Freedom of Christ and Truth

Commandments and Doctrines of Men

Article cY

With regards to many churches likely few sermons have been preached about the truth making us free, likely few sermons have been preached about God's law being the perfect law of liberty, and few have been preached about God withholding no good thing from them that walk uprightly. Yet as revealed in many Scriptures (as given below), the Bible clearly teaches such good things about God and truth. cY-1

With regards to many churches, likely many sermons have been preached advocating the commandments of men. This involves churches from the Roman Catholic Church to the Amish and many churches between. The religious laws of some Amish forbid electric lights and motors as being evil, while they then allow gas ones as being good and holy. What would Jesus who rebuked the commandments and traditions of men say about such laws. The Roman Catholic Church doesn't allow their leaders to marry, although most all of the Apostles were married, although many Scriptures speak of marriage as a good thing, and although Apostle Paul particularly reproved the forbidding of marriage. What would Jesus say about such laws. cY-2

It is admitted and very true that Jesus gave responsibilities to His followers, and has a cross for them to bear. Yet Jesus' cross in no way pertains to hardships and deprivations as are encountered in following the commandments of men. Rather Jesus' cross pertains to the difficulties and persecutions Christians often encounter as they go against such commandments and teachers, and encounter as they in following Jesus honestly seek the truth, and love others as themselves. Although a part of the cross of Christ might also be thought to pertain to denying ourselves of sinful attitudes and excesses that really are harmful to us, yet the end of such denial really blesses us rather than being a cross or infliction to us. And can that really be called a cross? The cross of Christ although not to be a self inflicted cross, yet at times involves rejection, prison, and death and often at the hands of religious ones who are advocating the commandments and doctrines of men. Jesus Himself experienced such as well as many of His followers. cY-3

Following are nine groups of Scriptures which clearly reveal the freedom and liberty within true religion and that God desires for His people. These many Scriptures although possibly seeming repetitious should be carefully read and pondered, as they bring out a vital message. Note, various quite striking issues are considered following these many Scriptures. cY-4

Group One

Scriptures concerning the commandments of men, and which reveal that Jesus was opposed to them, and reveal they oppose the truth; cY-5

(Mat 15:9) "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Note Mark 7:7 reads almost identically. cY-6

(Mat 23:4) "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." Note Luke 11:46 reads very similar. cY-7

(Col 2:20-22) "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments [traditions, order] of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, ...after the commandments and doctrines of men?" cY-8

(Titus 1:14) "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." cY-9

Group Two

These are Scriptures which reveal that all of God's laws are based on loving God and our fellowman as we ought; cY-10

(Mat 22:37-40) "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {38} This is the first and great commandment. {39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {40} On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Note, Mark 12:29-31 reads much the same. cY-11

(Gal 5:14) "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." cY-12

(Rom 13:8-10) "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. {9} For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {10} Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." cY-13

(James 2:8) "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" cY-14

God's laws are not designed to pain or deprive mankind but rather are reasonable rules simply requesting that mankind rightly love and respect one another and their creator. Religious laws and restrictions reaching outside of this good basis and boundary generally are the commandments of men. cY-15

Group Three

These are Scriptures that reveal that Jesus and true religion liberates and makes one free; cY-16

(John 8:32) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." cY-17

(John 8:36) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." cY-18

(Luke 4:18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," Note Isaiah 61:1-3 reads very similar. cY-19

(Luke 19:42) Jesus spoke these words looking and weeping over Jerusalem, "...If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." cY-19.5

(Isa 58:6) "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" cY-20

(2 Cor 3:17) "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." cY-21

(Rom 8:21) "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." cY-22

Following are several Scriptures pertaining to being set free from sin.

(Rom 6:7) "For he that is dead is freed from sin." cY-23

(Rom 6:18) "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." cY-24

(Rom 6:20-22) "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. {21} What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. {22} But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." cY-25

(Rom 8:2) "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." cY-26

Being made free from sin pertains to being set free from feelings of anger, jealously, and bitterness, and being a captive to such feelings. Such unwholesome emotions can completely destroy a person. Such emotions result in many difficulties and crimes. Being set free from sin also pertains to being set free from domineering sexual desires that cause people to do things they really don't want to do and are not a blessing to them or to society. Uncontrolled sexual desires combined with jealously also have been the reason for many grievous crimes. Yet sex can very much enhance and bless one's life if participated in within God's good plan and boundaries. cY-27

Being set free from sin does not mean being deprived from good things and which God created to be enjoyed, but means to be set free from bitterness, selfishness, and excesses (addictions). It means our proud and selfish nature has experienced a death and we have become a partaker of a new nature which does good because God has made it good. cY-28

Group Four

These are Scriptures that reveal God's laws are good laws and which in reality give mankind liberty. cY-29

(Deu 6:24) "And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day." cY-30

(Prov 29:18) "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." cY-31

(Psa 119:45) "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." cY-32

(Isa 48:18) "O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:" cY-33

(Mat 11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." cY-34

(1 John 5:3) "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." cY-36

(James 1:25) "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." cY-37

(James 2:12) "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." cY-38

Group Five

These are Scriptures that reveal that it is possible for Christians to misuse their freedom and liberty and reprove doing so; cY-39

(1 Cor 8:9) "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." cY-40

(Gal 5:13) "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." cY-41

(1 Pet 2:16) "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." cY-42

(2 Pet 2:19) "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." cY-43

The liberty of the Christian obviously is not simply to do anything, and which might harm another or society, but rather is to do anything that is truly a blessing to themselves and others. cY-44

Group Six

These are Scriptures which speak of all things being lawful, but yet not the best thing to do, and which reveal that nothing of itself is impure; cY-45

(1 Cor 6:12) "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." cY-46

(1 Cor 10:23) "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." cY-47

(Titus 1:15) "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." The pure one always does things while following good principles. Thus to the pure all he does are pure. cY-48

Note, if all things are lawful as here said, so much more all things are lawful if expedient and a blessing to one's self as well as to others. cY-49

Group Seven

These are Scriptures that reveal that God does not withhold good things from His children; cY-50

(Psa 84:11) "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." cY-51

(1 Tim 6:17) "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" cY-52

(John 10:10) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." cY-53

Group Eight

These are Scriptures that speak of God giving His children the desires of their heart; cY-54

(Psa 10:17) "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:" cY-55

(Psa 37:4) "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." cY-56

(Psa 20:4) "Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel." cY-57

Psa 21:2, Psa 145:19, Prov 10:24 read much the same. Yet, God obviously will not fulfill the desires of an evil and corrupt heart. Although contrary circumstances often deprive us of the desires of our heart yet God's laws do not intentionally do so. God in due time will bless all the righteous with the desires of their heart. cY-58

Group Nine

These are Scriptures that reveal true religion is not a life of restrictions and bondage, and which rather reveal that false religion brings people into bondage; cY-59

(Gal 2:4-5) "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: {5} To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." cY-60

(Gal 5:1) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." cY-61

(Rom 8:15) "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." cY-62

(Gal 4:9) "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" cY-64

(Gal 4:25) "For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." cY-65

Notice how the many above Scriptures display true religion as a way of freedom and blessing rather than deprivation and bondage. The above Scriptures firstly rebuke the commandments of men, secondly reveal that God's laws simply require man to love and respect his creator and fellowmen as he ought, and are for his own good, thirdly reveal God's commandments are not grievous but rather protect man and make up the perfect law of liberty, fourthly reveal those abiding within God's laws find peace and rest, and fifthly reveal that God does not intentionally withhold any good thing from His children and rather wants to fulfill their desires. How can one after reading the above Scriptures think of God and true religion as that which intentionally pains, withholds, and demands a self inflictive lifestyle? Yet many churches and religions portray God and religion as such? Why is it? Following are given nine general doctrines of various churches (denominations) which should be reexamined as to whether they are doctrines of God or man; cY-66

Firstly: The religious doctrine that counts marriage as an inferior and somewhat base relation and forbids religious elders from marrying, even though the Bible speaks of marriage being a good and honorable relation, and although most all the Apostles and elders of the early Christian church appear to have been married, accept Paul and Barnabas (1 Cor 9:5-6). cY-67

Secondly: The religious doctrine that disallows (or discourages) intimacy in marriage except for honest reproductive endeavors. Note, numerous ones who are considered important early church fathers very much restricted sex in marriage to honest reproductive endeavors. Yet such restraint in marriage is quite impossible to reconcile with Paul's teaching that it is better to marry than to burn, as well as many other Scriptures. cY-68

Thirdly: The religious doctrine that husbands cannot divorce and remarry, no matter what the situation, even though Jesus clearly allowed this for the cause of fornication, and even within the Christian society and ethics. Note, the Christian wedding vow, which rigidly binds till death doth part, does not allow for Jesus' particular allowance of divorce and remarriage. Note, commandments of men opposing second marriages are no new thing, as numerous ones who are considered important early church fathers even rejected second marriages if one's mate died. cY-69

Fourthly: the religious doctrine that disallows eating meats, although God clearly told Noah he could eat meat, although the Israelites throughout history freely ate meats, and although Paul gave particular permission to eat meats (Gen 9:3-4, Rom 14:2-6, 1 Cor 8:8-13, 1 Tim 4:1-4). Yet Paul did encourage Christians to not needlessly offend one another in what they ate. Note, the Bible speaking about the commandments of men that wrongly disallows meats and the blessing of marriage, actually call them the doctrines of devils (1 Tim4:1-4)! cY-70

Fifthly: The religious doctrine that largely counts wine as a liquid of sin and Satan, while Jesus Himself drank it, and some Scriptures even encourage it's use, although they also very much warn against excess and drunkenness. cY-71

Sixthly: The religious doctrine which prohibits sharing or transferring blood, to replenish another's loss of blood, because blood is a sacred life giving element which we are commanded not to eat or drink. Note, just because blood is not to be used as a mere food, or drink, does not need to mean that it dare not be transferred from one person's blood veins to another's to save a life and to further it's special and important life giving powers! King David and his men in their special need of food even ate of the Holy shew bread (which only qualified Priest's were to eat in the Temple) and were justified before God, while they also likely could have eaten meat with the blood rather than starving, and also been justified before God. Intentionally eating blood as a common food, or taking blood for life saving transfusions is totally different! cY-72

Seventhly: The religious doctrine that demands woman's long hair or whole head to basically always be masked or veiled, and therewith is largely resentful toward the special and pleasing beauty God has given to woman. Note, although Paul did advocate woman should be appropriately covered, he therewith taught that woman's long hair is a glory to woman and given to her for a covering and which is a shame to remove, and spoke of woman being the glory of man, as something very glorious and special to him. Note articles cS and cU speak much more about woman's hair and veiling. cY-73

Eighthly: The religious doctrine of asceticism that tends to be opposed to anything that is pleasing, beautiful, enjoyable, and desirable. The ancient ascetic doctrine together with rejecting marriage and feminine beauty, often times rejected beauty of all sorts and therewith also rejected beautiful music made by four voice singing or by musical instruments. Concerning the issue of visible beauty one should consider that tidiness, attractiveness, and white or lighter colors aligns more with purity and Holiness, than untidiness, disarray, and black. In old times God expected the Israelites' lifestyle to be orderly, clean, and attractive. Why then should Christians in their normal lifestyle encourage and intentionally participate in dark colors, unkempt manners, and ugliness that in reality portrays darkness, disorder, and curse, rather than purity and blessing? Concerning musical instruments, although Prophet Amos spoke negatively of musical instruments in the context of living a luxurious, casual, and selfish life, he just as well spoke negatively of eating meat and laying on couches in that erroneous context (Amos 6:3-6). The Bible speaks of the musical instruments of God, speaks of the Angels playing their harps of gold, and various times speaks of divine inspirations being given from God as musical instruments were being played (1 Chronicles 16:42, Rev 14:2, 15:2, 1 Chr 25:1&3, 2 King 3:15, 1 Sam 10:5). cY-74

Yet opposition to music is no new thing. Augustine who was very instrumental in formulating the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church (and various ascetic early fathers like him), spoke very negatively about beautiful singing and instrumental music. Augustine said he had sinned penally if he was moved by the music more than by the words and then would rather not hear music at all. Augustine spoke of music as merely something to bestir the weak to feelings of devotion, and allowable for such. It appears he felt the big and strong Christian shouldn't need delicate and pleasing things as beautiful music, and appears he neither felt the big and strong Christian needed delicate and pleasing things as marriage, beauty, and intimacy as he also was very negative toward such. Thus in the name of God and Holiness, most every thing pleasing, beautiful, enjoyable, and desirable, became despised, and the commandments of men and doctrines of devils stole from humanity, the most blessed things God created for man to enjoy. The doctrine of asceticism is largely the basis for all the commandments of men considered above as well as for those restrictions to yet be considered. cY-75

Ninthly: The religious emphasis and doctrine which prohibits things such as cars, telephones, tape recorders, cameras, etc, and supposedly because they might be misused or promote pride. One should here consider that a mere piece of paper and pencil can be very misused and consider one can misuse or become proud of almost anything he has. One should here also consider Apostle Paul's statement "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure..." (Titus 1:15). All things are pure to the pure one because they will use all things right, while nothing is pure to the impure one because they will misuse anything! May we be God's pure ones (and initiating other pure ones), who have God's laws written in their hearts and who are walking in the glorious liberty of the children of God, rather than vainly trying to make the impure, pure through laws and traditions, and vainly trying to attain purity by such! cY-76

Many strange religious restrictions evolve in restrictive Amish like religious environments and among those who forbid things simply because they can be misused. Some such restrictions are, tractors must have airless steel wheels, although rubber might be bolted on them, battery lights are fine but other electric lights are forbidden, telephones if allowed might have to be outside of the house, recorders and players are fine in answering machines, but forbidden for language or Bible study, toys that sing silly little songs for children are fine, but players that can sing inspirational Gospel songs to the elderly and lonely are forbidden (if that little teddy bear instead of singing silly little songs starts singing inspirational Gospel songs then he is bad!), veil strings must be looped rather than individual strings, veil caps must be pinned rather than sewed, vehicles dare not be multicolored while yet women's dresses may be so, or vehicles may be multicolored while women's dresses dare not be so, belts to hold up men's pants are evil, yet suspenders are good, hooks and eyes must be used as fasteners rather than buttons, and all these strange commandments supposedly in the name of our Jesus who emphatically rebuked the commandments of men. What would our Jesus say about these laws if He were here today? cY-77

The commandments of men have many more fingers and tentacles than most realize, while the hands of false religion also have many more people in their grip than most realize. False religion also has done much more damage and evil than many realize. The commandments of men and false religion not only greatly deprived those who followed it's teaching of many God intended blessings, but also often rejected, persecuted, and even martyred many who wouldn't yield to it's falsity. Throughout history the greatest opponent of truth has not been the non religious society (non religious people), but rather truth's greatest opponent has been the false religious society. Satan's evil face can clearly be seen in the evils of false religion, although far to often he somehow kept it hidden under the disguise of self sacrifice, Holiness, and truth. cY-78

The ascetic religious emphasis which has forbade things from marriage to buttons and belts (and many blessings between), appears links clear back to ancient heathen religions who tried to appease their false gods by living an austere and difficult lifestyle. These ancient heathen religions had religious rituals sometimes requiring celibacy of their priests and priestesses and sometimes demanding women to be veiled insomuch that they could only see with one eye. This ascetic heathen emphasis appears to have significantly entered the Christian church as heathen Rome supposedly became Christian. This ascetic emphasis is clearly seen in many writings of numerous ones who are considered important early Christian church fathers. Under this self depriving philosophy various Christian groups have adopted many different traditional ways to avoid beauty, enjoyments, and convenience. And further as different individuals within these groups preferred various and diverse restrictive manners and these different restrictive manners got all mixed together by compromising, sometimes very strange restrictive traditions sprung forth to which the whole group became bound. cY-79

Many erring religious cooks have arisen during the last 2000 years, and these building upon one another and upon preferences, instead of upon Jesus, have mixed together some very erroneous religious soup, while this erroneous religious soup is being fed to many largely innocent Christians in our day. In the last 2000 years, many blind religious cooks and crooks have turned the bread and water of life into a bitter religious soup, and which has caused tremendous difficulty and pain for humanity. It should be no surprise that many people are anti Christian and anti religion. Thank God, He is a merciful God and is merciful to even those misguided Christians who eat this soup, if they are humble and sincere. Paul spoke of God winking at man's errors saying, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30). cY-80

Although many misguided Christians are humble and sincere, yet many are not so. Rather too many Christians are like the Pharisees who unyieldingly held to their self chosen religious agenda, and were more concerned about their prestigious office and the praise of men than about justice and truth. Jesus speaking to such prominent ones, and who were to big to admit their errors said that the publicans and the harlots would enter the Kingdom of heaven before them, and said the Sodomites would be more justified than them (Matt 21:31-32, 11:23-24, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:12)! What a rebuke! Jesus obviously didn't appreciate their strange religious soup and the fact they kept right on carefully cooking and guarding it, rather than humbly admitting it did have a bad smell! May we all honestly smell the doctrines and religion in our kettles. Although Jesus often spoke in ways as got people all stirred up and mad at Him, yet He was not just out to raise havoc but was out to overturn man's erroneous religious soup and to rekindle mercy, justice, and truth among men. In His zeal He even overturned the tables in the Temple and poured out their precious money as He went about doing this (John 2:13-17)! Do we really wish such a Jesus were in our midst today, or are we afraid He would overturn our tables too? cY-81

The commandments and traditions of men are not only needless and often very oppressive, but also are very misleading. Such traditions often give people a very false sense of qualification and Holiness, and while also very much obscuring the goodness and liberality of God. The commandments of men tend to create self qualified people who will come before God at the judgment saying "Lord have we not done this and done that", rather than meek people of a thankful and joyful heart saying, "when have we done this and that" (Matt 7:22-23, 25:31-46). The commandments and doctrines of men often create people who feel qualified and worthy, rather than people who are humble like little children, and who only will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:4). God loves His little children and also desires to give them many good things! Are we His little children, thankfully participating in His freedom and blessing, or are we too big and to self deprived and qualified to be one of His pleased and thankful little children?! Note, although the commandments of men are misleading and detrimental, yet such does not mean parents and Christian leaders cannot give their people, good guidelines of behavior that will bless and protect their lives. cY-82

Although many religions and churches are teaching various commandments of men, it is sad they don't seem to realize it and often will not admit it. Every religion or church will claim some reason for their particular doctrines and traditions. Because of people tending to be so big, rather than being like a little child, it often is difficult for one mere person to admit an error, and so much more it is difficult for a group or church of big people to admit a collective error. Although individuals quite often do admit error and change, yet when has a collective group done so?! May God help the writer, as well as others to become both little and willing to admit error! Jesus said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes". People without humility and honestly simply will never see and learn the truth, as they will exaggerate the issues they like and minimize and overlook the issues they don't like to come up with the lying conclusions they like! They will exaggerate and choke on little things, and will minimize and swallow big things, and largely without even realizing it. Jesus speaking of such said, "Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel." (Matt 23:24)! May God help us escape such falsity as Revelations 22:15 reads, "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.". May we see how little and nothing the wisest and best of man is before our great God! And may the wisest and best of man see his full responsibility before God, and may he rather than glorying in himself and his abilities, fear and revere before his great God! cY-83

Oh, may our big God teach us little children those truths that are vital and contributive to our short yet vital lives! The writer in searching many subjects has very often been shocked and brought to tears at what he learned, and often found himself very wrong. Yet he in finding himself wrong has also found many others wrong as well, and may none of us be too big to admit our error. The writer thus wonders how many more surprises await him and how many other places he might yet find himself to be wrong. The writer has found God and true religion to be much better than he ever thought, but also has found in a new way how Satan has dreadfully stolen God's good plan for man from mankind, and all in the name of religion and truth. How can it be?! May we in seeking truth listen with an open heart both to God and our fellow man and although being teachable yet not be gullible. Jesus told His disciples "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." and likely would tell us all the same (John 16:12). cY-84

King David said, "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts" (Psa 119:43). Notice, he said he would walk at liberty because he sought God's precepts! May we also seek His precepts and walk in the liberty within them, and be delivered from the commandments of men. May God help us find that truth that makes us free and find that promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come (1 Tim 4:8). In conclusion the writer prays God, He will help us be those little, blind, and seeking ones to whom Jesus could give sight, rather than be those big and seeing ones to whom Jesus said " If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth" (John 9:39-41)! Jesus just couldn't help the big and seeing, but only the little and seeking ones. Are we qualified for His help? In concluding the writer also encourages the reader to read the article "God and Religion, What's it all About?" posted at "TeachMeGod.com" as it reveals many very good aspects about God and true religion. Oh may God teach us all. God bless and farewell. cY-85

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