𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐞, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

Some teachings appeal to the ego before they endanger the heart. One of the most toxic is the claim that Gentile believers in Yeshua are “the true Israel,” “real Jews,” or “lost tribes returning.” It flatters pride. It promises a secret identity. It offers spiritual importance without a biblical foundation. And it has misled many sincere Torah-pursuant Gentile believers who walked away from the Church only to discover, too late, that they were being shaped by an illusion.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧

The idea did not start in the Messianic world. It began as early Christian supersessionism. Justin Martyr argued in the second century that Christians were “the true Israelitic race” (𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑢𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑇𝑟𝑦𝑝ℎ𝑜). This directly contradicts Paul, who said ethnic Israel remains “beloved for the sake of the fathers” and “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28, 29).

Centuries later, the error resurfaced as 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦. John Wilson’s Lectures on 𝑂𝑢𝑟 𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛 (1840) invented the claim that the Anglo-Saxons were the literal lost tribes. Scholars across disciplines rejected these genealogical myths as fabricated, linguistically impossible, and historically false.

In the late twentieth century, the idea migrated into the Messianic and Hebrew Roots worlds through 𝐓𝐰𝐨-𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 and 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞 teachings (e.g., Batya Wootten, 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝐼𝑠 𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙?). Messianic scholars such as Mark Kinzer, David Rudolph, and Daniel Juster wrote strong rebuttals, and the UMJC officially rejected the theology for its distortion of Jewish identity and misuse of Scripture.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡

The New Testament is clear.

Gentiles were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” (Ephesians 2:12) and were brought near—not absorbed, not transformed ethnically—through the Messiah (Ephesians 2:19). Paul commands Gentiles not to seek Jewish identity: “Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.” (1 Corinthians 7:18) If this is taken spiritually, it would mean "if you as a Gentile, became a believer in Yeshua, don't pretend you are Israel."

He warns Gentiles not to boast over the natural branches: “Do not be haughty, but fear.” (Romans 11:20)

Acts 15 then closes the case. Certain believers demanded that Gentiles keep the full Torah and be circumcised (Acts 15:1, 5). The apostles, led by the Holy Spirit, said 𝐧𝐨 (Acts 15:28–29). Circumcision for Gentiles was considered a false gospel that cuts a person off from the Messiah (Galatians 5:2–4). Again, spiritually this means "If you, as a Gentile believer, pretend that you are Israel, then that is a false gospel that cuts you off from the Messiah." (Remember, if you are grafted into the tree, you did not become the tree. Ultimately, Israel will help you bear fruit.)

Gentiles may love Torah. They may learn it weekly (Acts 15:21). They may keep what aligns with their calling. But they do not become Jews, and they are not Israel.

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡—𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥?”

No. Hunger for holiness is not evidence of hidden ancestry. It is evidence of the Spirit working.

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡!”

The Church has failures, but Scripture has not changed. The warnings against Gentiles taking Jewish identity are 2,000 years old. Again, the errors of the Church do not negate the Bible.

“𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥.”

If obedience made Israelites, then Cornelius would have been called a Jew. Yet Peter still calls him “a man of another nation” (Acts 10:28).

𝐀 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬

1. Name the deception. It was identity confusion, not revelation.

2. Reclaim your heritage. You do not have to reject everything Christian to honor Torah. (Practically, you don't have to agree with everything. Just "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!")

3. Walk as a Gentile disciple. You are a full heir in Messiah (Ephesians 3:6). Fulfill the Torah commands for Gentiles, not the whole Torah. (Yes, you can study all of it, but that doesn't make you the High Priest of an invisible temple. Seek humility - if you don't know the commands for Gentiles, you probably can't even walk on the court of the Gentiles.)

4. Keep Torah appropriately. Not to become Jewish, but to grow in holiness and wisdom. The world needs testimonies of how Gentiles can do this effectively. Demonstrate that life!

5. Honor Israel’s calling. Love the natural branches. Do not steal their identity. Don't "Fake it till you make it!" A pure heart means to test everything and hold onto that which is good. ("Test everything" means, in part, that you don't start the question with a commitment to an answer. You search for the truth and then find the answer for yourself.)

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨?

Stand in the truth. Let go of counterfeit identity. Build a life of humility, Scripture, and integrity. Walk as who you are—a Gentile brought near, a full member of God’s household, a living witness to the mercy of Yeshua. Israel will one day be restored as a nation (Romans 11:26). Until then, you stand beside her in prayer, not in her place. (No narcissism and no grandiose schizoid personality. Instead, choose humility, authenticity, and biblical integrity.)

B"H!

𝐏.𝐒. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬

Gentiles will remain Gentiles. Jews will remain Jews. Revelation shows “every tribe, tongue, people, and nation” worshiping the Lamb (Revelation 5:9). The nations will stream to Jerusalem to learn Torah (Isaiah 2:2–3). Israel will be restored in covenant fullness (Ezekiel 36:24–28). Gentiles will walk in the light of the restored Kingdom (Isaiah 60:3). Distinctions do not disappear—they glorify God when redeemed.