ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries

by Shawn Brasseaux
Published in The (Opelousas, Louisiana) Daily World

In recent years and months, decades-old cases involving pedophile priests have been manifested. Many church members wonder, “Is this really the same church of the New Testament? Are such people really servants of the Lord?” After all, those dear children were violated. If your kids are not safe at church, then where are they safe?

Cover-ups and pay-offs make the matter further appalling. Apologies have come years later only because the guilty were caught. Broken-hearted people are justifiably angry, but they should not be angry with God. Religion is man’s idea and man’s institution, not God’s. As someone once said, “Religion is a heavenly way to hell,” and I give a hearty, “Amen!” Be angry at religion, not God.

Study Matthew chapter 23. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke more about corrupt religious leaders than about anyone else. He condemned organized religion and formalism (vain rituals and ceremonies). Why? According to God, Satan is clever because he works in the place where you would least expect—religion. The Bible says in Matthew 7:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 that God is not the source of all good deeds. Satan does pretty well by doing his own “good deeds,” too. Something may appear righteous, but it is not necessarily of God.

If you would permit me the liberty, I would urge you to consider the truth of the Bible. Exercise extreme caution with regards to church leaders, and gauge their teaching by 1 Corinthians 14:37 and a King James Bible rightly divided. Beware of those that “have the form of godliness, but deny the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). Religion will send more people to hell than anything else. The devil works hard in bars and on the streets, but his main target is those poor unsuspecting people in churches.

There are many dear people, good and sincere religious people, but they are people nonetheless. People by nature are sinners, God says in His Holy Word. No church, denomination, or religion will ever provide everlasting life and eternal forgiveness of sins. This is why God sent His Son to shed His blood, die for our sins, and be raised from the dead for our justification! Trust in Christ today alone for salvation and beware of church corruption!