What We Practice

While beliefs matter deeply, the Letter of James reminds us that “faith without works is dead.”

Faith alone—the doctrine popularized by Paul of Tarsus and later adopted by modern Christianity—is not enough.

Equal to faith is practice—living according to the Torah, the Law, and the Way of Yeshua the Nazarene.

Below are the core practices that define what it means to walk in the Nazarene Way.

1. Observing the Sabbath and Holy Days

We observe the same holy days that Yeshua observed.

We also honor the Sabbath, which begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday at sundown.

Saturday—not Sunday—is the true seventh day on which God rested.

The Roman shift to Sunday worship was a later fusion of paganism and politics.

For this reason, we unplug and rest on Saturdays for worship, reflection, and renewal—just as Yeshua and His disciples did.

2. The Three Core Commandments

Our entire Way revolves around three commandments—two from Yeshua, and one from His brother James the Just:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Care for the poor (the Ebionim—“the Poor Ones”).

These are the beating heart of Nazarene practice. Every act, ritual, and discipline flows from these commandments.

3. Following the Torah and the Ten Commandments

We honor the Torah and follow the Ten Commandments.

We pray not to Yeshua but to YHWH, the one true God.

As Yeshua taught, He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.

4. Water Immersion (Baptism)

Nazarenes practice water immersion—typically in a running river—as a symbolic act of repentance, renewal, and rebirth.

This practice is repeated at least once a year, often around the New Year, following the tradition of Yeshua’s own baptism.

5. Vegetarian and Plant-Based Living

We believe the commandment “Thou shalt not kill” extends beyond humankind to all living creatures.

Therefore, we encourage a vegetarian or plant-based lifestyle—one that causes no harm to animals.

The early Nazarenes and Ebionites lived this way.

James the Just was a vegetarian, and evidence strongly suggests Yeshua was as well. Many of the Gospel passages describing Him eating fish were likely later additions or mistranslations.

We recommend watching the documentary Christspiracy for more on this subject.

While this way of living is not mandated, it is highly encouraged. It can be adopted gradually, as Rabbi Scott himself did—one step at a time. Over time, most find it simpler and more spiritually grounding than expected.

6. The Nazarite Vow

Another key practice of the Nazarene Way is the Nazarite Vow, described in the Book of Numbers.

This vow—rooted in the same Hebrew root as Nazarene (נזר, n-z-r, meaning to consecrate or branch off)—is an act of dedication to God.

It traditionally includes three disciplines:

Abstaining from strong drink (no alcohol, wine, or luxury indulgence).

Avoiding contact with the dead (no funerals or corpses).

Not cutting one’s hair as a visible symbol of consecration.

Rabbi Scott has personally taken this vow alongside a vegetarian lifestyle, and it has proven transformational.

While some Hebrew Scriptures were later influenced by what Jeremiah called “the pen of the lying scribes,” we interpret all texts through the lens of God’s love, not blood sacrifice.

An all-loving and omnipotent God would not command the killing of innocent beings.

7. Acts of Compassion and Service

Finally—and most importantly—Nazarenes live out their faith through action. We serve and care for the Ebionim—the poor, the homeless, the forgotten.

Our community participates in outreach missions: delivering vegetarian meals, clothing, and supplies to those in need.

We encourage every Nazarene to get boots on the ground—to meet people face to face, to give, to love, and to serve.

This is not charity; it is the Way itself.

To follow Yeshua the Nazarene is to walk among the poor, to lift them up, and to love them as oneself.

Summary of the Nazarene Way:

To walk in the Way is to live differently.

To practice the Way means:

- Honoring the Sabbath and holy days Yeshua observed.

- Loving God, loving others, and caring for the poor.

- Following the Torah and Ten Commandments.

- Practicing annual water immersion.

- Living a compassionate, plant-based lifestyle.

- Taking the Nazarite vow of consecration.

- Serving the poor and marginalized with humility and love.

Faith without works is dead.

To be Nazarene is to act, to live, and to walk the same path Yeshua walked.