It is a common story now for many born-again believers to be exiting the modern church, they are leaving the false organized church system to be alone with Christ.
Because they are alone, they grow faster and with greater wisdom than if they had remained with those superficial ritual-oriented gatherings.
The born-again believer who desires to follow Christ will want to follow all of God's principles, not to be legalistic but because doing so changes their heart from a self-exalted one to a humble heart of obedience to the One Who Knows the best that is Jesus Christ Who lives in them.
Legalists are always falsely judgmental about silly things, demanding that others follow them. When they are challenged to obey the Scriptures they become agitated and vengeful.
God's description of the Pharisees of Christ's time:
Matthew 23:4: "they "bind up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them".
Matthew 23:4-5 "…4They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"
Luke 20:46-47 "“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
John 5:44
"How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"
This description of the Pharisees could be a description of the modern one-man-paid-pastor who loves his prominent position because he thinks he is superior by virtue of his man-centered education. These men have elevated education by man above the leading of the Holy Spirit. We know this because of the many things they say and do that are not Biblical including the hierarchy system of the "pastorship."
1 Peter 5:5-6
"Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you."
Those who lead according to the Bible do it by example and teaching but have no authority over the believer. To place man's authority over the believer is to place that man's authority over Christ Who lives in every believer. There is no teacher greater than the Holy Spirit.
In these last days of apostasy we will hear much wrong doctrine with arrogance and pride motivating those who love power over others. We must become strong enough to refuse to be intimidated by the manipulation, mocking, demeaning, and rejection that comes from requiring believers to obey the Word of God.
God values obedience and a humble heart more than outward religious rituals or sacrifices.
God hates dead ritual that only serves to elevate the one doing it. He is not impressed with man's rituals and holidays that God never commanded.
Mark 7:6-9 "And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!"
Many things being taught now are only the desired beliefs of those who wish to dominate others. They are not led by the Holy Spirit but by their need to feel special and elevated over others.
Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Notice in Colossians that God tells us not to allow others to control us with their man-made ideas and the pressures of the culture that live in the modern church system.
To elevate any man as authority over you is to negate the Holy Spirit as the Authority over us. The Holy Spirit and His Bible is all we need. We enjoy the teachings of others when they obey Scripture, but we do not follow any preacher who brings a false doctrine that undermines the Bible.
Mark 7:13 "13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
Keep in mind that if you follow the Bible and resolve to get your answers from the Holy Spirit there will be many people who will reject you for it. They have a cultural Christianity they want you to follow. The very fact that you follow Christ and not them will make them angry.
Galatians 4:17 "They are zealous for you, but not in a good way. They want to shut you out, so that you will be zealous for them."
Those who exclude you to punish you for not following them will hope that the rejection will weaken you and cause you to give up your dedication to Christ to be with them.
This is a classic narcissistic trick, to make others feel smaller so they will elevate the narcissist and their band of followers. When you have been changed by Christ you will not miss those groups that are full of arrogance and pride, it will be a blessing to be absent from them.
As we see in the Bible "The Judaizers' actions are not driven by genuine concern for the Galatians' spiritual well-being, but rather by a desire to gain influence and control."
We see this all the time in the modern churches. Those who are ignored and gossiped against are the ones who want to obey the Scriptures and seek Jesus Christ.
Thank the Lord that He said we will be filled with joy and peace no matter what others try to do to us. Our life is full of the Heart of Jesus Christ and our destiny is secure in Him.
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