erroneous traditional Christian teaching of Yashua dying on Friday, and rising on Sunday. Thus, the same problem exists in both the Christian calendar and the Rabbinic calendar. Both of these calendars cloud the Biblical teaching concerning the death and resurrection of the Messiah. If the Rabbinic and Christian calendars are correct, that Yashua died on the 14th of Nissan, was buried on the 15th, and raised on the 16th, then we must concede that Yashua did not fulfill His own prophetic statement of being in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. Alternately, according to the Biblical Calendar, Yashua would have died on the 14th and risen on the 17th, thus fulfilling this important sign.

As the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement grows and matures it is beginning to establish its own identity. Where once the Movement was striving to simply be a part of Judaism, now it is standing on its own, and beginning to recognize that like Christianity, Judaism also has some repenting to do, before Israel and Judah can be reconciled. Thus at least part of the Messianic Movement is beginning to stand up to its big brother Judah, and say, "we are not simply going to move from Christianity into Rabbinic Judaism. We are not going to simply slip from one set of human traditions to another." This is especially so if these traditions deny Yashua as Messiah, or contradict the written Torah! So it is with the issue of the calendar. I believe that the calendar debate is just a sign of the movement growing up, maturing, and standing up on its own two feet, even over and against the influences of its older brother.

I also believe that this current calendar controversy reveals subtle divisions within the vision or goals of the current Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. There seems to be at present four different visions driving the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. First, is what appears to be the original vision of proving that Jews can believe in Yashua as Messiah and remain Jews. This vision requires that Jewish believers in Yashua continue in all of their Jewish practices as much as possible, even accepting the authority of the Talmud. This original vision did not do much to encourage Gentile believers in keeping the Torah. For the most part, the Gentile believer is encouraged to remain in the Christian Church. The second vision within the Messianic Movement seems to have grown out of this first one. This vision is that of Jews for Jesus, Apple of His Eye Ministry and other such ministries which seek to "convert" the Jews to faith in Jesus Christ and bring them into the Church. For these groups Hebraic culture and customs are simply a means to an end. This vision is largely driven by Christians who have embraced Jewish customs as an evangelism tool. The third vision driving the messianic movement is the Two House teaching. I believe that the Two House teaching is the major force behind most of the recent growth and enthusiasm within the Hebraic Roots/Messianic Movement. The goal of this vision is to help believers recognize and reconcile the two divided houses of the Nation of Israel, the House of Israel, and the House of Judah. This vision is the first to take into serious consideration the large number of Gentile believers in Yashua coming out of the Christian Church to embrace the Torah observant lifestyle. This has lead to the fourth vision within the movement, which is simply to encourage all believers in Yashua to lead a Torah observant Life. I want to be quite clear here, I am not suggesting that these visions are mutually exclusive. But each of these visions has its own goals, which at times may and do conflict with each other. For those seeking to prove that they are still Jewish, or seeking to reconcile with those within Judaism, keeping the Rabbinic Calendar plays a very significant role. But for those who are coming into the movement seeking to learn and observe the teachings of the written Torah, then following the Biblical calendar seems the most logical choice.

Are these issues divisive? Yes. But not to the degree that it will prevent the Movement from its continued growth. Again, I believe that eventually we will all be keeping the Biblical calendar. If not before, then when the Messiah comes. Thus, those in the minority who have been studying, learning, teaching, and encouraging believers to watch the barley and look for the new moon, and who have been forcing us to consider the conflict between the written and the oral Torah, are not our enemies. Instead these brothers and sisters are the pioneers who are called of Hashem to begin the final preparations for life in the Messianic kingdom. Like any living body, change comes slowly, and rarely uniformly. Looking at the development of my own children (ages 7, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23), their bodies morph and transform in very different ways and at varying times. At some point in their development, baby teeth fall out, feet grow big, beards grow in, legs get gangly, adult teeth fill in, and bodies fill out. At various points, various parts are growing and not always in proportion to the rest of the members. So it is with the Messianic Movement. We are young. We are growing. We are feeling the pains of growth. No change in the body comes quickly, or uniformly. So we should not be surprised to see some people hold tightly to the Rabbinic calendar, while at the same time others will be embracing the Biblical calendar. This change does not mean the end of the Movement, or even an end to its forward momentum.

Is this current calendar controversy painful, confusing, and divisive? Yes. Sorting out these kinds of issues is never easy. It is not easy to establish our place and identity within the Nation of Israel when we have not yet determined who we are among ourselves. But it seems to me that if the Biblical calendar is in fact Biblical, then it is what the Ruach Hachodesh is writing in the believers' hearts. Again, if this is so, then we shall see more and more of the movement beginning to embrace this minority candidate for Calendar of the Movement. If it is not the work of the Ruach Hachodesh, then eventually this too will be exposed and the second option for the Calendar of the Movement will fade away. In the mean time, we should extend grace to each other. None of us have all the answers, or the full revelation. We need each other. Each of us has been called and gifted for a purpose. Therefore, it is important that we recognize and respect the headship of each family, each fellowship, and each Ministry. If I choose to follow the Rabbinic calendar with my family, so be it. If my brother chooses to follow the Biblical calendar, so be it. If our fellowship as a whole decides to follow one calendar or the other, so be it. While we may celebrate at different times, we will each be held accountable for what has been revealed to us. We can only act in what we have understanding of. Therefore, as Hashem gives me understanding, so I do. But if I gain understanding before my brother does, it is not for me to judge my brother, but to pray for him and share with him what I have learned. As Messianic believers we should be clear to proclaim that our unity is in Messiah, not in our piety, or even our calendar. Therefore we may disagree on various issues of understanding, but we are still united in Messiah. Whether we follow one calendar or the other we are still brothers and sisters in Messiah. I do not believe, therefore, that this division over the calendar is divisive enough to end the Movement. I believe that grace can in fact overcome this division. Eventually, from the pains of this controversy, questions will be answered, prayers will be answered, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding will be gained, and visions will be clarified. In all, I believe that this controversy will strengthen the movement in the long run. So, which ever candidate for Calendar of the Movement you vote for in this debate, show grace to those who disagree with you, and pray that Hashem will indeed shepherd His fold to common ground, to common knowledge, to common understanding, and to common sense. In the mean time, let us grant grace to each other to follow our conscience before Hashem, recognizing that each of us has been imbued with the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom necessary to accomplish the purposes for which Hashem has called us. What is certain in this Movement is that in 10-20 years from now we will not be where we are today. Hashem is stirring in the hearts of His people. The Ruach HaChodesh is revealing and writing Torah on the hearts of His people. Yashua is the "Good Shepherd". I have every confidence that He will guide us safely through this present controversy into greener