Don't Be A Flake
The Bible says, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22). It’s not enough just to know about Torah. Followers of Yeshua must also live Torah. The Torah commands us to keep our promises:
If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2)
Keeping our word is the duty of every follower of Messiah. Yeshua and James taught that we should be such a people of integrity that making an elaborate oath would be completely unnecessary—we don’t have to sell ourselves because our simple “yes” or “no” is trusted and sufficient (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12).
Why is keeping our promises so important? Because we bear God’s image. And since God always keeps His word, we must keep our word as well.
A “flake” is someone who makes promises but doesn’t follow through with them. They are unreliable. They are the people who make plans to be somewhere but never show up. And even if they have the decency to inform you that they won’t be there, they’ll usually just send a text message at the last minute saying that “something came up.” The flaky person cannot commit to anything.
Ultimately, flakiness comes down to a lack of love and consideration for others, which breaks the second greatest commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself ” (James 2:8). If people truly loved their neighbor as themselves, they wouldn’t be flaky. That’s because everyone who has ever dealt with a flaky person knows how utterly disrespectful and frustrating it can be.
When we who claim to follow the God of Israel flake out on others—when we break God’s commandment to keep our promises—we profane the name of God. Believers are called to be “imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1). Is your life a representation of God’s faithfulness, or by your actions do you make God out to be an unreliable flake?
This article is an except from my book, When Faith Works: Living Out the Law of Liberty According to James. Learn more here.
I am a follower of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, and I believe the Torah (the Law of Moses) remains relevant for God’s people today and should still be obeyed. So does that make me part of the Hebrew Roots Movement? There are two reasons why it does not.
The Bible mentions several books that have been lost to history. One of these is the Book of Jasher, meaning “one who is upright.” Over the centuries, this book has sparked much curiosity. Some today even argue that it has been rediscovered and ought to be included in the Bible. This article explores what we know about the Book of Jasher and evaluates claims that it has been rediscovered.
Did Paul reject the ongoing relevance of the Sabbath and festivals prescribed in the Torah? Many cite Colossians 2:16–17 as proof that he did. However, a growing body of scholarship calls that interpretation into question. Scholars point out that the illegitimate judgment directed toward Colossian believers came from ascetics who did not observe the biblical calendar. Drawing on this scholarship, I argue that Colossians 2:16–17 does not invalidate the Sabbath and festivals but instead affirms their value.
Have you ever asked God, “What is your will for my life?” If you have, you might be encouraged to know that Scripture already offers a direct (though often overlooked) answer to that question.
The Epistle to the Hebrews offers biblical evidence that the Holy Spirit is both fully divine and a distinct person. Within the epistle, the author identifies the Spirit as “eternal,” presents the Spirit as speaking God’s words as recorded in Old Testament quotations, and yet also distinguishes the Spirit as a separate agent from the Father and the Son. This article examines several references to the Spirit in Hebrews and shows how the author’s depiction is consistent with the Trinitarian understanding of the Holy Spirit as fully God and personally distinct from both the Father and the Son.
This study demonstrates that Luke presents the earliest followers of Jesus as steadfast Sabbath observers, challenging the common assumption that they abandoned or disregarded this practice. By closely examining the references to the Sabbath in Luke’s Gospel and Acts, it is observed that Luke consistently depicts Sabbath worship as a standard practice among Jewish and Gentile believers. This portrayal suggests that the earliest followers of Jesus did not believe the Sabbath had been abrogated but saw it as integral to their faith and community life. These findings invite modern Christians to reconsider the relevance of Sabbath observance in their own spiritual lives. By highlighting the continuity between Judaism and the emerging Christian movement, this study contributes to scholarship on early Christian identity and practice, portraying the earliest followers of Jesus as a movement within Judaism.
Is marital intimacy on the Sabbath a violation of the commandment to keep the seventh day holy? That depends on who you ask.
In 2 Peter 3:15-17, Peter warns that Paul’s letters contain content that is “hard to understand” and which “the ignorant and unstable” misinterpret. He then connects the mishandling of Paul’s letters to “lawless people.” In this article, I will argue that 2 Peter 3:15-17 represents Peter’s warning regarding antinomians (individuals who reject God’s law) misinterpreting passages in Paul’s letters to advocate for lawlessness.
The expression “law of Christ” appears only two times in the New Testament. In Galatians 6:2, Paul urges his readers to fulfill “the law of Christ” (τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ). Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul states that he is “under/in the law of Christ” (ἔννομος Χριστοῦ). Traditionally, interpreters have frequently understood this expression to refer to a new “law” or ethic that supersedes the law of Moses. However, as Todd Wilson notes, there is a “growing scholarly consensus” that “law of Christ” directly refers to the law of Moses in some sense. This article makes a case for interpreting the phrase “law of Christ” in Galatians 6:2 and 1 Corinthians 9:21 as a reference to the law of Moses as it is taught and exemplified by Christ.
Is the Messiah God? The first chapter of Hebrews presents compelling evidence that he is. In this chapter, the author highlights the Son’s role as the creator and sustainer of the universe, emphasizes the Son’s divine essence, proclaims that the Son is worthy of the worship that belongs only to God, and explicitly identifies the Son as “God” and “Lord/YHWH.” In order to demonstrate each of these points, this article conducts a detailed exegesis of Hebrews 1 and answers objections from unitarians.
Jubilees is a fascinating book that provides a window into the world of Second Temple Judaism. However, instead of appreciating it for what it is, a few teachers on the Internet exaggerate its significance and consider it to be inspired Scripture. This article provides an overview of the Book of Jubilees and explains why it is not Scripture.
Does the Bible teach that Yeshua the Messiah is divine? Philippians 2:5-11 is a central text that speaks to this question. In this passage, Paul teaches that the Messiah existed as a divine figure prior to his human conception, bears the name YHWH, and is rightfully given the reverence and allegiance that belongs to YHWH alone.
In Ephesians 2:15, Paul wrote that Christ broke down the wall of division between Jew and Gentile “by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.” But what does Paul mean by this phrase? Is Paul saying that Christ abolished the Law of Moses, or something else?
In recent days, progressive Christians have claimed that Leviticus 18:22 does not mean what it plainly says. I want to address their objections in this article.
Did Jesus reject the Torah’s dietary laws? Many say that he did, citing Mark 7:1-23 as proof. In this article, I will explain the problems with the traditional interpretation of this passage and offer an alternative view that presents a more consistent and accurate portrayal of Jesus’s teaching.
Solberg complains about Pronomian theology causing "division" in the body. However, mischaracterizations like this are what actually undermine the unity that should be shared among thoughtful Christians on all sides of this debate.
Does Peter call Jesus “God” in 2 Peter 1:1? When we examine this verse from a grammatical standpoint, it is evident that he does.
Is the Torah (Law of Moses) relevant to Christians today? Many modern Christians say no. Jesus says yes.
I’ve been reading some scientific studies on the psychosocial impact of polygamy (in particular, the form of polygamy known as polygyny, that is, a husband having two or more wives). Modern-day advocates for polygamy argue that this practice benefits families and society, but the scientific data tells a different story. The harmful effects of polygamy on the well-being of men, women, and children are striking.
One fundamental theological principle revealed in the Genesis creation accounts is that marriage, as God intended it, is to be monogamous. The rest of the Bible, especially the New Testament, upholds this marital form as the ideal standard.
How do we make sense of the Torah’s polygamy regulations in light of the Bible’s overall condemnation of this practice?
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). If you just read that verse out loud, then you might hear a faint, high-pitched noise. That sound is every feminist worldwide shrieking about how Christianity oppresses women. But is this instruction in Ephesians really oppressive toward women?
Did Jesus exist before he was conceived in Mary’s womb? This article looks at a passage from Jude that may shed some light on that question.
Justin Best of the popular J. Breezy YouTube channel (formerly Christian Truthers) said he is “questioning the authenticity of the NT [New Testament] and the existence of a historical ‘Jesus’ character.” This article will look at and answer some of his claims.
There are a lot of questions that arise from such a scandal. This article is just my attempt to work out my own questions and reflect on what lessons we can and must learn from this tragic situation.
Modern society has invented its own means of defining morality and carrying out justice apart from God’s ways. How do we determine right from wrong? By whatever is culturally trendy, of course! How do we punish those who transgress society’s ever-changing and inconsistently enforced standards? Cancel Culture!
Is Christ the Creator or was he created? The Trinity doctrine states that there is one God who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This article will demonstrate the biblical validity of this doctrine in regard to the Son. While Yeshua is fully man, the Bible teaches that he is also fully God.
The Bible instructs us not to get jealous over others’ success but to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”
A recent study has found that 44% of self-identified Christians in America said they believe the Bible is “ambiguous in its teaching about abortion.” What this study actually reveals is that many self-identified Christians either don’t read the Scriptures or don’t know how to handle them rightly (2 Timothy 2:15).
About David Wilber
David is first and foremost a passionate follower of Yeshua the Messiah. He is also a writer, speaker, and teacher.
David’s heart is to minister to God’s people by helping them rediscover the validity and blessing of God’s Torah and help prepare them to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope within them (1 Peter 3:15)…
David Wilber
David Wilber is an author, Bible teacher, Messianic/Christian apologist, and joint CEO of Pronomian Publishing LLC. He has written several books, including his most recent work, "Remember the Sabbath: What the New Testament Says About Sabbath Observance for Christians." In addition to his books, David has written numerous theological articles for various publications and websites. David lives in Lake Wylie, SC, with his wife and two children. His articles and teachings can be found at DavidWilber.com.
Recently, R. L. Solberg published a teaching offering a reinterpretation of Acts 15. Solberg is a popular YouTuber whose ministry is devoted entirely to trying to convince Christians that the Law of Moses no longer serves as an authoritative standard for Christian ethics. I wanted to put together this brief article highlighting several of his claims that are contradicted by the text.