Doctrines of Men

Doctrines of Men

By Greg Turner

Today I stumbled across an article that I wrote almost 10 years ago and although it is quite lengthy, I was astonished at its contents. It quite perfectly mirrors what I have shared recently. I know that what I shared recently is a difficult pill for most to take, but realize that we are now already in or upon the Day of the Lord and there is a transition happening. The world doesn’t end but rather is transitioning to the government of the Lord. He is making ready a people for rulership. There have been many transitions on this planet. From a world covered in water to one that was a paradise for Adam and Eve. From Enoch prophesying the end of the world as he knew it to Noah surviving the Flood. From Abraham living by faith to the Israelites living under the law. From Babylon and Assyria destroying Judah and Israel to Ezra restoring the Old Testament and creating the synagogue system. From the temple system to a system of faith as restored by the Lord. From a system of faith back to a temple system as created by the Romanists which we are living under to this day in the churches. Yet, there is another transition in the making, and it is happening right now before our eyes.

The following article shows how the Bible and the church system was created:

https://sharingtheway.com/2010/08/20/where-did-the-bible-and-the-church-system-come-from/

It will take you hours to read it if you are inclined to understand these things. Here is an excerpt:

“Should it be any surprise that the Catholic and Protestant churches of today consist almost wholly of doctrines created by men and that the people going to those churches know so little about the actual Scriptures that are contained in the Bible. The process seen above [in the article] where a so-called ‘oral law’ took over, replaced ‘the Law’, and became the religion of the Jews also has happened in Christianity. What started out as a pure worship of God handed from Jesus Christ to His disciples and then to all those who believe – both Jew and Gentile – has devolved into institutions filled full of doctrines of men (Matt. 15:8-9) that has a form and appears Christian, but has taken the people (their hearts) away from God and the truth. Jesus said “it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart [their actions] is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’  For laying aside the commandment of God [the Scriptures], you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God [Scripture], that you may keep your tradition’” (Mark 7:6-9 NKJV). Can we not see that we have done the same thing today in Christianity?”

What started out as small groups of Christians gathering from house to house where in each one (men and women) exercised the spiritual gifts given to them by Jesus slowly turned into a system of churches with church buildings and church headquarters and clergy and laity. This approach to religion is not unique as we can see from another excerpt:

“The evidence strongly supports the view that the Temple and the synagogues together comprised a massive cultic system centered at Jerusalem. Thus, the synagogues served as gathering places for prayer and the reading and expounding of Scripture on days sacred to the cult, such as the Sabbath, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Such observances allowed Jewish communities around the world a measure of participation within Temple ritual.

While the Temple alone served as the Jewish sacrificial center, our sources reveal that the synagogues functioned as local repositories for offerings that envoys conveyed annually to Jerusalem [church headquarters]. The strength of the solidarity between the synagogues and the Temple can be measured not only by the abundance of these offerings, but by the fact that the local congregations protested vehemently to the authorities whenever the transport of these sums was interfered with.”

Seemed like a good system as it kept all the Jews in alignment with the religion. But now Christianity has fallen into the same trap. The Christian churches are filled full of traditions. Here is another quote from this article:

“God through John the Baptist says, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father.’ For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire” (Matt. 3:7-10, KJV).”

The exact same thing could be said today to the churches. Think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Peter as our father.’ Please note that within 40 years of this statement from the Lord the Temple and most synagogues throughout the Roman empire were completely destroyed. If you read the article, you will see how the Jews had completely replaced the Law with their traditions and their own interpretations of the Law. It is why Jesus said it. It is why He destroyed it. He wants a people living by faith doing His commands. The bottom line is that we need to change the way we conduct things in the churches. Otherwise, the ‘axe is laid unto the root of the trees.’ If we want society changed, then we must unleash the might of all the Christians in all the churches each one with their own spiritual gifts. Jesus said:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18, NKJV)

He said this to the Jews in church at a synagogue on the Sabbath day. He did not say it to the Romans. Why were the Jews captive? Because they were in a church system that forced them to follow rituals and doctrines made up by the Jewish leaders, and they would be expelled from the ‘one true religion’ if they did not follow these leaders and their teachings and consequently condemned. You couldn’t question the church leaders or share with them anything new (John 9:34). It is this way today. If you question church leaders or church doctrine, then they threaten you with expulsion or excommunication. People are told that they are “not learned enough” to know the truth. Is that true? How did we get this way?

Well, first it was prophesied long ago as we can see in Malachi:

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?’ says the Lord of hosts to you priests [pastors/elders] who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ You offer defiled food [spiritual knowledge and doctrines] on My altar [where people meet to worship God]. But you say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table [the Scriptures] of the Lord is contemptible.” (Mal. 1:6–7, NKJV)

Why is it contemptible? Because the pastors literally delete verses from the Bible by saying that they don’t apply today or that only the original Apostles could do certain things which we cannot do today and many other such arguments. Why is the food – the things that they teach the people – defiled? Because they don’t teach the whole truth on a subject. They teach “once saved always saved” when there are many scriptures that show that a Christian (a virgin – see Matt. 25:1-13) can be cutoff and not allowed to enter into the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God). These kinds of false doctrines lead to what Malachi says next:

“And when you offer the blind [people in the churches] as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick [more church people], is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘But now entreat God’s favor [ask God for help], that He may be gracious to us.’ While this is being done by your hands. Will He accept you favorably [answer your prayers]? says the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you who would shut the doors [shut down these churches], so that you would not kindle fire [stir up the people’s desire for God] on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering [the people] from your hands. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles [unbelievers]; in every place incense [prayers] shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering. For My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. ‘But you profane it, in that you say, “The table of the Lord is defiled [has things in it that don’t apply to today]; and its fruit [spiritual gifts], its food [Scriptures], is contemptible [despised].” You also say, “Oh, what a weariness [it’s a pain to follow the Scriptures]!” And you sneer at it,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; thus, you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?’ says the Lord. ‘But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow [ordains], but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished [ordains those who do not follow the whole Bible]— For I am a great King,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and My name is to be feared among the nations.’” (Mal. 1:8–14, NKJV)

Jesus showed us who are the blind and the lame. They are the people in the churches (Luke 4:18). If they are not taught the truth then they are blind, lame and sick (I Cor. 11:29-32)! The Bible explains that the blind are religious people and their leaders who are not teaching and living the whole truth of God’s Word (see John 9:39-41; Luke 4:16-21; Matt. 15:12-14; Rev. 3:14-19). And the spiritually lame are those who are not walking WITH Christ – that is, they are not walking according to the whole Word of God. As we see in Malachi, God will severely punish those who are not teaching the whole truths of His Word (Mal. 2:1-9). They are keeping the people spiritually ignorant, blind, stunted, lame, and sick and presenting them to Him as such, thereby making His table [His worship] contemptible through their doctrines.

There are plenty of scriptures in the New Testament that talk about false apostles, prophets and pastors. Paul talks about false apostles in the following verse:

“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:12–15, NKJV)

And

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” (Rev. 2:2, NKJV)

And false prophets and teachers:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” (2 Peter 2:1–3, NKJV)

And continuing:

“But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (2 Peter 2:12–17, NKJV)

And by twisting the Scriptures and not using the full knowledge of Scripture they create false doctrines:

“… and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:15–18, NKJV)

And finally, the antichrists:

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 Jn. 2:20–23, NKJV)

That is a lot, but we can see that these pastors – the so-called teachers – are doing it for money and power. They make themselves antichrist because through their twisting of the Scriptures they come up with unholy doctrines that lead people away in error. If you are led away with false doctrines, then you are not in the Way. Jesus is the Way (John 14:16, Acts 16:17, 18:25-26, Is. 28:7) and the truth. What is truth? Well, we know that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Word is truth. It is clearly said here:

“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Ps. 119:160, NKJV)

And here:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17, NKJV)

Why do men sell themselves out to doctrines that are clearly false? One example is “once saved always saved.” This is easily proved false by many scriptures (Matt. 25, John 15:1-8, Matt. 3:7-10). And then baptism of infants. How in the world can a baby repent? John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance” (Matt. 3:11), and Jesus said “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matt. 9:13). From here they even ignore the command to ‘lay hands’ on people and to pray that the Holy Spirit be given them after baptism of water. The Apostles did it and Paul (Acts 19:6) did it and others (Acts 9:18). The claim that only the Apostles could do it is completely false as shown in Acts 9:17-18. The scales that fall from our eyes is a type representing the receiving of the Holy Spirit which then helps us to see and understand the truth (John 14:26). God’s Word is the truth, and we can understand all Scripture by His Spirit (1 John 2:27). This is how we can be a part of the kingdom (realm) of God and understand Him and what He is doing. The false doctrines taught by the churches today actually prevent you from entering into the kingdom (Matt. 23:13-15). These verses are here today for us! They were not just some interesting stories about Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the priests of that day and were types of the priests and pastors of today! Please understand that not all pastors are deceived and false. But if they are unable to admit to the truths of the Word of God then they do not follow Christ. For that matter their whole denomination isn’t following Christ due to the erroneous and false doctrines of that denomination.

Another area that must be addressed is the concept that everyone is good so therefore we must accept the gay and lesbian and trans people as they are. This is a false doctrine that many churches have fallen into. The Scriptures are clear on the matter:

“You have wearied the Lord with your words; yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,’ or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’” (Mal. 2:17, NKJV)

The Scriptures show in so many ways that these lifestyles are wrong and against God. Why do we strive so hard to be like the world? We must not be so. Now if one of these people repents of that way of life and turns to God to live a godly way then of course we are to forgive and welcome them into the realm of God for we were all sinners at one time. But until they repent, we must not have them in the body for “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6, Gal. 5:9). Indeed, the leaven of the doctrines of pastors and leaders of the churches has leavened the whole lumps of those denominations to the point that their people are no longer entering the kingdom (Matt. 16:12).

The doctrines of men lead to one way – and that is to the lusts of the flesh. Paul shows us:

“I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:16–21, NKJV)

The churches are full of these people both in the laity and in the clergy. None of them will inherit the kingdom of God. What should we do then? One man recently asked me, “Should we throw the baby out with the bathwater?” But I say that we can. No, we must! Get rid of the clergy. Get rid of the laity. Let all return to God and to the Scriptures and follow them. We just simply need to stop building kingdoms here on earth and instead we must follow Jesus. This is as simple as the Scripture confirms:

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:38, NKJV)

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” (Matt. 16:24 (NKJV))

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (Matt. 19:21, NKJV)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn. 10:27, NKJV)

So, there it is. Do you still want to keep following men, their doctrines, and their denominations? Give it up and go follow Jesus. His Word is right there in front of you every day. Read it and you will draw close to Him (Jas. 4:8, Heb. 7:18-19, 10:19-22).

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