Religious confusion

One of the first problems that you run into when teaching others is the fact of religious confusion. There are many churches now that offer entertainment, wealth seminars, family fun days, etc. When men decide to leave the God’s pattern, they make their own rules. The Proverb writer says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

In Leviticus 10:1-2, Moses recorded a sad occasion when two priests decided to go their own way: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” It was a stiff penalty that was paid for violating God’s holy will.

Uzzah was another one who, although extremely sincere, died because he violated the command of God. In 2 Samuel 6, David was transporting the ark of the covenant improperly when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady it. God struck him dead because he violated the command to not touch it (vs. 6). It’s not that God loves killing people, but that He wants men to live by His word (Ezekiel 33:11; Matthew 4:4).

Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:1-2). We appreciate and applaud the zeal of anyone who wants to please God, but zeal for God cannot overcome ignorance of God. Confusion exists because people either honestly don’t know God or they willfully don’t want to know Him. Either way, it will be judged in the end of time. Don’t be one who will come short at the judgment (Romans 14:11-12).

Kyle Campbell