O you who love the Lord, hate evil! – Psalm 97:10 ~ There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. – Proverbs 14:12
George Gillespie, one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly, and one of the greatest theologians since the days of the Apostles, writes,
“By communicating with idolaters in their rites and ceremonies, we ourselves become guilty of idolatry; even as Ahaz, 2 Kings 16:10, was an idolater, eo ipso, that he took the pattern of an altar from idolaters. Forasmuch, then, as kneeling before the consecrated bread, the sign of the cross, surplice, festival days (like Christmas-ed.), bishopping, bowing down to the altar, administration of the sacraments in private places, etc., are the wares of Rome, the baggage of Babylon, the trinkets of the whore, the badges of Popery, the ensigns of Christ’s enemies, and the very trophies of antichrist, — we cannot conform, communicate and symbolise with the idolatrous Papists in the use of the same, without making ourselves idolaters by participation.
Shall the chaste spouse of Christ take upon her the ornaments of the whore? Shall the Israel of God symbolise with her who is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt? Shall the Lord’s redeemed people wear the ensigns of their captivity? Shall the saints be seen with the mark of the beast? Shall the Christian church be like the antichristian, the holy like the profane, religion like superstition, the temple of God like the synagogue of Satan?” (A Dispute Against English Popish Ceremonies, in Gillespie’s Works volume one, p. 80, SWRB reprint, or as free MP3s at A Dispute Against the English Popish Ceremonies emphases added).
Listen to the teaching here: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=715111534397
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:20
(O)ur Lord expects from His people a more exact performance of the divine will than even the Pharisees pretend to give. Observe, (in Matthew 6:17-20) He speaks here about jots and tittles never passing away, and about those who break the least of His commandments, and teach men so; and I gather that He would have us observe the very least of His words and treasure up His commandments. Do you think, dear brethren, there would be so many sects among Christians if all believers honestly wanted to know the truth and to know Christ’s will? I do not think there would be. I cannot think our Lord has written a book so doubtful and ambiguous in its expressions that men need differ in interpreting it upon plain points. I am afraid we bring prejudice to it, the prejudice of our constitutional temperament, or of our parents, or of the church with which we are associated, and we pay reverence to somebody else’s book, perhaps a catechism, perhaps the Book of Common Prayer, over and beyond the Bible itself. Now, this is all wrong, and we must purge ourselves of it and come to the word of God itself: and, when we come to this book, it must be candidly and humbly, with this feeling, “I desire now to unlearn the most precious doctrine or practice I have ever learned if the Lord will show me that it is inconsistent with His will; and I desire to learn that truth which will bring me most into derision, or that ordinance which will submit me to the greatest inconvenience, if it is His will, for I am His servant, and I desire nothing to support my own opinion, or to be my own rule.” I think we shall all get pretty near together, if, in the Spirit of God, we begin reading our Bibles in this way. Surely the Lord expects this of us. I do not think He expects this of some professors, for certainly He will never get it; they are quite satisfied to say, “I attend my parish church, and that is the faith of our church;” or, “My grandmother joined the Dissenters, and, therefore, I keep to them; besides, after all you know there are no sects in heaven.” That last assertion is one of the most shallow pretences ever designed on earth, to excuse men from being scrupulously obedient to every word of their Lord and Master. I do not doubt, O disciple, but that you will reach heaven, even though you mistake some of the Master’s teaching, but I do doubt your ever reaching there if you wilfully despise His words, or decline to learn what He came to teach. Our Lord has said unto us, “Go ye therefore, and disciple all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” and therefore, if you will not become disciples, and learn of Christ, we have not even begun with you, neither can you be baptised, or bear the name of the Triune God. Jesus will have you obey His will, as well as trust His grace. Mind that, beloved. This demand for exact obedience is no word of mine, but of the Master. ~ C.H. Spurgeon
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1029.cfm
Leviticus 10:10 “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean.”
In a world still swirling in sin thousands of years after its catastrophic collision with evil, the need for discernment is critical, and God has assigned to His followers the task of knowing the difference between good and evil. What seperates God’s people from everyone else is the wisdom He gives that enables them to discern holy from common, sacred from profane, clean from unclean, good from evil. ~Julie Ackerman Link from her booklet, Loving God With All My Mind
Your ears are not your own—that you may listen to
every foolish tale, drink in every political, worldly, or
carnal report which may fall upon them—and thus feed
that natural desire for news, gossip, and even slander,
which is the very element of the carnal mind.
Your tongue is not your own, that you may speak
what you please, and blurt out whatever passes in
the chambers of your heart, without check or fear.
Yes, blessed be God, there is gospel liberty, for
there is no real happiness in religion without it;
but not liberty to sin—not liberty to gratify the
lusts of the flesh—not liberty to act contrary to
the gospel we profess, and the precepts of God’s
Word—for this is not liberty but licentiousness.
“You are not your own! For you are bought with
a price…therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19
– J. C. Philpot
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” ` Deuteronomy 12:30
FTA: While many of the pagan customs associated with the celebration of Spring were at one stage practised alongside Christian Easter traditions, they eventually came to be absorbed within Christianity, as symbols of the resurrection of Jesus. (my note: this is syncretism-combining paganism and Christianity in the unlawful worship to God) source
Ever since the first prophesy to mankind, recorded in Genesis 3:15, man has tried to fulfill it with their own ideas and gods. Myths and legends abound to this day. And, sadly, incorporating these myths’ traditions into Christianity has many believing that Christianity is just another pagan religion. Christians have not obeyed God in setting themselves apart from the pagan religions and it has muddied the truth that Jesus Christ is the only Savior, the only Redeemer.
FTA: Today, Tammuz’s cultural legacy is evident in various cultural practices, including the celebration of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus during Easter has similarities to the myth of Tammuz’s resurrection and highlights the cyclical nature of life and death…The worship of Tammuz was accompanied by ancient rituals, such as the weeping for Tammuz, a ritual during which women mourned the death of the deity. Archaeologists have discovered that Tammuz’s worship involved a range of practices such as sacrifices in his honor, singing hymns to his name, and participating in temple rites…Tammuz’s cultural legacy and relevance can still be seen in modern society. Although he was worshiped long ago, his significance continues to influence the world today, making his story an intriguing aspect of Ancient Near East’s history and mythology. His popularity allows us to understand the culture and traditions of Mesopotamia, providing an insight into how human belief systems have evolved throughout history. source
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. – 1 Peter 2 :9
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