The “Sacred Cows” of Religion

        The “sacred cows” are the excuses and compromises that religion has tagged onto either God’s Words or the application of the Word, thereby robbing it of its power and effect. They are the doctrines that quench the Spirit of God! 

        They’re the “holy cows” of religiosity that keep the hungry christians from getting to the meat of OBEYING the discipline of Jesus. They’re the specific creeds, interpretations or dogmas that Christian denominations have that dilute or pollute the Word and thereby keep the believers from truly following the Words of Jesus. 

        No one in history manifested more love than Jesus. He had compassion everywhere He went, whether for the sick, the oppressed, the hungry, the social outcast, the sinners, the captives, even the demonized. One man’s soul was worth more to Him than the price of a whole herd of swine. But on the other hand, He burnt with anger against the religious, judgmental attitudes that led people to hell with practices, doctrines and traditions and commercialization of the Temple (see Mt 21:13). 

        Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, and their self-righteousness and He warned people not to follow what they do. Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod’ (Mk 8:15). The leaven of the Pharisees was their false teachings and the leaven of Herod is ‘political correctness’. The war is against the blinded eyes of man and what truly frees us; the truth of God. “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free“ (Jn 8:32). 

        The “Church” is supposed to be the body of Christ –a body of believers! Not a building, and not a religious denomination. The church is the fellowship of those who adhere to DOING the teachings of Jesus. But Satan has infiltrated many churches and for Christians to say, “oh yes, I go to church” is not sufficient to define your discipleship.

        Religion tries to find ways NOT to OBEY the Word and in the process they develop excuses, man-made doctrines and traditions. Jesus said, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Mt 15:3).  Excuses will weaken, dilute or pollute the truth, but truth has the power to refute lies. 

        The Pharisees kept trying to find Jesus at fault “that they might have something of which to accuse Him “. It says, “The Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him“. They would say such things as: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”. (Jn 8:6, Lk 6:7, Mt 19:3, Mt 9:19)

        It is usually the NON-DOERS who will try to make it hard on the DOERS, sadly because of envy. “And as He said these things to them, the Scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him” (Lk 11:53-54). “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.” (Jn 11:47). “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him” (Lk 16:14).

        Jesus had to expose them, not out of hatred or spite, but because of the wrong sample they portrayed. Jesus said, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me’. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt 15:6b-9). “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness”. (Lk 11:39)

        That is why it is so important for Christians to know the Word and be DOERS of the Word. It is in the DOING that we receive the full blessings and freedom. “If you abide in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you FREE.” You can only know the truth if you OBEY it.  We are to live in His Word and live it out, both! 

        There’s so much compromise and pollution in churches that Christians have become weak and anemic. If your church is not adhering to the Word of God, teaching the Word, and having a harvest-full of testimonies from OBEYING the Word, then find a different church or follow Bible teachers online that have fruits such as HEALING, training disciples, and witnessing the Gospel. We are to be a LIGHT to the world. 

        (If YOU are a DOER, you could also stay in that church to SHINE your light and bring in more Truth. Or best, find a group of true believers and meet regularly to encourage each other to live Christ is you and triumph in destroying the works of the devil. People should be able to see Jesus living through you.)

        This is not about any particular churches or denominations, but about YOU being a dedicated follower and disciple of Jesus. It’s about YOU bearing FRUIT and standing strong during this time in world history when the world is growing stronger against Christianity. Christians need to learn NOW the right doctrine in order to stand.

        Here are samples of manipulation and wrong doctrines that should never take place in churches:

  • Constant appeal for money and administering guilt if you’re not giving.
  • “You’ll receive healing or will be blessed according to how much you give“.
  • Ministering fear of being “out of God’s will” if you should leave this church.
  • Demand for unquestioning loyalty towards leadership.
  • People speaking in tongues and “interpreting” them to manipulate people.
  • Controlling people by long imposing prayers.
  • Charismatic fortune telling: people prophesying flattering words and divination.
  • Sexual seduction by elders using their “anointing” to draw attraction.
  • God’s the One afflicting you to teach you lessons. 
  • Everything that happens to you is God’s will, because He’s sovereign.

        Paul said, “It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God” (2 Corinthians 1:12).

        No wonder that Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution and so did Paul when he reminded Timothy, “Yea, and all who will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (1Tim 3:12). It comes with being a DOER.