“Are you following Tradition or Truth?” - Author and Writer, Ronald Nelson

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

ENCOURAGING WORD:

The obvious question that I have to ask is this, are you following a tradition or are you following Jesus Christ? If you are following any sect of Christianity, you are most likely following a tradition that has accumulating over the years. It is obvious that organized religion and the Word of God are very contrary to each other. I was brought up in the Lutheran sect of Christianity. Over time, I felt that I was not learning anything in that church, so I thought I would look into Catholicism. At first I thought it felt sort of spiritual. But then, one day when I wanted to partake in what they call the Eucharist. It turned out, I was not accepted to take part because I was not an ordained Catholic. You know what, either was Jesus. That opened my eyes to reality. Right up front, I knew, the Christian church should not refuse anybody the Body and Blood of  Jesus Christ, if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Here is a little wake up call, the definition of a cult is “a system of religious beliefs and rituals” Nothing to do with Christianity. Catholicism is a cult along with every other organized religions of the world. If you belong to a church that says, Do this and Do that! Get out. When Jesus died on the cross as He gave up the Spirit, He said, “It is finished!” Ask your Pastor or Priest what Jesus meant by that. I’m sure that they don’t have a clue, otherwise they wouldn’t be teaching all the false doctrine that they are. Being a follower of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with rituals and false practices that have nothing to do with the scriptures of the Bible. Following Jesus, means just that, we walk daily with Jesus Christ and serve Him as He has called us to do. We read this powerful verse in; Deuteronomy 18:20; “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” This is a warning to all those religious sects of Christianity to teach their own manmade doctrine that is not in the Bible. I could go on and on with verses in the Bible that contradict a lot of what the denominational churches teach. What does it say, “They will be put to death.” Do you believe Gods Word or not? 

Now, let’s start out with the most obvious Bible verse in the scriptures that should put an end to organized religion. John 14:67; “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus clearly said that He is the way. No mention of any religion or any other organization that calls themselves Christian. I found that over the years, the word Christian means very little to me. The word Christian is just a word used by those that say that they believe in God. My first question to this is, “What God do they believe in?” The world is full of gods. Every so-called Christian sect worships a different god other than the God of the Bible. Catholics have their own God; Lutherans have their own God along with all the other religions of the world. Muslims god is Allah. For those that are told that Allah and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the same, you are falling for one of the major deceptions of the world. First of all, If you have any idea what Allah teaches and what the Muslims believe, you will obviously see that Allah is Satan. Our God is a God of love that values life, Allah is a god of hate and is bent of destroying the world just as Satan is.

When Jesus walked the shores of the Galilee, He was the most anti-religious person in the world. He taught no religion; He only taught the true Word of God. If He would have taught any religion, it would have been Judaism. As a matter of fact, Jesus butted heads with the religious hierarchy of that day, and if He were walking the earth today, I’m sure that He would be butting heads with the religious hierarchy of today. As a matter of fact, those that were self-proclaimed leaders in those days were doing the work of Satan, just as most churches are today. Now ask yourself, what did the religious hierarchy do to Jesus. They crucified Him on the cross. Now, ask yourself this question, what is the world doing to those that share the Word of God and follow Jeus Christ. Most of the world population that is serving Jesus is being persecuted, some even to the point of death. America hasn’t fallen into that category quite yet, but those of us who serve Jesus Christ are being laughed at and ridiculed for our witness of Jesus Christ. Once the rapture of the church takes place, those that come to Jesus during the tribulation will also be put to death for their witness of Jesus Christ.

Side Note: What other religions of the world are being persecuted for their faith? Other than the Jews, and the Born again Christians, the answer is easy…None! Why do you suppose that. Well, let me take you back to the Garden of Eden. Ever since Satan deceived Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, Satan has had a plan. Satan’s plan was to thwart the plan of God. The first thing Satan has to accomplish is to get rid of the Jews. Have you noticed how many times throughout history that the Jews were persecuted, almost to extinction. But also notice, it never happened, and it never will. God has always left a remnant of the Jews. All the way back to the Old Testament even up to today as we speak, some anti-Semitic group has had the plan to rid the world of the Jews. Notice who was always at the front end of this idea, Islam, those that worship Satan (Allah). Ever since Esau and Jacob were born, these two nations were at war, even in the womb of Rebecca. For those of you that are anti-Semitic, know this, The Jews King is Jesus Christs, so don’t say you love Jesus and then hate those that are His. Hypocrisy at its worst. If you hate the Jews, what are you going to tell Jesus, the King of the Jews, when you stand before Him at the “Whie Throne Judgement.” Be careful!

Let’s look at a few more Bible verses that support what I am saying. Psalm 135:15-17; “The idols of the nations are but silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.” Does this sound familiar? If you go into your church and you see anything made with human hands that you are told to worship, you are worshipping false idols. If you enter a Catholic church, sorry, but that is all you see. Idolatry all over. You can’t deny it. Everything from statues of Mary, Staures of former popes, statues of the Aposltes, crosses with Jesus on and many others. They have pictures of the Pope on their  walls. If you are bowing down to, or kissing any of these statues, you are kissing plaster, cement and any other substance they use to mold these idols. If you kiss the Popes ring, that is idolatry also. Your kissing a piece of metal made with human hands.

Scripture strongly advises against following idols of any kind that God hasn’t put in place. Idolatry, in this sense, means abandoning the way of God for another false god. The Bible says we should put living in a righteous manner above all other pursuits of the flesh and mind. Learn more from the following list of Bible verses about idolatry below! 

1 Corinthians 10:7; “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”

1 Corinthians 10:14; “Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”

Isaiah 45:20; “Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.”

Leviticus 19:4; “Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.”

Revelation 9:20; “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, idols that cannot see or hear or walk.”

Anything that you put ahead of God is an idol. Think about that, what is the most important thing in your life. All of us are guilty of this at one time or another. When we start to put something ahead of Christ, we have to regather our thoughts and get right with the one who loves you more than anything we could ever imagine.  

This might be a good time to say this. I’m not in any way, saying a Catholic or Lutheran can’t Go to heaven. If you have truly given your life to Jesus Christ and know that you are saved by grace and not works, you are saved. But, if you are taking part in all the rituals and programs because you feel that you have to, to be saved, then you’re not. That is works! Just be careful what you accept as truth. Remember, there is absolute truth, but you have to search it out. It doesn’t come from religion, or other written books from anybody else. If you have time to read a book written by some author that you respect, why not read the Book written by the Holy Spirit?

So, if you belong to one these churches and stay loyal to them, because you think that you will be saved because you are a Catholic or a Lutheran, you are badly mistaken and then you are serving Satan whether you believe it or not. Listen to what Jesus says in the next bible verse. Exodus 20:1-6; “And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

If you try to live by the ten commandments, which nobody can,  why would you disobey the first three commandments. The Ten Commandments were put in place by God to show us that we are all in need of a Savior, because there is no way we can keep even one of the commandments, let alone all of them. Everything that is made with plaster, wood, metal or cement is not to be idolized or worshipped. The churches say the Lord’s prayer every time they are at mass, and they have no idea what they are saying. Here is another verse in the Bible that we need to obey. Matthew 6:7; “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” If you don’t mean what you pray, than stop using the name of God in vain. Also, what does it say, “Do not use Vane Repetitions as the heathen do.” When you pray the Rosary, that is exactly what you are doing. Vain repetitious prayer. Also, you can pray to Mary all you want, your prayers are not being heard by Mary, and she does not intercede for mankind ever. Stop believing the lie! Did Jesus pray to Mary or even indicate that you should. If you can show me one place that Jesus prayed to Mary, I’ll eat my words. Jesus always prayed to the Father without any intervention from anybody else. He was always an example of how we are to pray. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Mary, but she is not to be deified. She is not an Angel, and she is not a god. John 14:13-14; “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” There is no place in the scriptures that say we should pray through Mary, nor does it even hint toward that.

Luke 1:28-38; “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail. ”I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”

No doubt, Mary was favored, but nowhere in the Bible does it even hint that Mary should be prayed to. That is just a catholic doctrine that is not supported anywhere anywhere in the Bible.  It is false doctrine. I challenge anybody to prove me wrong. I’m not trying to stir up trouble, I just pointing out the obvious lies that are nowhere in the Bible. Listen to what Jesus has to say about this. Revelation 22:18-19; “ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” If you add anything to the Bible that isn’t a part of God’s Word, or take away any truth from His Word, you will not be saved. Gods Words, not mine. Be careful of what you accept as truth. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to read what the Bible says to you through the Holy Spirit? Stop trusting in a religion, trust only in Jesus Christ. Eternity is a long time to put your faith in any one person or religion.

With this information that I just shared, ask yourself again, Are you following Tradition or Truth! Let me share another Bible verse with you that warned us about what is taking place in our churches today. 2 Timothy 4:1-3; “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”

Forbidding to marriage and abstaining from food? Hmmm! Sound Familiar! That is form of legalism, or works to be more direct.  Can’t marry, can’t eat meat on Fridays. I know they have done away with the Friday thing, but it was forbidden to eat meat on Fridays a while back, some still abide by those rules.

They Bible is full of warnings about what is happening today, but we are most likely not being taught what we should know. If you are following any traditional religion, you are being led astray. The Bible verses that I shared are clear evidence of what I am trying to get across. This is a good time to ask this question, “Do you believe that Word of God, or do you believe what your Pastor or Priest is teaching. They are contrary in many ways.

Apostasy is the act of abandoning or renouncing one's faith, is a significant theme in biblical prophecy concerning the latter days. The Scriptures forewarn of a widespread falling away from the faith as a hallmark of the end times. This entry explores the biblical basis for this expectation, drawing from various passages that highlight the nature and consequences of apostasy in the latter days.

Biblical Prophecies and WarningsThe New Testament provides several explicit warnings about the rise of apostasy in the latter days. In his letter to Timothy, as we read above, the Apostle Paul writes, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" This passage underscores the spiritual deception that will lead many away from the truth.Similarly, Paul warns the Thessalonians of a "rebellion" that must occur before the return of Christ: 2 Thessalonians 2:3; "Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, is revealed"  This rebellion, or apostasy, is a precursor to the unveiling of the Antichrist, indicating its significant role in eschatological events.

Characteristics of ApostasyApostasy in the latter days is characterized by a departure from sound doctrine and an embrace of false teachings. Paul exhorts Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:3; "For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires" This suggests a willful rejection of biblical truth in favor of teachings that align with personal preferences and desires. This is mostly found in the Mega Churches of Today. The Apostle Peter also addresses this issue, warning of false teachers who will "secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them" 2 Peter 2:1; “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.” Such heresies lead to moral decay and spiritual ruin, as individuals turn away from the foundational truths of the Christian faith.The catholic and Lutheran sects of Christianity have never had the foundational truths of the Bible. They are both made up of man’s interpretation of what they think the Bible should say, not the truth that is taught by the Holy Spirit.

The Love of Many Will Grow ColdJesus Himself prophesied about the increase of apostasy in the latter days. In the Olivet Discourse, He states, Matthew 24:12; "Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" This chilling prediction highlights the impact of rampant sin and lawlessness on the hearts of believers, leading to a decline in genuine love and commitment to God. If we were all indoctrinated into the truth of the Bible, there would be no need for division  among the church. Satan has actually made his way into the churches of today spreading just enough lies to deceive many. Satan couldn’t defeat the church, so he joined them. In Galatians 5:9; we read this short but powerful verse. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Leaven is always symbolic of Sin. So, when Satan joined the church all he had to do was to incorporated just a little heaven. That little leaven has continued to grow in leaps and bounds from the beginning of time, thus creating all the division in the church. The world is Satan’s pawn’s, and all those that bye into the  lies of Satan will parish into outer darkness at the “White Throne Judgment.” The Call to PersevereDespite the grim outlook, the Scriptures also offer encouragement and exhortation to remain steadfast in the faith. Jesus assures His followers, Matthew 24:13; “But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved" This call to perseverance is echoed throughout the New Testament, urging believers to hold fast to their faith amidst the challenges of apostasy.The Book of Hebrews provides a sobering reminder of the consequences of falling away: Hebrews 10:26; "For if we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains" This warning serves as a powerful motivation to remain faithful and vigilant in the face of spiritual decline.The biblical portrayal of apostasy in the latter days serves as both a warning and a call to action for believers. As the end times approach, the challenge is to remain rooted in the truth of God's Word, discerning in the face of deception, and committed to enduring in faith and love. 

Now, let me end with this sobering message. I’m sure that many of you are steaming now at what I uncovered as truth. Do you know what that is. It is the Holy Spirit convicting you because of all the evil that you believe to be the truth. So, let me ask you this last question, Do you want to please Jesus or do you want to please Satan. Remember what the Bible has to say about this.

Matthew 7:13-14; “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Okay, here is a thought. Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian sect of Christianity which happens to be the wide gate. Jesus said it would be the narrow gate, and what is the narrowest gate these days, it is the true Born Again believer that are sharing the truth about the scriptures, such as I am.

The soon return of Jesus Christ is at the door knocking, will you let Him in or will you keep the door locked and continue to believe that lies of the world. Be wise!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”

Amen!