Religion Is The Worst Thing That Ever Happened

Matthew 15:7-9, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Religion without Christ makes a person more a child of the Devil. My father was a Skid Row preacher for most of his life. I once heard my father say that: “Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world.” He was absolutely right! I often am reminded of what Dad said. Most people sadly have churchianity without Christianity. That is what our text passage means in Matthew 15:7b-9, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Look at this list of manmade Roman Catholic TRADITIONS and the years in which they were fabricated.

What further saith the Scripture? Mark 7:6-9, “He [Jesus] answered and said unto them [the Pharisees and scribes], Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” This is a profound passage of Scripture!

There are an estimated 4,400 religions in the world and still growing every day. A man named Ron Hubbard (1911-1986) once said that the fastest way to become a millionaire is to start your own religion, and then he started the thriving greedy cult of Scientology! The world would be much better off without religion! The Bible doesn't mention the word religion much, and when it does it is in a negative light. But we have one neutral mention of the word in James 1:27, “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.” Religion is helping people for Christ!

It is important to make a distinction between religion and Christianity. Christianity's foundation is Jesus Christ. 1st Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Religion often is based upon everything except Christ! The Roman Catholic Church follows their own manmade traditions instead of the inspired Word of God. Mark 7:7, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” We see this sore evil everywhere today!

A perfect example is the Devil's heresy of “Lordship” salvation. Not one verse in the Bible says to make Jesus the “Lord” (Boss, Master) of your life to be saved. Men added that requirement. Lordship Salvation teaches that you cannot be saved unless you surrender your entire personality to Jesus' Lordship, willing to follow, obey and turn away from sin in every area of your life. Dear reader, I highly encourage you to just lay down and rest, with your eyes closed upon your bed or sofa, and listen to the entire Gospel of John. I promise if you'll do that, you will clearly see God's free and easy plan of salvation, which is simply to BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract for humanity. John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Salvation is not found in any religion, but in a person—the Lord Jesus Christ!