These past two years, as I have studied various religions, I have recognized a pattern.
When people stop reading the Word of God and start relying solely on the words of the religious leaders, the sect quickly takes a sharp turn in a different direction.
The outcome is the same, the leaders tend to become egotistical, taking on the role of godly dictator while the members of the sect become disillusioned, apathetic, poor in spirit and often poor in the pocketbook, while the leaders increase in wealth and power.
Apparently it’s been going on for quite a while, since Matthew penned this warning of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
When it comes to spiritual beliefs, ask yourself, “What do I believe? Why do I believe that? Where is the source of what I believe?”
Seek God with a sincere heart and you will find the truth.
Thanks for these interresting analysis. Love the way of explanation of God. I think, most religion only believe and in beleive there is no why or how. They says, believe is just believe line by line. The prblem is there. If religion said that is what God said, then you have to accept it and follow it from the heart without qustioning. Even though it makes a bounderies between human being.
Thank you for your response, Selina. I have noticed in my recent studies that many “Bible” based religions, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Judaism and Islam and many sects of Christianity all fell into the same trap. They started teaching the people not to study the Bible, but to follow the words of the church leaders… pope, priests, rabbis, latter day prophets, etc. I’ve seen the same in other religions, as well, in which the doctrines of men are what is studied. There are several warnings in the Bible not to accept the writings without studying and questioning. Here is one example, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1