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What Jesus Said About Those Who "Went To Church" In His Day
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What Jesus Said About Those Who "Went To Church" In His Day
PDF
What Jesus Said About Those
Who “Went To Church”
In His Day
- Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
- You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honors me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.
- But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the commandments of men.
- Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
- You blind people, always straining out the gnat, and swallowing the camel!
- Woe unto you, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within are full from extortion and excess.
- You blind people, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.
- Woe to you, hypocrites! For you are like whited sepulchers, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
- Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matt. 15; Matt. 23; Mark 7; Luke 11)
- When you give of your substance, don’t blow a trumpet before you, like the hypocrites do in the synagogues, that they may have glory of men. Truly I say to you, They have already been paid in full.
- And when you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues, that they may be seen and heard of men. Truly I say to you, They have received their reward as well.
- And in praying don’t use vain repetitions, like those in the synagogues, for they think that they shall be heard for their long drawn out prayers.
- Therefore, don’t be like any of them! (Matt. 6)
- Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one, a “temple member,” (the Pharisee) and the other a “non-temple member.” (the publican)
The temple member stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as the rest of men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this non-temple member. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.
But the non-temple member, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner.
I say unto you, This man, (the non-temple member) went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be humbled; but he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
- And He said unto them (the temple members) You are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16; Luke 18)
- "And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He threw them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables." – Matthew 21:12ff; Mark 11:15ff; Luke 19:45ff; John 2:14ff.
“They will be putting you out of the synagogues: but, the hour is coming that whenever they kill you, they should suppose that they are offering divine service to God.”
John 16:2
Are these enough references?
I could bring many more, but I’ll refrain for the moment.
What do you think Jesus would say about those who “go to church” today?
If Jesus were to return today, bringing His Truth inside of these institutions, He wouldn’t last five minutes because He would be thrown out the door very quickly!
And why is that?
Because people today do not want to hear the Truth. Their church leaders are “fine outstanding men who deserve to be followed, thank you!”
NOT ONE so-called “church” on the face of the earth would ever hire Him to be their “pastor.” Not one!
Remember that when it came to the common people, Jesus was indeed the "Humble Servant.” His ministry to them was always marked with compassion. He “was moved with compassion for them.” He healed them. He fed them. He gave the gospel to them. He ate with them. He wept with them.
He identified with the people and knew many were distressed, as sheep not having a shepherd. When it came to the common people, Jesus ministered to them in meekness and gentleness, as His words showed.
But…BUT, when it came to those who attended the synagogues; to the rulers and the “great ones”; to the church leaders and so-called experts in the law, something changed.
His ways, His mannerisms, His countenance, His words “EXPLODED.”
Remember, Jesus was more loving than any person who ever lived, but He also loathed hypocrisy and destructively false teachings from the “religious crowd.”
In all of His confrontations with the “religious,” you could see the difference in His whole attitude, especially in His words. Jesus was exposing their evils. He was exposing their false teachings, their manner of life and hypocrisy like no one ever did before. And in so doing, many others were starting to “see the light.” His words were as the voice of a trumpet, and the “religious” didn’t like it one bit!
So again, if Jesus came back today, what would He say to all of the people inside local institutional churches, to both “leaders” and “pew-sitters” alike? Indeed, what would He say to all the host of Christendom?
When you think about it, has anything really changed in 2000 years?
Does Jesus change?
Looking at today’s so-called “Local Institutional Church System,” with all of its baggage of:
●“church membership;”
●“creeds;”
●“confessions;”
●“catechisms;”
●“constitutions;”
●the destruction of the home and of the marriage institution;
●the “clergy/laity" separation;
●“pastoral rule and authority;”
●“mandatory church attendance;”
●"the eldership;”
●the “church building;”
●“The Pastor;”
●the “salaried professional speaker;”
●“delegated authority;”
●bloodied and abused believers;
●“worshiping of idols;”
●the “tithing deception;” etc., etc., etc.,
we can say, “YES, IT’S CHANGED! IT’S GOTTEN WORSE!”
And today’s local institutional church system is WIDE-EYED, CRYSTAL-CLEAR, LIVING, BREATHING PROOF OF THIS FACT!
What will Jesus say? What will Jesus do?
HINT: “Jesus Christ - the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
There are multitudes who are very satisfied with having their “church membership” standing. As they attend their institutions week after week, many for the sole purpose of being seen of men, they smugly live their lives, happily content in following the ecclesiastical status quo.
But, being a true member of the Body of Christ (the called-out ones) is totally different than being a “church member” at your local institutional church.
And don’t forget. Being a true member of the Body of Christ will not cost you any money either, like it does in institutional churches with their “tithing scheme” imposed on its members.
No my friend. In fact, it costs something much, much more than that!
● It will cost you your name and reputation.
● It will cost you your friends.
● It will cost you your family, and sometimes even your life!
Jesus says, “Count the cost.” Luke 14: 27-33
So, how much is it costing YOU to stand for the TRUTH?
Ken Cascio
wickedshepherds.com
Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:8
You might also be interested in these two related articles:
What Jesus Said About Those
Who “Went-To-Church” In His Day
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