You are probably shaking your head and saying, "Yep, He has lost his mind, spouting heresy!" But hear me out.
When Jesus walked among us over two thousand years ago, he was a young man that had been born of Mary and who had been raised in the humble of home of Joseph. Joseph and Mary had raised him modestly. They knew the gift that they had living in their home. Remember the Angel of the Lord had spoken to both of them. I don't believe that Jesus went thru the terrible two's like most human children because Joseph probably wouldn't have had a house left had Jesus the Son of God had a tantrum. We know that he was wise beyond his years because of the way that he went to the Temple and taught as a child, while the rabbi's sat and listened to him in awe.
Luke chapter 2:
40 And the child grew , and waxed strongin spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents wentto Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old,they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned , the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions . 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing . 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Can you imagine as he grew the wonderful things that he did that was not even written about? I believe that we only have a small idea of the wonderful things that Jesus did as a young man. His Mother Mary knew how special that he was and she loved him very much.
Yet why would I attempt to say that Jesus would be in contrast or Rebellion of Religion?
When we think of religion we think of a lot of things as holy that have actually been invented by man. There were laws that were set forth for the Children of Israel for their benefit and survival in the early times of Exodus. There were some things that were carried over into Levitical times. Things to eat and things not to eat. There were laws in terms of marriage, divorce, and of course almost everyone knows about the Ten Commandments. These things were there to point toward the coming of the Lamb of God. These were the guidelines that God has set out to keep man from doing things that are wrong and dangerous to the species.
I believe that a lot of these things kept the spread of disease down. Also in terms of what to eat, or not. How they are to have a relationship. What they could have sex with or whom. There was a lot of interesting things that were given down to man by God to protect them. The book of Exodus and Leviticus are some very interesting reading. Yes, the judgements were harsh but it was God's way of protecting mankind.
Now at the time of Christ, there were two ruling Sects in Israel. Remembering that they were occupied and ruled by Rome, these sects were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The were the ruling "Religous" Authorities of the time that pretty much kept the people of Israel in check under the Rule of Rome.
For more information please check this link for the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
When reading the New Testament of the Bible which is in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John you will see that these two entities and Jesus bump heads on a regular basis. For example:
Matthew chapter 9 and verses 10 thru 12 says:
10 And it came to pass , as Jesus sat at meat in the house *,behold , many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Also in the book of Matthew chapter 12 verses 1 thru 9 read:
1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred , and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat . 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold , thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbathday. 3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did , when he was an hungred ,and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into * the house of God, and did eat theshewbread *, which was not lawful for him to eat , neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth , I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. 9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
So as you can see in just a few verses that Jesus Christ was there to help the hopeless, Heal the sick and to raise the dead. The Sadducees and the Pharisees were always pointing out the things that he should not be doing but he was always wise to bring their accusations back to them.
Yes, even Jesus was given to use his righteous indignation when it came to cleaning house in his Temple.
Matthew chapter 21 verses 12 thru 17 gives a wonderful account of this happening.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written , My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did , and the children crying in the temple, and saying , Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased , 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say ? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read * , Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
You see my friends we have started worshipping the things of man rather then Jesus. Rather then what God wants of us to Worship. God doesn't want us to worship things but him. He wants us to worship Him the living God in Spirit and in Truth. He doesn't want us to worship the steeples, the pews, the alters, the statues, the mortar, the bricks the stones, the ministers, the priest or even the Pope. He doesn't want us to worship even Mary his beautiful, wonderful Mother. He wants us to worship and serve him.
God has had several covenant's with man. A covenant is a promise. There was an Adamic Covenant, A Covenant with Noah, A Covenant with Abraham, A Covenant with Joseph but with us there is a New Covenant! That is why there is an Old Testament and a New Testament!
The Book of Hebrews chapter eight verses 1 thru 13 speak very plainly about this NEW Covenant.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched , and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and * sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer . 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See , saith he , that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith , Behold , the days come ,saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not , saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,saying , Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least * to the greatest *. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith , A new covenant, he hath made the first old . Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
So you see my friends it's not about the rituals, or the robes or the physical buildings but it's about God, The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit.
I'm not saying that we should not go to Church. I'm saying that you can worship any where! We are free to Worship in our home. We can worship on our way to work. We can worship while at work. We can worship if there are two or three together, God is in the midst!
When you do go to Church, Remember that it's not about the clothes that you wear or your hair style. It's not about trying to act holier than thou! It's not about the position that you hold nor the committee that you are on but it's about Christ and what he did for you on Calvary!
What should we be doing for him? How should we be worshipping him?
We worship him in song! We worship him in praise! We worship him in living Holy! We worship him in helping others! We worship him in telling his story to those that have never heard! We worship him in loving one another! We worship him by reading his holy Word. We worship him by speaking to him thru our prayers.
Our mission is very important! Before Jesus ascended to Heaven he told us what to do.
The Book of Mark Chapter 20: And when the sabbath was past , Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked , they saw that the stone was rolled away : for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted . 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted : Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified : he is risen ; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way , tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled * and were amazed:neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid . 9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept . 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive , and had been seen of her, believed not . 12 After * that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked , and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat , and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen . 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned . 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe ; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands onthe sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth , and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following . Amen.
Here are a few Scriptures that will show you about Truth and True Worship.
John 4:23 KJV
But the hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spiritand in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.John 4:24 KJV
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.John 14:17 KJV
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive , because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.John 16:13 KJV
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come , he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear , that shall he speak : and he will shew you things to come .Ephesians 5:9 KJV
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)2 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit andbelief of the truth:1 John 4:6 KJV
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.1 John 5:6 KJV
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water andblood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness , because the Spirit is truth.
In the book of James, he has a keen insight about what TRUE Religion is. James Chapter one.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting . 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing *. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering . For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed . 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away . 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower there of falleth ,and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth : so also shall the rich man fade away in hisways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried * , he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted * , I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted * with evil, neither tempteth he * any man: 14 But every man is tempted , when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed . 15 Then when lust hath conceived , it bringeth forth sin: and sin,when it is finished , bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err , my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore,my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak , slow to wrath: 20 Forthe wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word,which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way , and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was . 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
These are just some of the photo's that I took while in Rome. I hope that you enjoy them but remember, we are to enjoy them but not to Worship them as we were to worship God.
Always worshipping him as opposed to the Creation.
I hope that this has enlightened you and gave you pause to think. If you have any comments or questions or debate please feel free to do so. I enjoy the dialogue. I enjoy teaching and hoping to see the fruits of my labor when I pass thru the gates of the Holy City of God.
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