Spiritual Thinking & Religion

Things Above Thought
TAT 122 Religion – Going or Being?
Area #1 of testing our spiritual thinking test.)

EVERY SCRIPTURE is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NET emphasis added)

I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to GO beyond WHAT IS WRITTEN,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. (1 Corinthians 4:6 NET emphasis added)

. . . not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’ “You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, . . . “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT (God’s Word).” (Deuteronomy 12:30–32 emphasis and clarification added)

Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition. He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. (Mark 7:8–9 NET)

Worldly Religion verses God’s spiritual family? How do we tell the difference?
Is your church trying to perform many of the duties in the New Testament or are you?
When you go to church do you utilize your spiritual gifts or do you simply sing and hear a sermon (1Corintheians 14:1–40)?
There are only two offices in God’s spiritual family, bishops and deacons, and their duties are to be the spiritual parents of God’s spiritual family (1 Timothy 3:1ff). How many offices does your church have?
Do you feel comfortable with your religious traditions but uncomfortable with the simple Word of God?
Summary: Any operational model of the church that is not found in the Bible has “added to” the information from the Bible!

Bottom Line
Spiritual thinking people are people dedicated to the Lord God not to public opinion, popularity, or tradition. Do you “GO to church” or are you BEING a part of God’s spiritual family?

Tradition or Biblical Fact

Things Above Thoughts
TAT #92 Human Traditions or Biblical Fact

Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. (Mk. 7:8)

In 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul reminds us that when God’s family is gathered together it is to be an interactive meeting with individual participation. What do your church meetings look like? Participatory? Interactive? Sit and receive? While church meetings are good for receiving don’t neglect the commandment of God by neglecting His Family, your Family, for your church.

“Traditions are handed down in innocence and accepted in ignorance.”