MODERN RELIGION

Brian sent in a nice little piece on the Apostle Paul and his thoughts on religion in his,Paul's,day.It was right on point and fairly screams for a follow up piece on the problems with religion today.I am not going to name names here but just contrast some of today's teachings with what the Bible has to say on the subject.Religion today is in just as much of a mess as it was in Paul's day.I will admit that I could not wait to get started on this one.Religion doesn't save you,trusting the finished work of Christ does.

One large group now claims that they have further revelations from God.The Bible says,in Revelation Ch22 vs 18 and 19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,If any man shall add unto these things,God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,God shall take away his part out of the book of life,and out of the holy city,and from the things which are written in this book.It doesn't get any plainer than that.God does not allow changing the instruction book

Another denomination keeps the Sabbath.Now,keeping the Sabbath isn't going to send anyone to Hell but it isn't what God intends for Christians.The sabbath was for the Jews,no other class of people has ever been required to keep the sabbath.We are to meet on the first day of the week,Sunday.acts 20 vs 7 And upon the first day of the week ,when the disciples came together to break bread,Paul preached unto them,ready to depart on the morrow;and continued his speech until midnight.and then1st Cor 16 vs 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,as God has prospered him,that there be no gatherings when I come.There is also the matter of the resurrection which took place on the first day of the week.Pretty plain stuff.Go to church on Sunday.

Still another teaches that we are to pray to saints.Not so.Pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus.After all,it's Jesus' righteousness we are claiming,not our own.Acts ch 10 vs 25 and 26 and as Peter was coming in,Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.and vs 26But Peter took him up,saying,Stand up;I myself am also a man.

How about healing?James ch 5 x vs 15 deals with healing.The prayer of faith shall save the sick.In other words,pray for healing.God does not always heal.Remember that Paul had an illness,he called a "thorn in the flesh", for all of his ministry and even though he prayed for healing,God's answer was my grace is sufficient for thee.Remember too, that Paul could not get Trophimus healed.2Ti ch 4 vs 20 Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.If Paul couldn't do it neither can some renegade TV preacher.Pray earnestly for healing and let God do the work.If anyone tells you that you can be healed if you have enough faith,he,or she,is lying.Pray earnestly and God will decide whether you are healed or not.

One large denomination teaches that some sins can't be forgiven.These are murder and suicide which are essentially the same sin since suicide is self murder.According to the Bible,ALL sins are forgiven by accepting Jesus as your savior.I can think of three good examples of forgiven murderers and one forgiven suicide.You could even stretch the point a little and list Jesus'death with the suicides since he purposely allowed it to happen.Lets see the verses on these four examples.The first was MosesExodus ch 2 vs 14 And he said,Who made you a prince and a judge over us?intendest thou to kill me as thou killedst the Egyptian?And Moses feared, and said,Surely this thing is known.Now David 2Sam ch 12 vs 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord,to do evil in his sight?thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword,and hast taken his wife to be thy wife,and has slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.Now Paul(then known as Saul)Acts ch 7 vs 58 And they cast him out of the city,and stoned him:and the witneses laid down their clothes at a young mans feet ,whose name was Saul. and Acts ch 8 vs 1 And Saul was consenting to his death.By his own testimony Paul also killed many other Christians whose names were not given.For this reason I particularly love the ninth chapter of Acts where Paul was converted.Finally,Samson's suicide.Judges ch 16 VS 30 And Samson said,Let me die with the Philistines.And he bowed himself with all his might and the house fell upon the lords and on all the people that were therin.It's worth noting that Samson is listed in chapter eleven of Hebrews with the other heros of the faith.So folks,if these four aren't in Heaven today,then you and I have no hope.
Some individual churches in my own denomination are guilty of false teaching.Some teach that we are working to bring in the kingdom.We aren't because the kingdom will come when the King comes.This comes from confusion due to taking Jesus offering the kingdom,to the Jews, while in his earthly ministry, as applying to today.The kingdom left with Jesus and will come back with Him at his second coming.We,the Church, are the earthly body of Christ,not the kingdom,nor are we "bringing in the kingdom".
Another false teaching cropping up in some churches in my own denomination ,is the teaching that we are already in the Tribulation period.While I agree that the end of the church age is near,we still have the Rapture of the Church and the rise of the False Prophet,and Anti Christ, before we go into the Tribulation.More to come on this subject.
What about losing your salvation or speaking in "tongues"?Because these are so wide spread and so wrong I am going to deal with these in separate articles.In a word,you can't and don't.
I hardly know where to end this.I see a whole series of articles dealing with problems in the churches of today.