Traditions and Doctrine of Men 7-29-25

I am picking up where I left off about certain practices in the church that are according to the will of God. They are human made rules and practices that going against the Word of God. They have their own private interpretations. No private  knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,  for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Example: 

The church sets up rules that put the people in bondage like the pharisees did. Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,  “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’

Thus, you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Isaiah 29:13)  When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, 

“Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”(Matthew 15:1-9).

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8). The church is God’s storehouse that is to be run by the people paying tithes; offerings are extra that is to go where you are led by the Spirit. And the church’s storehouse is to help those who are experiencing hardship (Malachi 3:8-10), and it is a hospital.  If the church has to beg, solicit or use other means to help the church to stay above ground, something is wrong with the picture. That will be in an upcoming message. Remember this, I am writing what the Word of God says, not off the top of my head, nor leaning to my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Whatever is going on in the church that does not line up with the Word of God is not acceptable.

It is written in the Old and New Testament: For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7b). And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves (Matthew 21:13)

Examples:

Birthdays, anniversaries and so on. God’s house is spiritual. Putting stipulations on or manipulating people is ungodly. Using various types of entertainment to draw people in. How long do you think that is going to last?

Jesus said: 

Jesus said: If I am lifted up from the earth, I'll draw all men unto Me (John 12:32). The Word of God is their keeper if they are really seeking Him. The church has allowed the world and man’s way of thinking to influence it and God is on the back burner. In other words, God does not have first place in the lives of the people.

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org