December 16, 2015 - So many good, religious people are committed to a family religion. How many times do people say “my grandparents were _____, my parents were ______ and I will always be a ________.”
This attitude is nothing new, even the Jews of old had this same mind set. We read, “As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil” (Jer. 44:16-17).
You see, these people did not care what the prophet said. They did not care what the Lord said. What they cared about is the continuation of their family religion. But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, ...as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes,. But their family religion would be the end of them. “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows. 26 Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith Jehovah, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Jehovah liveth. 27 Behold, I watch over them for evil,and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them” (Jer. 44:25-27). A family religion could be your ruin.
Church email: northsidecoccenter@gmail.com
Evangelist George Parsley, Northside Church of Christ
