Colossians 2:8
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
God does not want us to practice these traditions of men and that is clear with this scripture. What God does want is for us to follow the tradition that the apostle Paul handed down from God Himself.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
So this verse tells us that the traditions that Paul had were to be kept because God doesn't contradict Himself.
Now, lets review. What makes man made religion sinful.
(1) They centered the building as the church as though they must have a building to complete it. Meeting in a building in itself isn't sinful, but making it the center of worship and that you must meet there because it is the house of God is. The building is not the house of God.
Romans 16:5
“Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.”
1 Corinthians 16:19
“The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
Many christians met in each others houses and worshipped together and it is IMPORTANT to note that they did not have one man ruling over them. That is not to say that one man was more knowledgeable and therefore he helped others understand spiritual matters but he was not there to rule over them.
1 Corinthians 3:17
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
1 Corinthians 3:16
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
God done away with the temple system and says we are the temple and we go to Him directly in prayer and He hears his sheep.
Mark 15:38
“And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
This act in Mark represented that the temple system was done away with and that now we go directly to God and that if your born again you are the temple of God.
John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
Isaiah 65:24
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
I came out of a man made religious body who teaches you must be in a local church and that it is part of your salvation. This is sinful and is a false doctrine. So, what happens when a person in another country in the middle of no mans land becomes born again....does he have to look for a building to complete his salvation? Of course not. And if he found another believer and united with him wouldn't that be church? Yes because remember, if your born again you are the church. Nothing in the scriptures talks about joining a local body or becoming a member. You are a member of God's family when you become born again. Now, if there are enough believers and some could qualify as elders then of course they could meet together and worship in spirit and in truth but again one man was not there trying to be the ruler and telling the other believers when to sit down, get up, when to sing, and so on. This one man ruling over all the christians was adopted by the Roman Catholics and so was the little bread pieces with a little cup of wine. The truth on the Lords supper was that they had a meal together and each person examined themselves and decided if they should eat the bread and drink the wine according to their spiritual status. If they thought they were not right with God in certain areas they would not partake but it wasn't one man pastor or bishop deciding who took the Lord's supper and controlling the whole thing. A lot of baptist and mennonites have adopted this man made tradition and still practice it today. If your bishop or pastor controls the Lord's supper and says he decides who takes it he is in sin and shoild repent and follow God's word.
Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The above scripture tells us that two or three born again christians that are meeting together are the church. God is with them and no building is needed. Amen!!!
The above scripture tells us that two or three born again christians that are meeting together are the church. God is with them and no building is needed. Amen!!!
(2) Celebrating pagan holidays and traditional denominations created by man
Jeremiah 10
The scripture is clear on this but man made Sunday religion upholds these pagan traditions. This makes man made religion ungodly. They celebrate christ mass from Roman Catholicism and easter and all other traditional paganistic holidays. Do they not read the scriptures? Christmas, easter, valentines day and many other pagan holidays are practiced still by many so called christian churches.
(3) Man made religion (baptist, catholics,lutherans episcopalian, pentecostal, church of God, latter day saints..mormons, methodist, evangelicalism, adventists, presbyterianism, southern baptist convention, assemblies of god, holiness churches, jehovah's witnesses and anglicans are ALL systems that were created by man. None of these systems are biblical and so many of them practice traditions of men but not the traditions that Paul taught. So many are caught in this trap and I know people that are bent on fighting for a system instead of fighting for the truth of God. These over ruling pastors come out with contracts to sign and hype the congregation up so they will put more trust in him. This is very sinful and shows the pride of these lone ruling bishops. They make up extra biblical standards that are NOT biblical. If you add to God's word you are in danger. Silly rules like you must wear a black hat and a black vest to be a member of their body. This is so unbiblical and shows where their heart is. The Sunday religion is not from God. God wants us to serve Him every day, not just one day a week. All these religious systems have one thing in common...they want to lord over the people.
1 Corinthians 14:26
“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
This verse proves there was not one man in charge. Everyone had something to offer. Is this how man made pastors operate today? No...the pastor stands up behind a wooden pulpit and supposedly God does not want anyone to speak while he is preaching. This is another one of mans false ways. They use the book of Nehemiah to justify the pulpit and that was God giving Nehemiah a platform to speak to thousands of people and yet pastors use it to asurp authority and power over the them. This program mindset where the pastor tells you when to get up and when to sit down and when to sing and even repeat or chant after them in unison is definitly not of the Holy Spirit. Man is running this, not God.
(4) Emotionalism...These groups are focused on you using your feelings instead of obeying the scriptures. People are claiming they are slain in the spirit and rolling with laughter and speaking in tongues (jibberish that no one understands) and running around jumping over pews is all supposedly a sign of the holy ghost working in you. All this is really just hyping yourself up emotionally and doing things with an adrenaline rush. It's like a drug and it is not of God.
1 Corinthians 14:33
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
1 Corinthians 14:23
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?”
Also there is full blown calvinism teaching you are predestined for hell or heaven and so you cannot chamge the outcome. This is heresy and a false doctrine that gives people excuses to sin. Think about it....if you were predestined for heaven you can live it up because your going to heaven no matter what. In the same token if your predestined for hell you might as well live it up before you go. This is such hypocrisy!!!! Easy believism is a great false doctrine that is sweeping America and it is evident that it doesn't encourage anyone to live holy. Yes, without God you ARE doomed for hell so don't count on your false once saved always saved doctrine. The bottom line I believe is simple...people don't won't to give up the pleasures of this world so they make up their own doctrine of salvation. How sad this is, because many will find out too late as their cast into the lake of fire for all eternity.
Jeremiah 10:2
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”
(5) Winning people to the Lord is not biblical.....You cannot preach people into salvation or persuade them to say a Lord's prayer and think their born again. This is what I was trained to do in the baptist church. Knock on doors and invite people to church. How ridiculous. The church are comprised of born again believers, not unrepented sinners that want nothing to do with God. The gospel is for true seekers.
(6) Man made religion has altered the gospel. This is really important. They say you are saved in your sins but the fact is you are saved out of your sins. Some say you must be part of a local church body for salvation to be complete.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Also there is full blown calvinism teaching you are predestined for hell or heaven and so you cannot chamge the outcome. This is heresy and a false doctrine that gives people excuses to sin. Think about it....if you were predestined for heaven you can live it up because your going to heaven no matter what. In the same token if your predestined for hell you might as well live it up before you go. This is such hypocrisy!!!! Easy believism is a great false doctrine that is sweeping America and it is evident that it doesn't encourage anyone to live holy. Yes, without God you ARE doomed for hell so don't count on your false once saved always saved doctrine. The bottom line I believe is simple...people don't won't to give up the pleasures of this world so they make up their own doctrine of salvation. How sad this is, because many will find out too late as their cast into the lake of fire for all eternity.
Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
There are many false doctrines out there so you must beware.
Ephesians 4:14
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, andcunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
1 Timothy 6:3
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”
1 Corinthians 14:33
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
Isaiah 5:20
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
I hope this article of God's truth helps you to see that man made traditions have caused a spiritual fall among the people and that it doesn't lead you to livimg a holy life before God. You must leave these man made systema in order to be on the side of God's truth and follow His ways and not man's.
May God be praised!!!
