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The 2005 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB)

Convention With Focus On

  Michael Rood

The following is an Email from an Attendee of The 2005 NRB's Convention.

Following the letter is my response.

Dear Vicky,

I am writing you to share with you an experience that I recently had while attending the 2005 National Religious Broadcasters Convention (NRB) held in Anaheim, California. I had been to your website a few times in the past, and had read some of your articles on the Hebrew Roots movement and Michael Rood of A Rood Awakening, including your recent Newsflash about him.

While attending the NRB, I had the opportunity to talk with a few of the people from the Michael Rood exhibit, and would like to share with you what I observed in the hope of you giving me some clarification on the people and the information.

The first person that I spoke with, was a man who identified himself as Frank. He was dressed in the same type of costume that Michael Rood wore, and appeared to be a representative working at their A Rood Awakening TV booth. During our discussion, he informed me that he used to be a Baptist Christian, but now he was a believer. I found his statement to be somewhat confusing, as I thought that all people who followed Jesus Christ were believers. When I told him that I was a Christian and a believer, he responded by saying that Christians are not believers because they do not keep the Torah. He also said Christians do not keep the sabbath or the festivals, and that it is not enough to just to believe, you must keep the law. This Frank also told me that Jesus and Yahshua were two different people.

I also spoke with a man who identified himself as Michael with a Hebrew pronunciation, and he was not Michael Rood. I had read in an article on your website that Michael Rood had been a member of the cult the Way International, so that was the first question that I asked him about. He just turned and walked away, but did not answer my question.

I then asked Michael Rood's wife, Judith, the same question. She told me that, yes, Michael had been a member of The Way, but that was just when he was 17. I also mentioned to her that I had read an article that stated Michael Rood was not Jewish, and Judith's response was basically that he's not Jewish but he thinks there might be some Jewish ancestry.

Judith said we had to follow the Law, but I said Christ had fulfilled the Law.

Michael Rood, while present and in his costume, lounged on pillows underneath a canopy and if one wanted to talk with him, you had to go under the canopy in order to have a conversation with him. I did not feel comfortable doing that and so decided against speaking with him.

I am not sure why Michael Rood and his exhibit were at the NRB, because the things that they were teaching do not fall in line with the NRB statement of faith that each exhibitor had to sign in order to exhibit there. Some Christians were going to the booth to see some brimstone rock, stated as being from Sodom and Gomorrah. That allowed openings for the sale of his various merchandise, and trying to get contracts with Christian bookstores and other media. They were also giving away some of Michael's DVD's.

As a related sidenote, there were also people there walking around handing out tracts stating that a man named Menachem Schneerson was the messiah, and that he would be returning. They appeared to be Orthodox Jews.

I must admit that I am very disappointed with some of the things I witnessed at the NRB, and I am hoping that you can clarify some of these things for me.

Thank you for writing and sharing your experience.

I would note that The National Religious Broadcasters Convention (NRB) for 2005 ended with a banquet and a prestigious award being given to Mel Gibson for his The Passion of The Christ movie, which I reviewed extensively in the articles Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ. Please see the NRB award information in The 2005 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention With Focus On Mel Gibson's The Passion Recut  

There is much information concerning Michael Rood's activities that I have not published, including his military record and so on. But I have included much, and will address the issues you raised.

Frank could be Frank Balch, according to the promotion about the tour and NRB, "Frank Balch (Rood Crew NRB volunteer)". His statement that they, those who follow Michael Rood or similar, are true believers and Christians are not, is clearly going against Scripture. That is, those who confess that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord, and Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, that He was Crucified, He died, and on the third day rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father---that is a Believer and many would claim as being a Christian and that fits some of the basic parameters of a 'believer' according to the Scriptures. The term Christian is also found in the Scriptures.

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

'Christian' From Strong's 5546. Cristianov Christianos, khris-tee-an-os' 

from 5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian. See Greek 5547 (Christos)

5547. Cristov Christos, khris-tos' from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ. See Greek 5548 (chrio)

Michael Rood rejects and undermines the Greek manuscripts while promoting the corrupt Shem Tov Matthew, which scholars have stated is a medieval Hebrew copy from a Latin text, which was copied from the Greek. He believes that the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and attributes perceived 'translation mistakes' to the translators corrupt Greek beliefs, and because of them not having a good knowledge of the Hebrew, which is ludicrous at best. He believes that Greek translators and scribes changed things, and they poisoned the New Testament. He therefore changes the Word of God to fit it to what he wants it to say.

Michael Rood's recent book is called the Pagan-Christian Connection Exposed. And he constantly refers to Christians as Pagan Christians, and also refers to all as having 'western Gentile minds'. Quoting from the article Michael John Rood: Messianic Karaite Rabbi, where Michael is promoting his Israel tour.

"....Do not wear 'Jesus' t-shirts....We are on this tour to learn from Torah loving Israelis - not offend them with our ignorance and lack of sensitivity.  Many of the lecturers and staff on this tour are Jewish.  Don't try to 'convert' them.  It is not only illegal, but they know more of the scripture in more languages than most of us on the tour.  You are coming to Israel so that I can convert you from a pagan Christian into a Torah loving follower of the Jewish Messiah.  You will love the Israelis for who they are, and come home with a better understanding of who you are. [enlargement and bolding added] 

The term pagan is from the latin paganus. It is very difficult to define, and can include earth worshippers, wiccans and similar. Some, many who are actually pagans, have tried to define it thusly:

A pagan is someone who practices a religion other than Christianity, Judaism or Islam, especially the polytheistic religions of the ancient Romans and Greeks. Paganism also refers to a group of practices originating from pre-Christian Europe, which include the worship of nature, polytheism and the female deity (The Goddess).
www.sanatan.org/en/glossary/p.htm,

This word has many unrelated meanings. Some definitions are: Wiccans and other Neopagans sometimes use Pagan as a synonym for Neopagan.
www.religioustolerance.org/gl_p.htm,

A religion which isn't Christian, Jewish or Muslim based. Nature worshipping religion.
www.mysticaltemple.com/content/glossary.htm,

A person who follows non christian or other socially established faiths. They are usually of an earth based faith or religion. This includes family's taught practices that might including witch craft, psychic gifts and the like.
thecronescorner.com/Definitions.html,

An umbrella term to describe most earth based religions, with worship of God and Goddess as equals an intrinsic part.
www.fortunecity.com/bally/wicklow/283/glossary.htm,

Therefore to call Christians pagan is false information. Christians follow Jesus Christ who is God manifest in the flesh. Not all who claim to be Christians are in fact Christians, and many are and can be disobedient to the Word of God. That does not make them pagan, unless they reject Jesus Christ and follow gods and goddesses or worship the earth or similar. That would then mean they don't belong to Jesus Christ and are not in fact followers of Christ, that is, Christians. There are many that do in fact follow after another gospel and another Jesus, which we are warned about, while claiming to believe Jesus Christ or claiming to be Christian. There is an attempt by Michael Rood to infer that all Christians are simply pagan Gentiles. In fact, many Christians were and are of Jewish descent. And Peter, the Apostle to the Jews and in 1 Peter 1:1 reveals he was speaking to Jews, and Gentiles, encouraged all to not be ashamed of being a Christian and not be offended if they were persecuted for being Christians. 

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

From Strong's > Christian <Christianos>5546. Cristianov Christianos, khris-tee-an-os'
from 5547; a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian.

1Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Strangers scattered :

strangers <parepidemos> 3927. parepidhmov parepidemos, par-ep-id'-ay-mos from 3844 and the base of 1927; an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner:--pilgrim, stranger.

scattered <diaspora> 1290. diaspora diaspora, dee-as-por-ah'  from 1289; dispersion, i.e. (specially and concretely) the (converted) Israelite resident in Gentile countries:--(which are) scattered (abroad). See Greek 1289 (diaspeiro)

Incidentally the term converted or convert is a Biblical term found in Isaiah and other passages, as well as the New Testament and refers to a turning away from sin, turning to Christ and being healed. It has nothing to do with the forced 'conversions' throughout history which were not only not of God, but a disgrace to all those who thought it good.

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Isaiah 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee

Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

The fact that Michael Rood rejects the name and person of Jesus Christ, whom Christians know as Savior and Lord, may be the impetus for applying the term pagan to Christians. As his associate Frank also stated, "Jesus and Yahshua were two different people." That would be so, since Yahshua is not found in the Scriptures and is a made up name.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Michael may now occasionally be using the terms Jesus, which he believes to be a pagan name after a Greek god, or Yeshua, shortened from the long form Yehoshua which is the correct Hebrew, since attempting to reinvent himself for the SkyAngel viewers and NRB attendees, but, he prefers the made up name of Yahshua as discussed in the article Michael John Rood: Messianic Karaite Rabbi:

Michael touches upon that theology in his teaching tapes, but distorts it to being the faulty Greek translators and the false Christian belief system who refer to Christ as the anointed one, similar to "other Greek false gods". The Jews, according to Rood,  "correctly" refer to Messiah as simply the Prophet. From his tape, " The 70th Week Ministry of the Messiah", tape 1:

"...Book to the messianic Hebrews chapter 6v1...leaving the principles of the doctrine of messiah...therefore leaving the foundational principles of the doctrine of Messiah, your KJV says the doctrine of Christ,  I use the term Messiah because the Greeks use the term Christ in referring to all of their anointed ones, all of their gods, but Messiah refers to the one of whom Moses spoke that there is going to be a prophet, one prophet, who is coming, and that prophet, if you do not hear him, if you do not listen and obey, you will be cut off. And he has been known as the Messiah to his people for thousands and thousands of years before the Greeks ever came on the scene with the Greek language." 

See Also: Michael John Rood: Marine Chaplain, Jewish Gentile Rabbi, & Reverend?

From Michael's tape, Title: The 70th Week Ministry of the Messiah, Tape 1 of 4 ," From Baptizing in Water to Baptizing in Spirit" by Michael John Rood::

"... ye have therefore received [the Messiah Yahshua ] and again I will use the Lords real name, the name that Gabriel the angel told his mother Miriam and Joseph to call him, Yahshua, because Yahshua means Yah, which is the ..poetic short version of Yahweh and  hushau which is salvation. Every time you say Yahshua you are saying, Yah our God saves.  Yahshua. And so, rather than a Greek transliteration in which really does not keep the real true sense of the word I will use his real name. Yahshua. ...The letter J is is, fairly recent, it's only about 400 years old and even over in Europe today where it originated, J's are sounded out as Y's. They are still  ...and Joshua is not Joshua, it's Yahshua. He has the same name as the Savior. The Savior does not have an extremely unusual name. There are many people that have been named Yahshua, which means our God saves. Yahshua. And we see that in Hebrew names the name of God appears many many times. ...So when I say the name of Yahshua, I'm saying the most beautiful name in heaven and earth. This is the name by which you must be saved. So I Like to pronounce it correctly. And you'll notice I do not pronounce it as the way that many messianic Jews have been raised to pronounce it as Yeshua, which completely misses the point of Yah. It is not Y'eshua, the emphasis is not on salvation, the emphasis is on Yah. The name of God Yahshua. because it is our God whose name is emphasized in every hebrew name..."

Michael Rood's skill of languages and Scriptural Truth is easily refuted.

 http://www.hareidi.org/bible/Joshua.htm  

There are many like Michael Rood who claim that they alone have been given the 'truth' that has been lost and hidden since the time of the Apostles. If that were true, there could be no person saved since then, until Michael Rood came along. That rather blows Old Testament and New Testament truths and prophecies out of the water.

We are saved by God's grace, not the keeping of the law. In fact, a discussion of the keeping of the law or parts of it as some like to claim, is found in the series Tithing Is It Scriptural for New Covenant Believers?  That series incidentally, also refutes the nonsense that Michael Rood could be of the Levitical lineage, can be a Levite priest or can even live like a Levite, and he certainly has no right to claim the 'Levite tithe' as he calls for financial donations in those terms. [See: The Reverend Michael John Rood] The Levite priests activities included bearing the iniquity of Israel and themselves, and giving the sin offerings that were required to be acceptable before the Lord, and make atonement for their souls. [Lev. 16;17] That task was to be given to the Messiah, according to prophecy, and was fulfilled in Christ. Levites were commissioned by God and they had to keep ALL of the Laws given to Moses, and that included the feasts and the tithes  which all pertained to the Laws and were a shadow of things to come through Christ. And we are told that those who desire to live by the Law, must keep ALL of them. Every single precept, no exceptions. None can be excluded. There is no Scriptural excuse for not keeping them all, if one is going to claim it is required to live by them. So those like Michael Rood and his crew, who claim they are in fact keeping the law, are not only denying Scriptural commands, but disobeying what God said. It is partly because people could never keep all of them, and fell into sin, that Christ died. See Hebrews, and note chapter 8 and so on.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Michael Rood stated in one of his tapes that, "If you keep these commandments none of the diseases of the Gentiles will come upon you. ...Christians, who are followers of the Messiah die everyday, they drop like flies from diseases that Kosher Jews never get. Why, because God has given his commandments and He said if you keep my commandments none of the diseases of the Gentiles will come upon you. But we want to fabricate a whole entire theology, where none of these things apply to us, and yet why are we dying from these things. They don't apply to us yet we die, but those who keep these things don't die. But I just know if we keep his commandments none of the diseases of the Gentiles will come upon us. " [Tape: Mikveh: The Doctrine of Baptisms]

This is interesting in that Michael Rood, according to his Newsletters, has just been ill to the point that he required corrective surgery with something that had plagued him for a long time.

Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)