The Word is the standard that distinguishes between truth and falsehood, good and evil. It is our center, the way in which we must walk, and the truth that leads to salvation. Therefore, we are to follow the Word so that we may become children of God who are worthy to stand before Him, gaining a heart that reflects His character. Through our flesh we must discover all shame and wrongdoing, repent, and turn back with determination and prayer, seeking God’s grace. The Word renews our hearts, exposes our sins one by one, and leads us to pray before God so that we may escape from every evil habit. In this way, the Word is both the path and the truth, containing the wisdom of power. However, countless people misuse it as a tool to satisfy their own desires, or as a justification to rationalize doctrines and beliefs that exalt their own words and theories rather than God’s truth.
1. Using the Word as a Means to Fulfill Worldly Desires of Believers
The Word is misused by pastors as a tool to stir up the vain hopes, desires, and ambitions of believers, which have no connection to salvation.
Instead of guiding believers into the deep and expansive wisdom and truth of the Word that leads to salvation, they focus only on dramatic miracle stories—Peter walking on the water, the feeding of the five thousand, the healing of the lame—stirring in people a desire for miracles in their own lives without effort or hardship, as though the struggles and worries of believers could be solved instantly by such wonders.
Thus, the preaching becomes nothing more than sweet-talking, deceptive teaching, producing fleeting emotions that vanish as soon as the sermon ends. Instead of guiding spirits toward salvation, the Word is reduced to a worldly teaching, used for mere forefront pretext of vain leaven. It becomes a mere instrument to encourage the congregation toward temporary comfort and worldly dreams.
For the sake of appearances, Scripture is used at the opening of a sermon, but in reality, the teaching centers on worldly success, happiness, dreams, and ideals. The Word is twisted to align with the selfish desires of the flesh, bent to justify human claims and theories. The love of the cross—which is supposed to manifest through sacrifice, service, and care for the poor—is replaced by empty words, as though miracles and blessings happen effortlessly without any obedience or practice of God’s will.
So believers are taught to expect that “if you just pray, everything will come true,” nurturing vain hopes and a gambling spirit. They are told, “For those who believe, nothing shall be impossible.” Yet, the very pastors who preach this have no mustard-seed faith that can move mountains. They themselves bear no evidence, no fruit, no power of that faith. Still, they claim that nothing is impossible.
A true shepherd should explain why suffering, sorrow, tears, curses, and sickness exist, and should show believers the way to come out of them. Instead, they are like physicians who apply ointment to a festering wound without ever addressing the root cause, never uncovering the true depth of the injury or prescribing the cure. Such pastors are not true physicians of the spirit. Their so-called healing is ignorance, offering only sweet words that promise, “If you just pray, if you just believe, you will be healed.” And when, out of a thousand, one person recovers, they boast that it was due to their prayer and power—but when many more die or worsen, they shift the blame onto the believer’s lack of faith.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.(2 Peter 2 : 1~3)
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:(Isaiah 28 : 10~15)
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.(Romans 16 : 18~20)
2. Believers Who Use the Word as a Means to Pursue Their Worldly Desires, Hopes, Ambitions, and Values(The Principle of How Believers Themselves Exploit the Word)
There are believers who exploit the Word as a tool for fulfilling their worldly hopes, satisfactions, and desires. Having been trained and accustomed to worldly teachings—such as “endure hardship and blessings will follow” (sweetness after bitterness)—and to emotional inspiration that merely provides temporary comfort, they rely on the fleeting emotion of a moment, a comfort that vanishes as soon as they turn away. Such a crippled faith has no connection to salvation.
It is a faith fixated only on their own success (hopes), happiness (satisfaction), and ambitions (plans) that belong to this world, a faith entirely irrelevant to the holy will of God, the love of the cross, the Word, or salvation itself.
They are deceived by worldly lessons and emotional inspiration that make it seem as if all their hopes, satisfactions, and dreams could be fulfilled immediately. Like leaven swelling up a lump of dough, these teachings merely inflate selfish desires and cravings, stirring them all the more—yet in truth, they are nothing but empty teachings, passing inspirations with no real connection to salvation.
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellers of peace is joy.(Proverbs 12 : 17~20)
They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneeded the dough, until it be leavened.(Hosea 7 : 4)
They believe only in a Word that has been forcibly tailored to fit their vain teachings and fleeting emotions, while showing no interest whatsoever in the rest of Scripture. Yet the very words they ignore are those that condemn their sins. Thus, the Word becomes for them nothing more than a tool to pursue their worldly desires, ambitions, and cravings, selecting only what provides comfort, benefit, or inspiration. It is a cunning faith—like those who eat only what pleases their taste, picking and choosing, while refusing the whole truth of God’s Word.
Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.(Hosea 8 : 11~14)
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.(Romans 1 : 28~32)
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.(James 2 : 10~11)
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.(John 8 : 34)
They are merely those who, driven by their desires for the world—their pleasures, happiness, ambitions, and selfish hopes—pursue nothing but goals born of greed. Thus, according to their circumstances and interests, they continually fall back into sin even while regretting it, standing only on the path of sinners, belonging to the world, and following a vain and foolish faith.
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.(Lamentations 2 : 14)
The purpose for which God established tithes and offerings was so that, through them, His people might practice His love by feeding, sharing, and caring for others in acts of charity and service—thus obtaining God’s love and being made children of salvation. But today, departing from this purpose of tithes and offerings as an example of love to be set forth, many have abandoned practice and action altogether. Instead, they have turned tithes and offerings into a means of theft, creating justifications out of their shallow eloquence, deceitful flattery, and cunning pretenses. These very fabrications have now become what is called worship, doctrine, dogma, and commandment. Likewise, congregants who have been trained under the pretenses and teachings of such word-mongers, who exalt words and theories alone, have also abandoned true action and practice. Their lives and their faith have already been shaped by those who rationalize false worship, false doctrines, and false commandments for the sake of theft—leaving them as nothing more than foolish believers.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.(Proverbs 26 : 20~28)
…God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.(Psalms 55 : 10~23)
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.(Proverbs 5 : 3~6)
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;(Proverbs 7 : 21~22)
For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.(Deuteronomy 32 : 28~35)
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!(Isaiah 5 : 18~23)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;(1 Timothy 4 : 1~2)
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.(Proverbs 14 : 25~27)
They are those whose actions inside the church differ from their actions outside, whose outward appearance contradicts the intentions harbored within, and whose words do not match their deeds—hypocrites with a double heart of duplicity. They are those who, though they may regret and reflect, are enslaved to evil habits that compel them to turn back and sin again, gradually deadening even their own conscience. They are those who increasingly take their sins lightly or even grow bold in them, and who, further still, come to regard the rationalizations, excuses, and self-justifications of their sins as if they were faith itself. Thus, depending on their interests and gain, even within the church or in the midst of service, there arises continual division, slander, intrigue, jealousy, strife, and hatred—the fruit of foolish people’s offices, positions, ministries, charities, and so-called faith.
No matter how fine their words and theories may sound, no matter how great their knowledge and wisdom may appear, if they do not obtain the love of the cross—that love which bears the cross of Christ, follows the path of love, sacrifice, and suffering, and forms within us the divine nature that resembles God—then it is of no use, no value whatsoever. On the contrary, they only become adversaries and enemies of God’s holy will and profound grace. In the end, the fate of those who pursue only words and theories is a judgment more severe than that of unbelievers, for they are those who, under the guise of the Word, bring disgrace upon the noble love and sacrifice of the cross.
Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.(Jeremiah 14 : 10~16)
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.(Isaiah 9 : 15~17)
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.(Luke 6 : 39~45)
Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.(Deuteronomy 27 : 18~19)
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?(Isaiah 44 : 18~20)
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.(Isaiah 59 : 8~14)
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 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. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.(2 Peter 2 : 17~22)
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.(Hebrews 12 : 11~17)
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.(Hebrews 6 : 4~8)
They shall not dwell in the LORD’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.(Hosea 9 : 3~4)
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.(Revelation 3 : 15~19)
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.(Job 34 : 23~28)
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.(2 Peter 1 : 4~9)
True salvation belongs to Christians who, through charity and service, feed, give, and care for the poor and needy sheep, thereby pursuing the love of the cross and forming within themselves the divine nature that esteems, cherishes, and serves one another. But today’s religions, in order to steal tithes and offerings rather than to feed, give, and care for the flock, have cast aside action and practice altogether, deceiving believers into thinking that salvation can be attained merely by words and theories, and that faith can be established by forced convictions and resolutions. In this way, they fill their own stomachs and selfish ambitions, exploiting everything as a means for their own gain. Thus, by the worldly churches and pastors who corrupt God’s Word into false and forced interpretations as though they were His truth, believers are also led astray, forsaking the sacrificial love and practice that ought to be their example. Instead, they are drawn to the words, sermons, and emotional inspirations of pastors that stir up only their worldly desires, satisfactions, and cravings, leading them into a fleshly faith that hears only but never acts. Because they attempt to serve God alongside the world and material things, such pastors and believers interpret, distort, and misuse the Scriptures not according to their true meaning and purpose, but according to their own thoughts, using them as a means of comfort, security, peace, happiness, convenience, and the fulfillment of their greed.
The reason they claim to believe in God and in Christ, the reason they attend church, the reason they pray and fast, is nothing more than to use these as tools to fulfill and gratify their worldly desires—desires that produce only sin and lust. They fast only to achieve their selfish ambitions and vain hopes, treating their greedy desires as if they were God’s holy will, or as if they were some unique talent or special mission given solely to them. Thus, by the vain cries of these arrogant and covetous people, deceived by their own pride, the churches have become filled with satanic tongues—sorcery and divination—where Satan himself is at work. For them, “God,” “Christ,” “faith,” and “religion” exist only to pursue their worldly happiness (desires), success (satisfaction), material gain (ambitions), and cravings. They are Christians in word only; in their deeds and actions, they are no different from the world or from idol worshipers. In this way, most are those who, under the pretense of God’s will and calling, put forward their baseless ambitions and selfish values, heaping up only sin and lust, and thereby bringing reproach even upon the holy will of God.
Blinded by their own greed and pride, with an immature faith unable to discern God’s holy will, they justify lies and falsehoods by twisting the concept of “talents” and “calling.” But in reality, they are nothing more than adversaries—without any true example of keeping, obeying, and practicing the Word. They are those whose eyes and ears are partial and selective, who consider any word of Scripture that does not serve to rationalize their own words, theories, and claims as irrelevant to themselves. Thus, their eyes are eyes that cannot truly see, and their ears are ears that cannot truly hear. In their arrogance, they fail to realize that the very Scripture declaring, “Though they have eyes, they see not; though they have ears, they hear not”—and that blind guides lead to destruction—was spoken concerning them.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 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. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.(Titus 1 : 14~16)
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.(Mark 7 : 6~9)
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.(Isaiah 29 : 13~14)
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.(2 Timothy 4 : 2~4)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.(2 Corinthians 10 : 5~6)
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.(Lamentations 2 : 14)
Those without practice are proud, foolish, senseless, betrayers, adversaries, and enemies. Thus, they are like Esau, who sold the covenant of life for worldly things and the bread of the flesh, destined for judgment. Their faith and religion—made into tools to pursue their selfish ambitions and desires—bear witness to a false spirit, a forced salvation, a vain gift, and corrupt tongues. Their words serve only as instruments twisted to gratify worldly desires, fleshly ambitions, and vain cravings, producing nothing but distortion, lies, excuses, and false interpretations that stand in opposition to salvation.
These are crafty and deceitful people who, while refusing to look upon and keep the covenant that they themselves must uphold before God, presumptuously believe that God and Christ are bound to keep their covenant to them. They do not keep it, yet they expect God to keep it on their behalf. They are selfish and arrogant, desiring that God should act for them while they avoid hardship, sacrifice, and labor, answering only with words and theories. But the God who establishes the covenant is also the God who annuls it for those who break it. A covenant can only endure within mutual keeping; if one party breaks it, the covenant cannot stand. Thus, to those who do not keep and obey, the covenant cannot exist.
Our eternal covenant is nothing other than a heart marked by the love of the cross, the love that conforms us to the divine character of God, making us worthy to become His children. This love of the cross is revealed in feeding, giving, caring, and serving—in bearing with, cherishing, and ministering to one another in the likeness of God’s holy nature. Therefore, the love of the cross is the seal of our salvation and resurrection, the eternal covenant of glory, the way, the truth, and the life.
Accordingly, any faith that does not follow after the love of the cross is altogether void—it is dead, false, adversarial, and enmity against God. Such a faith is worse than that of an unbeliever. The fruits and results produced under the thieving churches and shepherds are already evident: the faith and religion of their disciples grows ever more corrupt along with the world, and this stands as testimony against them.