“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13-14
God spoke to me today about His anathema (strong dislike) towards religion and supplied me with this scripture to support His feelings.
Most believers have a superficial view or attitude about the Living Christ. They understand His deity but are blind to knowing how to walk with Him.
You cannot learn who God is through rules of conduct or religious rituals. And, you cannot please Him through works.
Jesus died to abolish all rules! Religion cannot accept this truth and attempts to brainwash you with rules which cause you to be led astray from the heart of God. Religion wants to define your walk with God. Christ wants to set you free to know Him!
Your words of praise have no value to God unless they come from an open heart.
Someone with an open heart is seeking out God for who He is and not what they can get out of Him. This person is asking Christ to be his destiny. He lives to know Christ and understand His purposes.
The rules of religion circumvent you from finding the transfigured Christ. In actuality, you are attempting to replace the importance of faith with rules to obtain the favor of God.
Christ died to set you free from all rules. He wants you to live with Him by faith!
He alone is worthy of your praise!
Hal Hollister Ministry 