When one cultic movement isn't enough, why not jump to another one that preaches the same legalistic gospel? This is precisely what many former Armstrongites do when they leap into the Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM). The transition feels seamless, almost as if Armstrongism were a mere gateway drug to an even deeper obsession with Old Testament legalism. In this article, we'll explore the striking similarities between these two groups, their shared disdain for orthodox Christianity, and why both movements ultimately fail to grasp the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Shared Love for the Old Testament (and a Deep Suspicion of the New) Both Armstrongism and the Hebrew Roots Movement treat the Old Testament as if it were the pinnacle of God's revelation, while viewing the New Testament as a somewhat sketchy, heavily Greek-influenced afterthought. Sure, Jesus is acknowledged, but He tends to be relegated to the role of "law enforcer" rather than Savior. Instead of seeing Christ as the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17), they see Him as the guy who came to make sure we all eat kosher and keep the Sabbath properly.
The HRM, much like Armstrongism, teaches that Christians must keep the Torah, arguing that the early church went astray by abandoning its Jewish roots. This is remarkably similar to Herbert W. Armstrong's claim that "traditional Christianity" was corrupted by pagan influences, necessitating a "restored" understanding of God's truth (which, conveniently, he alone rediscovered).
The Obsession with the Sabbath and Holy Days If there's one thing Armstrongites and Hebrew Rooters can bond over, it's their shared disdain for Sunday worship. In both groups, Sabbath-keeping is not just a preference—it’s the ultimate litmus test for true believers. If you worship on Sunday, you’re practically bowing before the sun god Baal.
Armstrongism and the HRM both demand adherence to Old Testament feast days, claiming they are still binding. Armstrongites take their calendar straight from the playbook of HWA, while HRM followers often dabble in rabbinic calculations to determine when exactly to blow their shofars and bake their unleavened bread. Either way, both groups live under the illusion that God is far more concerned with whether you fast on the right day than whether you understand the gospel.
Dietary Laws: The True Measure of Holiness One of the most ridiculous ways both groups measure righteousness is through diet. Armstrongites won’t touch pork or shellfish, and HRM folks do the same—but with extra zeal, often adopting full kosher observance. In their world, nothing screams "true believer" like scrutinizing food labels for hidden pork gelatin while ignoring the weightier matters of faith, grace, and love.
Paul’s rebuke of dietary legalism in Colossians 2:16? Must be a mistranslation! Instead of reading Scripture in context, both movements cling to Leviticus 11 as if it were the gospel itself.
Hebrew Name Obsession In classic cultic fashion, both Armstrongism and the HRM have a thing for linguistic exclusivism. Armstrongites insist on calling Jesus "the Word" or "the Eternal," while Hebrew Rooters insist that only "Yeshua" (or some other variation like Yahushua) is the proper name for the Messiah.
Dare to say "Jesus"? You might as well be invoking Zeus! Never mind that the apostles wrote the New Testament in Greek and referred to Him as Iēsous—these groups prefer their own reconstructed "pure" names, as if God refuses to hear prayers uttered in anything other than the cult mandated terminology.
Authority Issues: Who Needs the Church? Another shared trait is a deep distrust of church history and traditional Christian doctrine. Armstrongism teaches that all churches except their own are deceived by Satan, and the HRM promotes a similar narrative—claiming that Christianity lost its way by embracing Greek philosophy and abandoning Jewish customs.
Both groups revel in being "set apart" from mainstream Christianity, convinced they alone hold the truth. This results in endless theological rabbit holes, as members constantly debate calendars, Hebrew pronunciations, and other trivialities while missing the entire point of the gospel.
Legalism vs. the Gospel At the core of both Armstrongism and the Hebrew Roots Movement is the same fundamental error: a failure to grasp the sufficiency of Christ’s work on the cross. Instead of embracing salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), they insist on returning to the yoke of the law, despite Paul’s clear warnings against it (Galatians 5:1-4).
Their obsession with Old Testament law keeps them from experiencing the freedom found in Christ. They see grace not as the power of salvation but as a mere "helping hand" to keep the law better. This is why so many who move from Armstrongism to Hebrew Roots simply exchange one form of bondage for another.
Conclusion: From One Cult to Another The Hebrew Roots Movement is, in many ways, just Armstrongism with more shofars and Hebrew terminology. Both reject the gospel of grace in favor of legalistic rule-keeping. Both see themselves as the "one true remnant." And both twist Scripture to fit their own pre-determined theological conclusions.
Ultimately, the real gospel—the one found in Scripture—teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It’s not about feast days, Sabbath-keeping, or avoiding bacon. It’s about trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Anything else is just another dead-end road paved with self-righteousness and spiritual pride.
Comparing Cults: Armstrongism vs. Hebrew Roots © 2025 by Ai-COG is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0
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