Most people know a religion and practice it.
Few people know how to have a relationship with God.
PRACTICING RELIGION
Legalism: I obey the rules so that I may be accepted by God.
Motivation: My desire to participate in religious services is based on fear, obligation, and insecurity.
Expectation: When things do not go the way I want, I get angry at God or myself based on the belief that anyone who is “good” deserves a comfortable life without major issues.
Identity: I am committed and pledge allegiance to my religion because it is the basis of my philosophy and defines my identity.
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Grace: Because I am accepted through God’s grace and mercy, I want to obey His commands.
Motivation: My desire to pray, study the Word, worship, and fellowship is based on gratefulness, admiration, joy, and love.
Trust: When things do not go the way I want, I struggle with the circumstances, but I know that God is by my side to strengthen me so I can persevere through it all.
Identity: I am a servant of God and a follower of Jesus Christ. I identify with my brothers and sisters in the faith, and God’s Word in the Holy Bible defines who I am.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS RELATIONSHIP WITH US – NOT OUR RELIGION!
Why people choose to practice religion and traditions of men instead of seeking a personal relationship with God
There are many reasons people practice religion and follow traditions rather than seeking a personal relationship with God, often stemming from psychological and social needs for comfort, certainty, and belonging. This can lead individuals to prioritize rules, rituals, and external validation over a direct, intimate connection with the Divine.
For many, organized religion and its traditions provide compelling benefits that can unintentionally take the place of a personal relationship with God:
- Security and Comfort: Religious traditions and rituals offer a sense of order, predictability, and emotional stability. This provides a framework for coping with life’s challenges without the perceived anxiety and deep personal responsibility of walking by faith alone.
- Community and Belonging: Organized religion provides a sense of fellowship and social belonging. This communal aspect fulfills the human need to be part of something larger than oneself, but it can sometimes value the group’s approval over God’s.
- Established Guidance: Religious laws and doctrines offer clear “rules for living.” For many, following a pre-written manual is perceived as safer than navigating a personal, dynamic, and sometimes challenging relationship with God.
- Continuity and Identity: Following the traditions of one’s family and culture connects individuals to their heritage. While this fosters a sense of inter-generational identity, it can result in a faith that is inherited rather than personally experienced.
- Perceived Superiority: Some find a false sense of security or superiority in strictly adhering to a set of rules, creating the illusion that they are “doing everything right” based on their own performance.
- While these needs are natural, the Ekklesia is called to find its security, guidance, and identity in Christ alone, rather than the systems built by men
The Challenges of maintaining a Personal Relationship with God
In contrast to the clear, rigid structure of tradition, a personal relationship with God is a living journey that can be perceived as demanding and unpredictable.
Personal Responsibility: A direct, personal faith requires a continuous process of individual growth, self-reflection, and sincere repentance. This is often more challenging than relying on the structured, and frequently passive, practice of tradition.
The Unknown and Lack of Control: Walking in a personal relationship requires trusting God’s plan even when it is unseen. Walking by faith can feel unsettling for those who crave human certainty and a sense of control over their own lives.
Ongoing Engagement: Maintaining a relationship with God demands consistent, mutual communication and spiritual effort. In contrast, traditions can easily become a form of passive religious activity rather than an active, daily pursuit of the Divine.
Focus on the Internal: While traditions are highly visible and offer a sense of public belonging, a personal relationship is primarily internal and private. Some may value the outward expressions and public identity of “religion” more than an internal, unseen connection with the Creator.
WHY WE SHOULD HATE MAN-MADE RELIGION!
RELIGION IS A SILENT KILLER!
AMAZINGLY… JESUS CHRIST DID NOT SAY ANYTHING TO PROMOTE RELIGION IN THE BIBLE! HIS FOCUS WAS ALWAYS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
John 8:42-45 Jesus calls the Religious leaders children of the Devil
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
LINK to “8 Reasons Jesus Hates Religion”
LINK to “9 Reasons Jesus Hates Religion”
AMAZINGLY the word “RELIGION” does not appear in the original manuscripts of the OLD TESTAMENT. It is mentioned in the NEW TESTAMENT 3 times by the Apostles Luke, Paul and James
Acts 26:5 – The Apostle Luke states that he practiced The Jewish Law before he believed on Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior
Galatians 1:13-14 – The Apostle Paul states that he practiced the religion of the Jewish Faith before he believed on Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior – Paul states that he persecuted the Followers of Jesus Christ (The Eklessia) when he was practicing The Jewish Law.
James 1:26-27 The Apostle James states that pure religion is what man does for the good of man – Pure Religion IS NOT how man maintains a relationship with God.
I would like to challenge you… please put down religion for a minute and and open your mind and heart to the possible truth that you are missing out on an amazing relationship with God. If this is possibly true, wouldn’t you want to experience this relationship that I am talking about? Wouldn’t you want to know your creator intimately and personally?
RELIGION \ PHILOSOPHY WILL NOT GIVE YOU A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!
Apostle Paul’s Disdain for Worldly Wisdom
The Apostle Paul’s disdain for worldly wisdom can be summarized as a deep conviction that human reason, pride, and intellectual cleverness are utterly inadequate for understanding God’s truth. He repeatedly contrasts the temporary, self-serving nature of worldly wisdom with the eternal, humble, and spiritual nature of God’s Divine wisdom—which is centered entirely on the Message of the Cross.
To the world, the Gospel appears as foolishness, but to those being saved, it is the power of God. Paul teaches that God chose the “foolish” things of the world to shame the wise, ensuring that no human can boast in His presence.
The foolishness of human intellect
In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul directly confronts the prevailing Greek philosophical traditions of the time, which highly valued rhetoric, logic, and intellectual status. He argues that this human-centered approach is utterly useless in truly knowing God.
- A Challenge to Worldly Thinkers: Paul famously asks, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20).
- Worldly Wisdom is Folly: He bluntly states, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,” and, “He catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:19).
- Ineffective for Salvation: Paul asserts that the world, through its own wisdom, “did not know God,” and that God chose to save those who believe through the “foolishness of what was preached” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
The Paradox of the Cross: A Stumbling Block to the Wise
For Paul, the ultimate proof of worldly wisdom’s futility is the Message of the Cross itself, which completely inverts human concepts of power, status, and success.
- Christ Crucified as “Foolishness”: Paul recognizes that to those seeking signs (the Jews), the Cross is a “stumbling block,” and to those seeking intellectual sophistication (the Greeks), it is “foolishness.”
- The Power of God in Perceived Weakness: Paul preaches that this apparent weakness and foolishness is, in fact, “the power of God and the wisdom of God” for those who are being saved.
- The Humbling of Human Pride: God deliberately chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong, so that no human being could “boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).
The source of true wisdom
Rather than relying on human eloquence or philosophical argumentation, Paul presents true wisdom as a Divine revelation available only through the Holy Spirit.
- Divine Revelation, Not Human Reason: Paul declares that he came to the Corinthians not with “lofty speech or wisdom” but to preach Christ Crucified, so that their faith would rest not on “the wisdom of men but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).
- Spiritual Discernment: He explains that spiritual truths are “spiritually discerned” and that the person without the Spirit cannot understand or accept them, considering them foolish (1 Corinthians 2:14).
- The Mind of Christ: Through the Spirit, believers are given access to the Mind of Christ, which allows them to understand Divine mysteries that are hidden from worldly intellects.
If the Spirit is the source of wisdom, then every believer with the Spirit has access to the “Mind of Christ.” This effectively removes the need for a human “clergy” to act as an intermediary between the believer and God.
Although there are many religions in the world today, there is one movement that seeks to join them all together to form the One World Church that will be under the New World Order. Most people do not see what they are doing yet.
THEY ARE USING TOLERANCE AND UNITY TO TRICK US INTO THIS ONE WORLD RELIGION!
THIS VIDEO EXPOSES THEIR PROGRESS AND WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR
THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT BUILDING THE ONE WORLD CHURCH! IT IS NOT A JOKE… AND IT BEGINS… THE NEW WORLD ORDER WITH ONE RELIGION IS GETTING US READY FOR THE ANTICHRIST
THIS NOT A CONSPIRACY OR FICTION – THIS IS VERY REAL & VERY DANGEROUS
LINK to The Parliament of the World’s Religions Website
LINK to “The One World Church” Website
LINK to “The Temple of Understanding” Website
LINK to “Religious Tolerance” Website
Why are there so many denominations and sects in Christianity today?
There are so many denominations due to disagreements over biblical interpretation (baptism, sacraments, spiritual gifts), differing cultural/geographical contexts, varying worship styles, and historical divisions like the Reformation, leading to groups forming around distinct leadership, traditions, or desired purity from perceived errors, often starting with sincere desire to follow God but resulting in diverse expressions of faith.
Key Reasons for Denominational Division
While many denominations began with a sincere desire to follow God, several factors contributed to the diverse—and often divided—expressions of faith we see today:
Biblical Interpretation: Differing views on the “mechanics” of faith—such as the mode of baptism, the nature of the Eucharist, or the operation of the Holy Spirit.
Church Governance (Ecclesiology): Disagreements over man-made power structures, such as the authority of bishops versus the rule of elders or congregations.
Worship Style & Tradition: The elevation of personal preference, where ancient rituals or modern styles become the “standard” for fellowship rather than Christ Himself.
Historical Events: The aftermath of the Protestant Reformation, which, while necessary, resulted in a cycle of continuous splitting as groups broke away from one another.
Cultural & Geographical Factors: The tendency to blend the Gospel with local culture, creating regional versions of Christianity that eventually hardened into separate sects.
Desire for Purity/Reform: Sincere attempts to return to the “Original Ekklesia” that ironically resulted in the creation of yet another new denomination.
Human Factors: The influence of pride, self-promotion, and the comfort of “in-group” thinking, which solidifies divisions and makes reconciliation difficult.
In summary, these divisions often occur when the method of worship becomes more important than the Object of worship. When we define ourselves by our “distinctives” (what makes us different from other Christians), we move away from the Biblical mandate of being “one body” under one High Priest.
The True Temple: Not a Building, But a People
The Apostle Paul communicated that the true Temple of God is no longer a physical building, but the believers themselves—both individually and collectively. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s sacred presence now resides in His people, fundamentally changing the nature of worship and the way followers of Christ live.
The Believer as a Collective Temple
In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to the entire church as God’s singular Temple, emphasizing their unity and shared purpose.
- The Church as “God’s Building”: Paul uses the imagery of the church as “God’s building,” with Christ as the chief cornerstone, upon which all believers are built together into a holy temple.
- A Dwelling for God: Writing to the Ephesians, Paul states that Gentile and Jewish believers have been “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).
- A Call to Unity: This understanding of the church as a corporate temple serves as a powerful call to unity, urging believers to be reconciled with one another and to avoid the internal strife and division that characterize man-made institutions (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).
The believer as an individual temple
Paul also applies temple imagery to the individual believer, particularly in the context of moral and spiritual purity. This was a radical departure from the world’s view of the physical body.
- A Contrast to Pagan Temples: In a city like Corinth—notorious for its pagan temples and sexual immorality—Paul provides a radical, counter-cultural instruction: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
- A Call to Holiness: This redefines the very concept of a “holy place.” In the Old Testament, only specific priests were set apart to care for the physical Temple. Now, because all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, every believer is called to personal consecration. This requires a life of separation from anything that would desecrate the sacred place where God dwells.
The Practical Implications of the Living Temple
The shift from a physical building to a spiritual temple creates profound implications for how a believer lives, worships, and relates to God.
- God is Accessible Everywhere: Because God’s presence is no longer confined to a single physical location, believers are free to worship Him anywhere “in spirit and truth,” as Yeshua taught. Worship is no longer a destination; it is a state of being (John 4:21–24).
- The Priesthood of All Believers: Paul’s teaching on the spiritual temple reinforces that there is no “clergy/laity” divide. Every Christian can approach God directly without a human intermediary, offering up “spiritual sacrifices” of worship, prayer, and service (1 Peter 2:4–5).
- High Stakes for Holiness: The sanctity of the temple carries a heavy responsibility. Paul warns that God’s temple is sacred, stating, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person” (1 Corinthians 3:17). This emphasizes that our treatment of our bodies and our treatment of one another within the Body of Christ is of eternal importance.
The Departure from Temple Systems
True followers of Yeshua do not follow the pagan or Jewish temple systems. The Departure from Temple Systems
True followers of Yeshua do not follow the pagan or Jewish temple systems. While this shift is a cornerstone of New Testament theology, the transition for the early Ekklesia was a profound journey of shifting their reliance from physical structures to a spiritual reality.
1. The Theological Break
The New Testament makes it clear that the death and resurrection of Yeshua rendered the physical temple system obsolete.
- The Rent Veil: At the moment of Yeshua’s death, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom, signaling that the barrier between God and man had been removed.
- The Final Sacrifice: The book of Hebrews explains that Yeshua is the “once and for all” sacrifice. To continue in a sacrificial temple system would be to deny the sufficiency of His work on the Cross.
2. A Gradual Practical Shift
Historical accounts in the book of Acts show that many early Jewish believers continued to visit the Temple for prayer initially, as it was their cultural habit. However, as the Holy Spirit revealed the “New Covenant” through the Apostles—specifically Paul—the Ekklesia began to move away from these rituals.
- The Council of Jerusalem: Acts 15 shows the leaders deciding that Gentile believers were not required to follow the Mosaic Law or temple rituals.
- 70 A.D.: The physical destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans served as a historical “exclamation point” to the spiritual truth that God’s dwelling was no longer there.
3. Contrast with Pagan Systems
While the Jewish system was a “shadow of things to come,” the pagan systems were seen as entirely antithetical to the Gospel. Paul was uncompromising: believers could not partake of “the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). Followers of Yeshua were called to come out from among them and be separate.
The fulfillment of the Jewish temple system
For those who follow Yeshua, the Jewish Temple’s sacrificial system was not merely discarded—it was fulfilled and rendered obsolete by His crucifixion. His death is understood as the one, perfect, and final sacrifice for all sin.
- The Veil is Torn: The Gospel accounts describe the heavy veil in the Temple tearing from top to bottom at the moment of Yeshua’s death. This was a Divine “tearing down of the walls,” symbolizing that the physical barriers between humanity and God were removed. Direct access to God’s presence was no longer limited to a specific room or a restricted priestly class.
- A New High Priest: The Letter to the Hebrews provides the definitive explanation for this shift: Yeshua has become the ultimate High Priest. Because He lives forever and is sinless, the Aaronic (human) priesthood is no longer necessary for mediation between God and humanity. We now have a direct line to the Father through the Son.
The Nature of Pagan Temple Worship: A Total Break
The transition away from paganism was straightforward and absolute. Because it was directly contrary to the monotheistic core of the Gospel, there was no room for compromise or “integration.”
- Idolatry is Explicitly Forbidden: The Apostle Paul was unwavering in his condemnation of idolatry. He explicitly commanded Gentile Christians to flee from any connection to pagan rituals, famously stating that one cannot partake of “the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).
- A Fundamental Break: Unlike the Jewish Temple system—which provided the historical and prophetic foundation for the faith—pagan systems had zero theological continuity with the message of Yeshua. For a Gentile, turning to Christ meant a complete and immediate rejection of their former religious identity.
The complex transition for Jewish followers
For the first-generation Messianic believers, the transition away from the Temple system was a nuanced process of moving from the physical “type” to the spiritual “reality.”
- Early Continuity: In the immediate aftermath of Yeshua’s resurrection, Jewish believers did not initially see themselves as starting a “new religion.” They continued to practice their customs, meeting in the Temple courts for prayer and teaching (Acts 2:46). They viewed their faith as the completion of Judaism.
- Paul’s Shifting Perspective: While Paul himself participated in Temple rituals on certain occasions (Acts 21:26), his revelation of the Gospel to the Gentiles created a necessary tension. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) was a turning point, formally deciding that Gentile believers were not bound by the Mosaic sacrificial laws, emphasizing that salvation is by grace through faith alone.
- The Fall of the Temple: The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD served as the final, historical confirmation of this shift. Without a physical Temple, the sacrificial system became impossible, reinforcing the reality that Yeshua had indeed replaced the old system with a “Temple not made with hands.”
The Modern Distinction: Ekklesia vs. Institution
Most followers of Yeshua today agree that following Him means living under the New Covenant established through His sacrifice, rather than participating in outdated Temple rituals or pagan systems. However, rejecting “the system” does not mean rejecting the community.
While we move away from the “Temple mindset,” the Ekklesia (the gathering of the called-out ones) remains the essential expression of our faith.
- Purpose over Protocol: The ordinances (like the Lord’s Supper and Baptism) and the gatherings of the Ekklesia are not “rituals” to earn favor; they are structured ways for the family of God to come together, encourage one another, and express our shared life in Christ.
- The Living Body: Unlike a physical temple, the Ekklesia is organic. Its “structure” is found in the relationships between its members and their mutual submission to Yeshua as the Head.
- Worship in Spirit and Truth: In this modern context, “church” is no longer a destination we visit, but a people we belong to—carrying the presence of God into every corner of the world.
THEY WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT ALL RELIGIONS SERVE THE SAME GOD.
IDOLATRY COMES IN MANY FORMS – DO YOU WORSHIP IDOLS?
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, ACCORDING TO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES – CATHOLICISM IS JUST ANOTHER RELIGION – NOT THE EKKLESIA
Personal Reflection: From Tradition to Truth
I was born and raised Catholic. I attended St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and attended the parish school. I also served as an altar boy for this parish.
My family left the Catholic religion after my grandmother passed away from a heart attack. The parish priest informed us that she was not going to heaven because she had not completed all of the sacraments and did not attend Mass regularly. He told us that she was going to Purgatory, and that we needed to pray the Rosary and have Masses dedicated to her in order for her to eventually make it to heaven.
My mother challenged this priest and asked where Purgatory was found in the Bible. He stated that it was not in the Bible, but was found in the Catechism, which was given to us by the Church Fathers and Popes. My mother pointed out that the Bible clearly states we should not add anything to or take anything away from the Word of God. We left the Catholic religion that day and never looked back.
The Institutionalization of Faith
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religion in the world today, with approximately 1.3 billion members worldwide as of 2019. This institution began to take its modern form around 314 AD, when the Roman Emperor Constantine declared Christianity to be the official religion of Rome.
The problem arose when the institution did not fully abandon the religious doctrines adopted from the pagan nations Rome had conquered. Instead, they integrated Christian doctrines into existing pagan structures, creating a hybrid system. Because Catholic doctrine is not based on the Holy Scriptures alone, it has become a religion dominated by the man-made traditions of men.
DO YOU KNOW THE DEEPER DOCTRINES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH? MOST CATHOLICS DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHAT THEY ARE A PART OF!
Their choice was to depart from the Word of God
Their doctrine is not based solely on the Scriptures of the Bible. Instead, their doctrine is established by the traditions of men found in the Catechism. They incorporate various worldly philosophies and pagan religious beliefs to solidify their doctrinal position, creating a system that relies on human authority rather than Divine revelation.
The Apostle Paul warns us about False Apostles – 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 & 11:13-15
1 I hope you will bear with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily. – 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.
No Other Gospel Galatians 1:6-8
6 I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel 7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
YOU HEARD OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, DO YOU KNOW THE LAWS OF JESUS CHRIST?