The reality of an idol is anything that betrays and opposes God’s holy will and grace—which are expressed in feeding, giving, caring, charity, and service, and in the love of the cross whereby we honor, cherish, and serve one another so that we may build within our hearts a temple suitable for salvation (the divine nature). Instead, idols chase after worldly and fleshly desires—longings for success, satisfactions called happiness, and cravings called hope—that bear only sin and greed. These have nothing to do with salvation; they are merely things of the world and of the flesh, created things, visible things, superficial values, and theoretical values that, in the end, only pile up sin and desire.
Types of idols
1. The sectarian heresy and idolatry that all believers must most vigilantly guard against and fear is the church-as-building and the altar that claim to be God’s temple.
Scripture clearly teaches us to worship God; there is no verse anywhere that teaches us to worship church buildings or altars. In fact, it teaches us not to serve church buildings and altars, because only by God’s holy Word can we attain salvation, and therefore salvation and resurrection cannot be obtained through church buildings or altars. We must make a clear and decisive judgment: does true salvation and faith arise from church buildings and altars, or from God and from doing according to His Word?
Accordingly, what all believers must beware of are the churches, altars, and shepherds who, in direct opposition to the content of the Word, deceive the saints with doctrines and teachings that lead them to serve the church-as-construction and the altar—which have nothing to do with salvation—in order to build more churches and bigger churches by stealing tithes and offerings that were established for the love of the cross: to feed, give, care, and, through charity and service, honor, cherish, and serve one another, all to satisfy their insatiable appetites and selfish ambitions.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.(Acts 2 : 44~47)
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.(Acts 4 : 32~35)
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.(Matthew 23 : 16~21)(Mark 12 : 38~40)
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.(Jeremiah 7 : 4~11)
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.(Matthew 21 : 13)
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.(Zechariah 5 : 4)
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.(Luke 21 : 5~6)
Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.(Amos 5 : 11)
They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.(Micah 3 : 10~12)
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.(Jude 1 : 17~19)
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.(Job 12 : 6)
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,(Romans 2 : 8)
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.(Galatians 5 : 19~21)
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.(1 Corinthians 10 : 32~33)
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.(Revelation 2 : 9)
God’s temple is in heaven. God sits on the throne within the heavenly temple and watches over us. Therefore, anyone who, under the pretext of “God’s temple,” builds a brick-and-mortar church is a heretic and is telling lies. God is the glory who is great, exalted, holy, honorable, and eternal—whom even the heavens cannot contain.
Today’s splendid and imposing brick-and-mortar churches have been built as means to gather more wealth and greater power—assembling many believers under the banner of the gospel in order to steal more tithes and offerings. Under the plausible pretext of “proclaiming God’s Word,” they burden the saints by disguising themselves with faith; these brick-and-mortar churches have long been used as the most convenient tool to covet the believers’ property and possessions. And the grandest pretext for stealing tithes and offerings—continuing to this very day—is these brick-and-mortar churches that Rome and modern Christianity boast of, soaring heaven-defyingly high to flaunt their own authority, exalt their power, and amass wealth.
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;(Acts 17 : 24~25)
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?(Isaiah 66 : 1)
But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?(Acts 7 : 47~50)
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.(Psalms 11 : 4)(Hebrews 8 : 1~5)
God does not and will never dwell inside a church made by human hands, because the everlasting glory of God cannot be contained by a perishable, brick-built church. If even heaven cannot contain the One who is great and exalted, how could this earth—His footstool, stained with sin—ever contain Him? You who call your buildings “the temple of God”! Do you dare to drag down the glory of the great and exalted God—whom even heaven cannot contain—onto this earth to exalt yourselves? Or is it to place God beneath your sins and assert your own supposed righteousness? God’s temple is in heaven and can never exist on this earth. The spread of brick-built churches today did not come down from the disciples of Jesus Christ, but has come to us from Judaism through the Roman Church to the present day, for the purpose of stealing more tithes and offerings. God recorded the collapse of Solomon’s brick temple in Scripture to warn all humanity.
Solomon’s fallen temple is a sign and testimony that no brick church established on this earth can ever contain the holy God. Thus, from the tabernacle in Moses’ day to the churches in Paul’s time, the gathering places of all the apostles—whether tabernacles, caves, the wilderness, or riverbanks—were simply places of assembly; there is no example anywhere in Scripture of calling them “the temple of God.” On the contrary, there is only the Lord Jesus Christ’s declaration that the brick-built temple founded upon offerings and tithes would later be torn down so that not one stone would be left upon another, and would be judged (Luke 21:5–6) (Zechariah 5:4) (Hosea 8:11–14) (Isaiah 10:1–4).
▼ Moses’s tabernacle church (Exodus 36:30–38:20) (Acts 7:44) (Hebrews 8:5)
▼ David’s tabernacle church (2 Samuel 6:17) (2 Chronicles 1:4–6) (Isaiah 16:5)
▼ Isaiah’s tabernacle church (Isaiah 54:2–3) (Isaiah 33:20–21)
▼ Jeremiah’s tabernacle church (Jeremiah 10:19–20)
▼ John’s wilderness church (Mark 1:1–5)
▼ Christ’s wilderness and mountain church (Hebrews 11:38) (John 2:8–21)
▼ Peter’s tabernacle church (early church)
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;(2 Peter 1 : 13)
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.(2 Peter 1 : 14)
▼ Paul’s tabernacle church (the early church)
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.(2 Corinthians 5 : 1)
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.(2 Corinthians 5 : 4)(Acts 18 : 1~3)
Thus, all the apostles’ churches were tabernacle churches, because they knew that the Holy One whom even heaven cannot contain cannot exist on this earth. Therefore, the Word plainly proves that brick-built churches are not churches handed down by the apostles of Christ.
The brick-built churches—founded to draw larger crowds in order to amass more self-interest, wealth, riches, and power by means of the tithes and offerings that should have fed the poor and needy—were created, from Judaism downward through the authorities of the Roman Church, by those powers. To quell resistance to the excessive taxation of the ruling empires and to exploit the peculiar characteristic of religion—absolute power and absolute obedience—they fashioned a religion under the pretext of God’s tithes and offerings, brick-and-mortar churches, worship services clad in plausible holiness and solemnity, and even a “cross,” all as instruments to plunder the wealth of every ruling nation. The abominable tradition that has continued for thousands of years testifies to this: the tithes and offerings of the Roman Church spread throughout the world are made to be gathered into Rome’s power, the Vatican.
Salvation is never granted to those who trust in perishable, man-made church buildings and altars. It springs only from a beautiful, God-like heart that follows the love of the cross—feeding, giving, caring, and, through charity and service, honoring, cherishing, and serving one another. Therefore, the temple of God is the temple of the heart, made God-like and fit to attain salvation.
2. To offer worship of material goods and sacrifices—worship that has already been abolished by the holy sacrificial blood of Christ—is to disgrace and deny the love, sacrifice, and blood of Christ, and to deny the holy will of the One who sent Him. Such people are heretics and idol-worshipers.
God’s purpose in making humankind was to make us children of God fit for salvation; for this purpose the Word, humankind, the Sabbath, and shepherds exist. Therefore He does not desire worship or incense offered by human hands, but desires the love that leads us to salvation. For this reason, the imperfect worship of former offerings was completely abolished by the perfect blood of Christ. Yet those who revived a “worship of theft” to steal the tithes and offerings meant for the flock, and those driven by greed to fill their bellies and selfish ambitions, have continued to this day to profane the worship of Christ’s blood with that thieving worship.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:(Hebrews 10 : 1~11)
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.(Hebrews 9 : 7~10)
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.(1 Corinthians 13 : 9~10)
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.(Galatians 3 : 23~29)
Worship (sacrifice) was instituted so that sins might be forgiven. Yet because the former worship of offerings could not grant the complete forgiveness of sins required to attain salvation, the love of the cross was sent to this earth. Therefore, by the single, once-for-all offering of Christ’s blood, the imperfect worship of sacrifices was abolished; and the love and sacrifice of the cross—sent so that we might truly be made children fit to reach the salvation of perfect forgiveness—are the perfect covenant, the true worship, the sign of salvation and resurrection, and the Way, the Truth, and the Life that we must surely walk.
However, today all religions and churches perform, according to their liturgies, the very worship that has already been abolished. This abolished worship was revived by Rome’s powers and emperors, under the pretext of Judaism’s worship(for theft), and used as a platform for their own influence and self-interest—passing through the Roman Church down to today’s Christianity. Thus all current forms of worship have become abominable pretexts and excuses devised to steal the tithes and offerings meant to feed the flock. For this reason, God holds everyone who participates in such worship accountable for sin, and this is how religions, churches, pastors, and congregants have come to be led by satanic and demonic spirits, with satanic “tongues” running rampant among them.
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.(Matthew 12 : 7)
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.(Matthew 9 : 13)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.(Hosea 6 : 6)
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.(Psalms 51 : 16~17)
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.(Isaiah 1 : 13~17)
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.(Psalms 40 : 6~8)
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.(Amos 5 : 21~22)
And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.(Hosea 2 : 13)
It is not the true gospel and faith that, through feeding, giving, and caring—through charity and service—pursue the love of the cross by which we honor, cherish, and love one another, building within us the temple of the heart (the divine nature) fit to attain salvation. Rather, these are abominable traditions and forms of worship tailored to stealing the tithes and offerings that should feed the poor and needy sheep; such worship and prayer are inevitably led by Satan. As a result, “satanic tongues” spread more and more in the churches, as if they were God’s tongues and gifts.
3. To serve and rely on a shepherd (a person) who does not teach the love of the cross—fit for salvation—expressed in honoring, cherishing, and serving one another through feeding, giving, and caring (charity and service), is heresy and idolatry.
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 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. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.(Matthew 23 : 2~12)
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 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 : 10~16)
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.(Romans 2 : 17~24)
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2 : 3~12)
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)
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.(Jeremiah 23 : 16~22)(Ezekiel 13 : 5~10)
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.(James 5 : 19~20)
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.(Jeremiah 23 : 17~22)
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.(Ephesians 4 : 13~16)
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)
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.(Luke 16 : 15)
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.(Luke 6 : 26)
All the Word, the truth, the Sabbath, tithes, offerings, prayer, gifts, faith, hope, and love exist so that—by cherishing, honoring, serving, and loving our brothers and sisters—we may grow in the divine nature that resembles the God who loves all, and thus become children fitted for salvation. Yet most believers serve pastors who, by justifying a thieving form of worship to satisfy their greedy appetites and selfish ambitions, pretend to be like God and induce the flock to render them unconditional, excessive loyalty and obedience as objects to be served and lorded over. In doing so they worship an idol that poses as God. To deify themselves as rulers-to-be-served, they discard the highest precept and supreme law—“serve God and your brothers with all your life,” which is fitting for salvation—and set up doctrines and teachings that oppose the Word, instructing people to serve only their own churches and altars so as to idolize themselves.
Under the pretext of being “God’s temple,” they erect church buildings to exalt themselves, using ever more offerings and tithes as tools to feed their insatiable greed and self-interest, turning believers into slaves. With glib speech and flattery they offer only lip service, while in reality they demand absolute rule, driving people into unconditional submission and blind obedience.
4. To seek and desire wealth, possessions, and affluence that have nothing to do with salvation is heresy and idolatry (serving God only in words, while in reality believing in order to obtain material things for one’s own success and happiness).
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(Matthew 6 : 24)
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6 : 31~33)(Luke 12 : 29~30)
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.(1 Timothy 6 : 9~10)
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.(Proverbs 23 : 4)
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;(Ephesians 5 : 3)
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; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.(1 Timothy 6 : 17~19)
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.(Psalms 115 : 4)(Psalms 135 : 15)
Most pastors and believers who try to serve God together with the world and material things, in reality, hold a “faith,” “religion,” “prayer,” “Christ,” and even a “God” that exist to fulfill and satisfy their worldly desires—longings for success, satisfactions called happiness, and cravings. Because most people believe in God while chasing greedy ideals, plans, and wishes that produce only their own sin and greed, they end up worn out and stained in a vicious cycle: even if they constantly regret and reflect, they turn back and commit sin again. It is a treadmill-like, stationary faith that cannot advance—an impoverished and wearisome religious life that declines from the devotion they had at first. Most churches are full of satanic “tongues,” led by the gods of greed through prayers that are stuffed with selfish desire under the pretext of God’s will.
Prayers led by Satan and demons—who masquerade as God, or as Christ, or as angels—have one thing in common: they ask for things that have nothing to do with salvation, things that perish. To the one who seeks material wealth comes the god of material wealth; to the one who seeks greed comes the god of greed; to the one who seeks worldly things comes the god of the world; to the one who seeks carnal lust comes the god of lust; to the one who harbors hatred comes the god of hatred. Therefore we are told to leave the church where there is envy, jealousy, strife, hatred, falsehood, lust, and pride—because the Spirit of God and of Christ, who bears the love of the cross fitting for salvation, is not there. Thus, a church that puts forward worship and traditions that steal tithes and offerings—teaching only words and theories—instead of forming the divine nature of the love of the cross through feeding, giving, and caring, through charity and service that honor, cherish, and serve one another, is inevitably a place where Satan will work.
5. The greatest idol and heresy that have nothing to do with salvation are ultimately the yearning for and petitioning after the things of the world (the things of the earth) that produce only sin and greed. (These are “faiths” and “religions” that exist to satisfy worldly desires—longings for success, satisfactions, and cravings—of those who try to serve God together with the world and material things; they pursue the longings, satisfactions, and cravings that belong to the world and the flesh.)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.(1 John 2 : 15~17)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.(James 4 : 3~4)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:(Colossians 3 : 2~5)
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:(Philippians 3 : 19~20)
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.(Proverbs 17 : 24)
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.(Luke 9 : 62)
Those who have become corrupted by trying to serve God together with the world and with material things tell people to “ask for anything.” But “ask for anything” was spoken to true Christians who do not seek the things of the world, not to those who belong to the world and the flesh. Whoever belongs to the world and the flesh—no matter who they are—is an adversary of God, an enemy, a heretic, a Gentile, an antichrist. This is because a person who harbors the greed of serving God alongside the world and material things can never obtain salvation that follows the love of the cross, which sacrifices everything—even one’s life. Therefore, the Word said “cast off the things of the world and the flesh,” “put to death the members of the flesh,” and “cast off the deeds of the body.”
All beliefs that belong to the world and the flesh inevitably fall back into sin according to self-interest, even while regretting it—because such a life is not one of self-sacrifice. Thus, according to self-interest, envy, jealousy, hatred, falsehood, strife, hatred and pride are repeated. For this reason, leave any church where there is strife, because it is not a church that teaches and learns the love of the cross that leads to salvation. Leave quickly any church that teaches and trains people to seek the things of the world!
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 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.(Romans 16 : 17~19)
This passage speaks of the shepherds who steal the tithes and offerings—established to feed, give to, and care for the poor and needy saints—to fill their own bellies and selfish ambitions, and who teach by putting forward only flattering words and theories that deceive the eyes and ears of the believers. Leave quickly before the Day of Judgment arrives. The way of salvation can never arise from the thieving churches spread throughout the world.
6. To rely on family, lineage, carnal desire, and one’s worldly life is heresy and idolatry. (Do not rely on your family, parents, brothers and sisters, children, husband, or wife.)
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.(Jeremiah 17 : 5)
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.(1 Corinthians 15 : 50)
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.(Psalms 146 : 3~4)
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.(Matthew 10 : 34~38)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.(Luke 14 : 26~27)
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.(Pslams 38 : 11)
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.(2 Timothy 2 : 3~4)
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.(1 Corinthians 7 : 8~9)(1 Corinthians 7 : 32~40)
Because the love of Christ—loving all people as our own selves by honoring, cherishing, and serving one another through feeding, giving, and caring (charity and service) with tithes and offerings—has been lost due to a thieving form of worship, people now put forward the worldly banner of “family happiness and harmony,” which subtly opposes the Word, and they call it a “small church.” This is an idol—an enemy set against the content of the Word—devised to excuse the love of the cross that is fitting for salvation. They have taken tithes and offerings—which God established so that we might feed, give, care for one another, and practice the love of the cross by mutually serving, cherishing, and helping one another—and shamelessly and boldly turned them into something to be stolen. To justify this theft, they crafted doctrines and teachings elevating ‘family’ that worldly people and worldly Christians would easily sympathize with.
The fundamental reason Catholicism exalts Mary is precisely to rationalize a pretext for drawing out motherhood, human affection, carnal desire, lineage, and family. All humanity and many believers have been deceived by this sophisticated stratagem that fronts a familiar pretext to people. Salvation can never be achieved by carnal desire, human affection, lineage, or maternal love. Thus, in Catholicism the Holy Mother becomes an angel, a messenger, the Christ, and even God. How truly tragic it is that, for the sake of theft, they have perverted the entire content of the Word and teach things that oppose it! Such are the religions, churches, pastors, and believers destined for judgment.
7. To rely on and believe in human thought (one’s own wisdom, assertions, judgments, drive, certainty, pride, and heart) is heresy and idolatry (for human thoughts are guile, deceit, and vanity that inevitably become enemies and adversaries of God).
The idol and heresy that people find hardest to cast off are their own thoughts, judgments, and standards, because from childhood they have belonged to the world and become accustomed to measuring and judging by worldly fundamentals. All human judgments and standards are skewed toward self-interest and advantage; therefore, true equity, faithfulness, justice, and righteousness cannot fully exist in them, and one cannot possess a wholly right standard, a right judgment, or a right center. For this reason, the Word exists—to grant us the right standard, judgment, and center.
From childhood, belonging to the world, people make themselves the standard, they themselves judge, they themselves decide, they take pride in themselves, and trust themselves. Thus they depart from the Word and become its adversaries and enemies, believing in a self-exaltation born of their own drive and certainty. The chief reason people cannot escape vain faith and the detestable, empty sermons and teachings of men is precisely because they lack the trust and faith to judge, measure, compare, reflect, and center everything upon the Word. To trust the Word is to trust God; to believe the Word is to believe God; to keep and do the Word is to keep and do God’s will. Therefore, one’s own thoughts and judgments are the greatest foe; one’s own assertions and self-exaltation are the greatest pride; one’s own drive and certainty are the most fearful Satan; one’s own wisdom and understanding are the greatest enemy. What we must most vigilantly guard against and fear is exactly this: making oneself the object of trust, the standard, and the center.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.(Romans 8 : 6~7)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.(Romans 1 : 21~23)
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.(2 Corinthians 10 : 12)
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.(Romans 14 : 22~23)
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.(Pslams 17 : 9~10)
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!(Isaiah 5 : 21)
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.(Proverbs 3 : 7)
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.(Proverbs 3 : 5)
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.(Romans 12 : 16)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.(Proverbs 18 : 2)
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.(Proverbs 28 : 26)
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.(Romans 11 : 18~22)
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.(Psalms 36 : 2~4)
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.(1 Corinthians 3 : 18~20)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.(1 Corinthians 2 : 9)
From childhood, people set their standards on judgments centered on the benefits of bodily pleasure, delight, and comfort; therefore true justice, faithfulness, equity, and righteousness are lacking. Thus, thinking that has been trained to pursue one’s own advantage according to self-interest is the devil’s law (deceit) and the devil’s thought. The flesh is the chain of sin given by the devil—his garment. Consequently, from childhood we are children of the devil (children of sinners), and in the flesh there is death (John 8:44) (Genesis 8:21) (2 Corinthians 12:7). Therefore: put to death the members of the flesh; cast off the deeds of the body; deny yourself; die to yourself. Humanity’s greatest foe, adversary, heresy, and idol is none other than one’s own self.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.(2 Timothy 3 : 2~5)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.(Romans 12 : 2~3)
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.(Proverbs 1 : 28~33)
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.(Psalms 119 : 116~118)
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.(Psalms 120 : 2~4)(Psalms 119 : 116~118)(Psalms 119 : 116~118)
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.(Psalms 4 : 2~3)
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.(Psalms 119 : 155)
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.(Proverbs 28 : 9)
8. To seek and petition for human desires, hopes, and ideals based on what is seen is heresy and idolatry (everything visible and worldly that one longs for is an idol).
All who do not practice faith, hope, love, and prayer that build the temple of the heart—God’s likeness (the divine nature)—by following the love of the cross fitting for salvation are, in short, idol-worshipers and heretics. Those who chase hopes, ideals, and wishes grounded in visible, worldly things will inevitably pile up only sin and greed according to self-interest; such faith is vain, such a church is profane, such shepherds are abominable, and such believers are foolish.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.(2 Corinthians 4 : 18)
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.(Romans 8 : 24~25)
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.(Ecclesiastes 6 : 9)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.(Hebrews 11 : 1~3)
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.(Eccelesiastes 2 : 22~23)
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.(Ecclesiastes 11 : 8)
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.(Ecclesiastes 5 : 7)
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.(Ecclesiastes 5 : 10)
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.(1 Timothy 6 : 9~10)
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.(Proverbs 23 : 5)
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!(Isaiah 5 : 8)
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.(James 5 : 1~3)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.(James 4 : 3~4)
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.(Romans 1 : 21~25)
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.(1 John 2 : 15~17)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.(Matthew 6 : 24)
9. To desire and seek anything of the world and the flesh—created things and daily bread that are merely superficial values and have nothing to do with salvation—is heresy and idolatry (e.g., material goods, wealth, daily bread, the body, etc.).
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.(Romans 1 : 21~25)
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(Romans 8 : 18~23)
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Luke 12 : 29~31)(Matthew 6 : 31~32)
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.(Hebrews 13 : 9)
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.(John 6 : 26~27)
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
(Romans 2 : 6~8)
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. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.(1 Corinthians 6 : 12~13)
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.(Romans 14 : 7)
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.(Proverbs 25 : 27)
God did not create humankind on this earth so that people could eat well and live comfortably. He created us so that, as children of God, we might enjoy eternal glory. Therefore, so that humans may become children of God, He established the Word, faith, hope, love, shepherds, apostles, and even Christ Himself—to form within us the divine nature, the very character of God that we must possess. For this reason, God, the source and foundation of love, sent to this earth the love of the cross, the sign of salvation and resurrection. Thus, the love of the cross is our eternal covenant, the way we must walk, the truth, and the life.
Accordingly, to seek and desire all perishable, worldly created things and daily bread is what the Gentiles do; it is heresy and idolatry. God hears only the prayers of those who seek the love of the cross—becoming like God in a way fitting for salvation—whereas those who reject God’s holy will and pray for their own greedy desires are profane. By seeking greed, they serve idols through which the god of greed operates, and God counts them as sin.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.(1 Corinthians 10 : 23~24)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.(1 Corinthians 10 : 31~33)
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;(1 Corinthians 13 : 3~5)
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.(Psalms 24 : 3~4)
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; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.(1 Timothy 6 : 17~19)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.(2 Corinthians 9 : 8~9)
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.(Psalms 112 : 6~9)
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.(Proverbs 14 : 31)
He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.(Proverbs 19 : 16~17)