“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.”
—Colossians 2:8
Empty Rituals, Empty Traditions
Americans lay great store in “going to church.”
Americans put their faith into the things of the church.
What did Jesus say about such man-constructed idols of pseudo-holiness?
“Then came together unto him [Jesus] the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
—Mark 7:1-12
The modern churches are temples full of dead rituals and empty, meaningless ceremonies which comfort the flesh of those attending. Church-goers mistake this temporary feel-good for the spiritual cleansing of true repentance and heartfelt prayer.
It matters not whether the church professes to be Roman Catholic, snake handlers, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Baptists, Science Fiction Church, ascetics, TV ‘ministries,’ Methodist, Lutheran or what-have-you: all are infested with traditions, ceremonies and rituals which satisfy the human hunger for routine.
Jesus continually warned against the leaven of the Pharisees. The corporate church, as it exists today is not a result of that leaven.
It is that leaven.
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
—Mark 7:13
Even though many know their churches are infested with godless practices and mind-numbing traditions, they choose stubbornly to cling to what they know.
“…stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
—1 Samuel 15:23
It’s only a “ritual” if the other guy does it; if we do it, it’s “worshiping God.”
Jesus, in Luke 11:37-52, let loose another stream of condemnations against the Pharisees in particular and against mindless traditions of the ungodly in general.
“And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.”
—Luke 11:39
Jesus has to be full of sorrow to see most of His Church transformed into temples for Pharisees.
Oh, there’s no end to preaching against “legalism.”
“Legalism, legalism, blah blah blah. It’s an abomination!” thunder the wolves from the pulpits.
This is similar to a bank robber who stops in the middle of a robbery and begins lecturing the victims on the evils of robbing banks–except the victims don’t reward the robber by taking up a collection after he’s finished.
The modern churches are composed of rituals. Their very essence is form over substance; of the letter of the law over the Spirit; of the Pharisees’ construction of hundreds of man-made nonsensical regulations to supersede the salvation of God.
Churches have become exactly what Jesus warned against: buildings of man-ordained purification; where (for a price) the ungodly can outsource their connection with God to hirelings and wolves.
The ungodly drop a few bills into the collection plate and make a weekly sacrifice of 60 minutes from their busy schedules. In return, they go out to Sunday dinner feeling cleansed for another week of cavorting with this present world.
Because this charade takes place in every great city and every sleepy burg, the United States of America fancies itself “a Christian nation” instead of the den of the dragon.
Because the churches are largely buildings where apostate gather to go through the motions, they are in a holding pattern; waiting until the man of sin comes for his apostate whore church.
MAN OF SIN: The Man of Sin is Coming
JESUS WARNED BELIEVERS OF THE END TIMES DECEPTION
Jesus warned believers repeatedly of end times deception. So did Paul, Peter Jude and John. The entire New Testament is a warning of what those who profess Jesus would become during the end times. Yet because those in the churches are for the most part blind and without the Holy Spirit, the warnings go unheeded.
The warnings are always for the “other guy.” The danger is always without: it’s safe within the church. The perils warned of are always “outside the church.”
Make no mistake: the denizens of one church can see the beam in the eyes of another. The Pentecostal can see the robes, golden dishes and traditions of the Roman Catholic for the soulless ceremony that they are. The Baptist can see the the demonic laughing, jumping and shouting, senseless jabbering and wild claims of the Pentecostal for what they are: flesh-pleasing riot. All can see the snake-handlers are tempting God.
And there are true born-again children of God within each of the man-created denominations. BUT they are born-again children of God in spite of their churches–not because of them.
But few see the web of deceit constructed within the walls of their own church.
Those who do, leave.
Albeit, sadly.
The modern churches construct their own God and another Jesus and worship these idols for God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth and His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s reproof to the nation of Israel (the ancient God-ordained nation, not the modern, secular counterfeit) should be heeded by all those who inhabit the modern churches and worship gods of their own construction.
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
—Psalm 50:18-22
Do You Know Jesus?
Or are you going through the motions?
RELATED ARTICLES
- Signs of Apostasy: Lack of Christian Witness
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- Psalm 50: Ritual or Reality?
- Sins of Sodom and the Sins of America
- American Rebel or Child of God: Make Your Choice
- Persecuted Christians in the Middle East: Why is Jesus Beating His Bride?
- Faith No Longer Needed in American Church: The Sight-Walkers
- Altered Spiritual Perception: The Altered Spiritual Reality in American Churches
- Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
images:
1- ETPR/master isolated/ETPR/pd/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
2- Salvatore Vuono, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR/pd
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-14. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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End Times Prophecy Report 
And yet, just as I saw this; I’m just finishing watching two Catholic women teaching about forgiveness. It’s obvious they are both Catholic, but they are talking about Christ; God as their Father, and they both forgave someone else a dreadful crime done against one of them. They attribute their family healing to God and the miracle of forgiveness. It’s astounding that those we berate are teaching US what should be done.
We berate them for being Catholic. Speck and plank comes to mind, at the moment. I was all for going with the flow in berating these people, and, as I said in a blog earlier today; I’ve seen and lived through Catholicism in action. I was never taught Christ, OR forgiveness. But it seems to me, they are the ones who pick up after people’s messes. They took me and my sibling in, twice, after family life completely broke down. I wonder what life would be like for all of us if we all did that!
Good, but very sad page. What you speak about tells the story of spirituality in my country all the time I’ve been alive.
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tellthetruth,
Yes.
And beyond. It tells the story of the subtle corruption introduced centuries ago. The churches are the results of the foundations which were laid, in some cases, not many years after Jesus was crucified.
The foundations were not laid on Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, but on man, man’s doctrines and practices which please the flesh.
Yes, very sad indeed.
Thank you for your comment.
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Makes me think even more deeply about what Christ promised: On this Rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hell WILL NOT prevail against it.
Paul Washer said: “Don’t dare bring a charge against God’s church There is nothing wrong with His church.” I agree. He was very stern about that in one of his sermons, and rightly so. May our Beloved protect us from the wiles of the evil one.
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tellthetruth1,
Thank you for your comment.
Jesus was right: The gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
Paul Washer has referred to eternal salvation through Jesus Christ as a “heavenly reward.”
It is not.
The Bible is clear: eternal salvation is a gift, not a reward. No man deserves it. No man. [Ephesians 2:8-9]
However, on the point you bring up, Washer is correct: there is nothing wrong with His church. One suspects that the church being referred to by Washer and the Church of Jesus Christ are two separate entities.
As it always has been for most of the last 2000 years, the Church of Jesus Christ is a remnant.
Protect us from the wiles of the evil one? YES!
Thank you once again for your comment.
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Oh that’s news to me. I’ve watched him a lot. Could he have meant a gift rather than a reward? D’you know the sermon you heard it on? I’d be grateful, thanks 🙂
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tellthetruth1,
Google “Paul Washer false teacher.”
Then make your way through any of the over 33,000 results. IF you’re really interested in finding the many sermons he’s made his assertions, they’re fairly easy to find.
Here’s a link to get you started. In this interview, Washer appeals to any number of men (great teachers, the reformers, ad nauseum) and what THEY have to say about the gospel–never to the Bible or Jesus Christ.
http://www.challies.com/interviews/an-interview-with-paul-washer-part-2
He hasn’t hidden what he’s said. It’s just that most don’t know any better or don’t care.
I’ll refer back to your previous comment: keep us from the wiles of the evil one.
Good luck with your search!
Thanks for your comment.
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Reblogged this on FLOW OF WISDOM | SEAN ANTHONY and commented:
Boy … if this article isn’t a chin-check to churches, then I don’t know what is. Check it out!
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Interesting you should write about this now. I have always had questions about the church, its practices, some of which would be considered legalistic. Most of what people write…or preach about false teachings, wolves in the pulpit… and such…is well known…yet the final word is we should not judge. I know its a lot more complex…but…
Just talking about the church…should we as Christians knowing that the physical church, the brick and mortar…the place where members hold positions of status…if the Lord has shown you the real state of the church…should we continue to attend church? It’s very ritualistic as you say…why would the Lord want His children in a place where He is not?
This subject really gnaws at me…I can’t explain it. I have not gone through your entire site to see if you have written on this specifically…”that is leaving the church” I myself see a great exodus, but not everyone is staying the course….I know that too is more complex…
anyway…if you have written send me the link and I can read up on your opinion on this subject. Thanks.
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IrmMa,
Thank you for your comment.
“The final word is not to judge?!?”
I’m sorry, that is not only wrong, it is clearly contrary to the Word.
As Christians, we are COMMANDED to judge. Not suggested, but commanded.
Christians and Judging: When, Where and How
The Lord shows me no more or no less than He shows other believers.
That is an exceptionally good question.
The Bible doesn’t say that there will be a great exodus from the church in the end times. It says that there is a “falling away,” a perversion of the true faith by those who put traditions, fables and wives’ tales ahead of biblical doctrine. That was what the article was about.
There will be a great flood into the churches. Not because the ungodly have come to Jesus but because the world will rush into the churches to worship the dragon.
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
–Revelation 13:8
“All who dwell upon the earth” will need a place to worship.
The churches have been preparing for that very role. That was another theme of this article.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
–2 Peter 1:20
Once again, thank you for taking the time to stop and make your opinion known.
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One of the necessary tools we must use in our spiritual battles is confession of our sins and secondly praying that God would cleanse us and His church from our sins that we might be holy and blameless. It is easy to see sin in others yet overlook our own sin! May God give us a heart like Jesus who wept over Jerusalem knowing their end was judgment and the lake of Fire.
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Martin,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
“One of the necessary tools we must use in our spiritual battles is confession of our sins and secondly praying that God would cleanse us and His church from our sins that we might be holy and blameless.”
I’m sure you have Scripture to back up your contention that we’re to pray that God would cleanse His Church from its sins.
Since the counterfeit Church is prophesied in God’s Word, it’s hard to see what type of prayer believers could pray for the counterfeit–other than God have mercy to open the blinded eyes of the apostate.
The apostate do not (cannot?!?) see. That is not only a cause for prayer, it is a cause for action.
Which is one reason the article was written.
And you are absolutely, 100% correct: Prayer is a necessary tool in our spiritual battles.
Thank you once again for taking the time to leave a comment.
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Reblogged this on skimask7.
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