What is Beit Shalom about?

For the first time in almost two millennia, life in Yeshua is being understood in its fullest context. God is restoring the Torah to the Body of Messiah and many believers are responding by desiring to live set-apart and sanctified lives in a First Century, New Testament context. This Biblical lifestyle is expressed in the Scriptures within the framework of a Torah-based community. Realizing this, many are seeking a community such as Beit Shalom in order to function in such a way that our modern society and culture does not identify with--that is, a life guided by the Torah, by the Spirit, and in the Messiah. Beit Shalom exists to provide an environment that promotes sanctification (separation from unrighteousness and worldliness) and holy and godly living by encouraging people to embrace the abundant life in Messiah as revealed in the full counsel of Scripture.

All Scripture, including the Torah, is "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16) Community life naturally creates an atmosphere of Godliness-as ordered daily by the Spirit. This gives us a practical basis to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)

The Word of God is "a lamp to [our] feet and a light for [our] path" (Psalms 119:105), so by submitting to His teachings, we are able to enter fully into the renewed life awaiting all who allow Messiah to change their lives. By including the Torah along with the whole of Scripture as a valid, irreplaceable document for the health of God's redeemed, all believers are able to grasp the fullness of Scripture, without which, abundant life cannot be achieved.

We realize that, "all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment" (Isaiah 64:6) and we do not observe the Torah to merit righteousness for that is impossible since "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We believe that, "apart from the Torah {the} righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Torah and the Prophets,
 even {the} righteousness of God through faith in Messiah Yeshua for all those who believe," (Romans 3:21-22) and that we are "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Messiah Yeshua." (Romans 3:24).

What then shall we say? The Torah has no use to Christians? God forbid! The Torah describes God's ways and Yeshua, our example, shows us how to live truly set apart lives unto the Most High. If you have ever had children, you know the desire to see your them be like you. It is painful for a parent to witness their offspring make choices that do not resemble the values they were brought up with. Just as a father feels joy and pride seeing his young son copy his actions, and even more so as the boy grows into a man and follows in his father's ways, so much more does our Abba desire us to copy Him and do exactly as He instructs us. Yeshua says, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10) and later the apostle John writes, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2-3).

This is the spirit in which we observe the Torah--we have been gripped by a profound love and wish to obey our Father because we love Him back.

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