Mormonism, Catholicism, Calvinism, Baptistism

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me, more than I want you to offer burnt offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant  and betrayed my trust. (Hosea 6:6-7 NLT)

Even before Christ came in the flesh, the Lord called his people to lives of knowing him and loving others. But we insist on substituting our own religious systems for the discipleship he requires of us. And in doing that, we break his covenant and betray his trust.

The religious system might be unbiblical teaching overlaid with esoteric “knowledge,” like Mormonism.

The religious system might be biblical teaching overlaid with unbiblical or extra-biblical church tradition, like Catholicism.

The religious system might be biblical teaching that obsesses over a part of biblical truth, rather than the whole, like Calvinism.

The religious system might be biblical teaching that ignores some biblical truths for the sake of harmony with unregenerate or apostate church members, like “once saved, always saved” Baptistism.

But in every case, it is a religious system that exalts itself over the discipleship of knowing God and loving others. And in submitting ourselves to that religious system, rather than the Word of God – both the Living Word and the Written Word – we break the Lord’s covenant and betray his trust.

Jesus said his family are those who obey the will of his father, that calling him “Lord” is a far cry from submitting to him as Lord. He said the only door into heaven is obedience to the Father’s will, that building a life on anything but obedience to his teaching is foolishness that ends in destruction.

Follow whatever man-made tradition you like, but don’t think it counts for anything. What matters is knowing God, loving others, and obeying Jesus.