Psalm 46:10 NCV
“God says, ‘Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations. I will be praised throughout the earth.’”
RELIGION IS BURDENSOME
Matthew 23:1-4, CEV
“Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law are experts in the Law of Moses. So obey everything they teach you, but don't do as they do. After all, they say one thing and do something else. They pile heavy burdens on people's shoulders and won't lift a finger to help.’”
James 2:10, CEV
“If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all.”
Mark 7:7-8, CEV
“It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans. You disobey God's commands in order to obey what humans have taught.”
John 14:6 CEV
“I am the way, the truth, and the life! Without me, no one can go to the Father."
Matthew 11:28-30, CEV
Jesus said, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.”
RELIGION SEEKS TO PLEASE MEN
Matthew 23:5-7, CEV
“Everything they do is just to show off in front of others. They even make a big show of wearing Scripture verses on their foreheads and arms, and they wear big tassels for everyone to see. They love the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues. And when they are in the market, they like to have people greet them as their teachers.”
Matthew 6:2, CEV
“When you give to the poor, don't blow a loud horn. That's what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.”
Matthew 6:16, CEV
“When you go without eating, don't try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward.”
RELIGION IS A HINDRANCE TO PROPER LEADERSHIP
Matthew 23:8-12, CEV
“But none of you should be called a teacher. You have only one teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters. Don't call anyone on earth your father. All of you have the same Father in heaven. None of you should be called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader. Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”
Religion Is A Hindrance to Faith
Matthew 23:13-14, CEV
“You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You won't go in yourselves, and you keep others from going in.”
Romans 14:13, CEV
“We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone's faith.”
Religion Sees The Worldly Instead Of The Heavenly
Matthew 23:15-22, CEV
“You Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You travel over land and sea to win one follower. And when you have done so, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are. You are in for trouble! You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind. You teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the temple. But you say it does matter if someone swears by the gold in the temple. You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say it does matter if someone swears by the gift on the altar. Are you blind? Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Anyone who swears by the altar also swears by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple also swears by God, who lives there. To swear by heaven is the same as swearing by God's throne and by the one who sits on that throne.”
Religion only Sees People’s Faults
Matthew 23:23-24, CEV
“You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either. You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel.”
Religion Looks Good On The Outside
Matthew 23:25-28, CEV
“You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean. You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You're like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. That's what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good.”
Colossians 2:20-23, CEV
“You died with Christ. Now the forces of the universe don't have any power over you. Why do you live as if you had to obey such rules as, ‘Don't handle this. Don't taste that. Don't touch this?’ After these things are used, they are no longer good for anything. So why be bothered with the rules that humans have made up? Obeying these rules may seem to be the smart thing to do. They appear to make you love God more and to be very humble and to have control over your body. But they don't really have any power over our desires.”
