I want to continue from last weeks message to look at, shall I say, more traditional church groups that we might see every day. Again, this is not in any way directed at any denomination or church. I simply want to look at some practices that we are all "used to" and focus to what the Bible comments. The entire purpose for this group is for those who are seeking a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. We are told that if we worship in Spirit and Truth it is the kind of worship the Father seeks. If you find something that falls into the discussion here or touches on a tradition that you do each Sunday, then pray and examine how you worship and why. If we seek God with all our heart, mind and spirit then accept His Grace, we can have a relationship with Him.

Again, so much confusion exists today because an honest seeker experiences division and can find himself in a maze of uncertainty. Each church claims that they are the "correct "way. Plus many churches are so divided that they are not able to work together or even agree on what they agree on. I worked on a major effort against pornography in my city. We worked to get all the congregations and churches together. However, we had divisions in our core group because this group did not to work with that one. There was one pastor who was told by his church leadership to step down because the group that started the effort was lead by a person who was not of the right "mold" that fit their beliefs. I am deliberately writing this in vague terms as not to upset any group even thought this was several years ago. The effort failed to continue as an effective mission for many reasons. One was in-fighting between the body. Sad.

I would like to move from the above example to take a short and honest look to compare church practices and the Bible. I could but will NOT mention any denomination by name. You might recognize certain practices. Plus when you point a finger at some one, you have several pointed back at you. Some of these practices are considered sacred to their body. Remember again, I do not want to further divide but take a fair and hopefully impartial look at practice against scripture. Human creeds are fallible. God's word is not. I challenge the belief that all scripture is open to interpretation. We have seen that if one studies the Bible to back up and prove an agenda then he will find it and miss the truth. Plus the rebellion of sin has led to the division we have today. Also many are fed up with what they see as religion and the church. The church is not a democracy. God has told us how He wants the church to be structured. Christ died for His ONE church and not a bunch.

First ,we are not saved by Old Testament law. Or in fact ,by ANY law. We are save by faith and grace. There are so many verses that state this. If the Old Law was able to save then why did Jesus have to come, die and be resurrected? Why are there so many verses in through out the Old that point to Jesus if the Old was complete? Romans points out that we are dead to the law of sin and death so we can in effect be married to Christ. Galatians says that the old law was still in force because faith had not yet come. Paul writes that we need to cast out the law because the sons of the law could not be heirs with the sons of the Gospel. Hebrews notes that the law made nothing perfect. Look at the people of the Old Testament and how they pointed to Christ and the one way. Job, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah are just a few. In John, Christ said there was only one door. And He said that He is the way. There is only one Shepherd. Christ build only one church and it was build on a rock of Peter's confession of who Christ was.

Plus it should be noted with out question that the church was not build on Peter. Any group that claims the Peter was the first leader is biblically wrong. Peter even denied many times that he was the head. He said that Christ was the head in 1st Peter. Plus no church leaders are successors to Peter. Go back and re-read the book of Acts. Any humans are fallible and Paul even pointed out in Galatians that Peter was. We are not to call any one Father or Holy Father. In Matthew, God forbade the worship of men. Christ is the ONLY mediator between us and God. The only way to be absolved from sin is through grace and the blood of Christ. We need to put on Christ and be saved through His name. We are not to wear the name of others. There are no mention of sacraments in the Bible. The word that is used translates to "oath". Baptism is a birth and a washing. Plus there is only one of those as well. Infants need not to undergo baptism. We need to understand our need for salvation and Christ. Plus, Jesus suggested that we, in spirit, all become as innocent as little children. Confirmation is not taught in the Bible. The Lord's supper to us as believers, represent the body and blood of Christ. It never really "becomes" them. It is not a sacrifice but a remembrance. Plus there is no scriptural instruction in worshiping Mary, angels or graven images.

To continue, other demoninations teach that the Catholic church is the trunk of the apostate church. Remember in Matthew there is one church and not many. Plus, Paul and Jude stated that there is one faith. The claim is made that there are three kinds of law, civil, ceremonial and moral. The bible knows only one. There is only one name that we should wear and salvation is not promised in any other name. That fact was even stated by the person credited as it's founder. When he prayed that we leave his name alone and call yourself Christians. In that he continued to ask "Who is Luther"?

Other's teach that faith alone will save. But the Bible points out many time that faith with out action or works is dead. Ask your self if you have faith that the doctor and the pharmacy have the ability to help your body get over an illness but do not follow through and take the medicine will you get better?

Here would be a place to examine how the scriptures state the church should be governed. How dose that compare to the leadership of various denominations? Headquarters? Elected leaders? Each church governing it's self? Peter saw the danger of ambitious elders lording it over God's heritage. One bishop ruling over several churches is not found in the New Testament. Bishops are not successors to the apostles. Also there is no priesthood in the New Testament except that of Jesus Christ as the High Priest.

Be careful when it comes to the denominations Bible versions, cannon law, creeds and prayer books. This not to in any way state that the major translations are not to be used. But be sure to know the word of God. Otherwise you can and will be lead astray. That also includes reference to the Nicaean Council's creed. Again, the scriptures point out that the Bible alone is sufficient.

There are random other "instructions" from various denominations. That we are to keep the sabbath day. Observing the Lord's Supper at regular intervals is unimportant. That there are many gods. Also those gods have sex and bear children plus their children come down to this world as human beings to get bodies. That Adam is God and the father of our race. Jesus was a polygamist. All other books are in par with the Bible. Salvation consist of degrees. No church can exist with out living apostles and prophets. Marriage is celestial. There is only one person in the God Head. Christ was a created angel before coming to earth. Every man will have a second chance and that second chance will be more favorable than the first due to your experience. There is no eternal punishment. Christ and the apostles have been living on the earth in human form since 1874. The Bible is impure. Some parts are lies and doesn't contain all revelation. Christ is not, nor ever was, real but only an ideal truth. Plus if he WAS real, he did not die. He will never return and the devil is a lie or an error. It is impossible for a man to fall in sin. There is no such thing as sickness, disease or pain. Growing old is an illusion. There is no death.

If any one would like to back any of these up with Bible scriptures, please share them. I want to devote an entire lesson on the subject of baptism, so I will not comment on that further at this point.

Concluding, I want to again point out ,as I did a few weeks ago, that some topics are scriptural, UN scriptural and others are not mentioned in the Bible. With what I touched on here there are sufficient scriptures that show what God's direction and intention was. Plus, I want to again state I am in no way offering judgment on any person or group. I simply want each person to be able to show to themselves that there is a foundation and truth to what they practice and believe. We are able to know with out a doubt that we are saved and who saves us. We do not have to guessr from one moment to the next are we saved or not. Are you sure? Can you prove to yourself what you believe? Could you meet God today with the confidence that you lived a life as He would want?

If you pause at any of these questions, now or in the days to follow, now is the time to seek the truth.