The Moravian Church has a long spiritual heritage, stretching back nearly 700 years, of standing for the convictions of one’s personal conscience in the face of intense Roman Catholic persecution that several times almost entirely eradicated this body of believers. While the sincerity of Moravians is not to be doubted, some of their beliefs contradict the truths presented in Scripture and thus distance them from the Heavenly Father they love.
Following are some of the errors carried over from Roman Catholicism still believed by the Moravian Church.
- Moravians worship on Sunday. This honors the Catholic Church, rather than the Saviour as assumed, because it was the Catholic Church, and not Yahushua, that changed the day of worship centuries after Christ from the Biblical lunar Sabbath to the first day of the pagan Julian week. The fourth commandment calls for worship on the seventh-day of the luni-solar calendar established at Creation.
- Moravians commemorate the Saviour’s birth, death and resurrection on Christmas and Easter. Sadly, this practice actually dishonors the very one they seek to honor. Christmas and Easter are pagan holidays. Their origins can be traced back to pagan deities the worship of which is forbidden in Scripture. The longing of Yahuwah’s heart for pure worship is expressed as a bridegroom yearning for a wayward bride:
And it shall be at that day, saith Yahuwah, that thou shalt call Me Ishi [Husband]; and shalt call Me no more Baali [Master]. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know Yahuwah. (Hosea 2:16-17, 19-20)
While Moravians celebrate the pagan holidays, Heaven’s divinely appointed holidays are neglected – although the early Christians all kept Yahuwah’s holy convocations.
- Moravians still accept the doctrine of a Trinity. The idea of a “God-in-three-Persons, blessed Trinity,” is of pagan origin. While Scripture certainly refers to the Holy Spirit of Yah, it does not teach that Yah’s Spirit is some mystical, disembodied third person of a godhead. Instead, Scripture declares: “Hear O Israel, Yahuwah our Eloah is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) The Bible makes plain that Yahushua, while born of a virgin, is a human being - not a diety.
- Moravians teach that the redeemed will inherit Heaven. Scripture, however, teaches the immortality in the earth made new is the reward of the saints.
- Moravians believe that the true body and blood of Yahushua is present in the bread and wine of communion. Some Moravians believe this occurs as transubstantiation, others as consubstantiation, while still others believe it is His spiritual presence. Any belief that claims the very real flesh and blood of Yahushua is partaken of by believers greatly dishonors Yahushua. First, because Yahuwah forbids all consumption of blood, by Israelites and Gentiles alike. Secondly, such a belief effectually recrucifies the Saviour. This dishonors His great sacrifice by implying that one death was insufficient to save sinners whereas the Bible declares:
For Yahushua is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Yah for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often . . . For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Yahushua was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:24-28)
Yahuwah invites all Moravians to lay aside long-held errors founded on tradition and assumption and accept Heaven’s pure truth based on Scripture alone.