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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: STRETCH (04/08/21)
When things are stretched to limits beyond what they were intended to cover, the appearance, quality, and end result of the project is compromised. The same can be said of truth and Scripture.

At times, in order to make the stretched thing fit, additives are incorporated into the original material or recipe.

The result is an end product that is watered down or too much of one ingredient spoiling the outcome. When taken to an extreme end, the end result is uselessness (Matt. 15: 9).

"But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the (added) precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB parentheses mine).’”

In context, in Matt. 15: 9 Jesus was speaking to and about the many (Mark 7: 13 ) accumulated "additions" (teachings and practices) that the Pharisees had brought into the Judaism over the years.

Temple priests of the Old Testament and religious priests of the Church Age were/are meticulous when it came/comes to compliance with the mechanics of worship and rituals.

But religious rituals that fail to connect with what they symbolically represent (Heb. 10: 5/1Cor. 11: 24, 25) are not what God desires.

Our acts of self-rightiousness (traditions of men, good deeds, good behavior) are no more than filthy garments (Isa. 64: 6), as far as securing salvation is concerned (Titus 3: 5).Such things are held in high esteem in the eyes of "religious" people, but are detestable in the eyes of God (Luke 16: 15).

"And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that (traditions of men) which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God (Luke 16: 15 NASB parentheses mine)."

Initially, the Pharisees had good intentions in that they wanted to preserve the integrity and application of the The (Old Testament) Law. But by adding to The Law (Deut. 12: 32/Prov. 30: 6), it got to the point that they and their followers (Matt. 15: 14) could not see the forest for the trees.

They could not see God when He was literally standing in front of them. Instead of being the One who came to fulfill The Law (Matt. 5: 17), they perceived Him to be The Law breaker.

Think of the bull's eye in center of a target representing the unadulterated Gospel Message and/or accurate Bible doctrine. Each additional ring representing add-on requirements of Man. As more rings are added, one drifts further away from the bulls eye.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the deliverance from evil (Matt. 6: 13).

ANY teaching or accompanying ritual/practice that is an afront to the unadulterated Gospel Message or runs contrary to accurate Bible Doctrine is EVIL.

Evil, unlike sin, is not so easily identified. Evil can include good (human) deeds and religious rituals when such good deeds, rituals, and traditions of men are elevated and promoted as having equality with divine activity, or as necessary additives to what only God could do, did do, is doing, and will do for the people of faith.

Pharisaical opposition to the Gospel Message did not end with crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Prior to being born again, the man we now know as the Apostle Paul, was Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisees (Phil. 3:8). Saul was among the Pharisees who believed his/their God-given responsibility was to destroy the newly forming Church of Christ.

After being born again, he considered his former "highly-coveted "accomplishments" rubbish in comparison to his newly found personal relationship with God through faith in Christ.

Satan had and has many other individuals and groups WITHIN and outside of the Christian Community that have rejected, disputed, diminished, added to, taken from, both the unadulterated Gospel Message and Church Age doctrine by adding on rings of their own.

I believe that we are in the home stretch of the Church Age and the race is almost won. Our individual opportunity to participate could be over today (2Tim. 4: 7)!

The good news is that God has provided us with what will be a photo finish (Rev. 20-22), but can only be seen through eyes of faith.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Louis Detweiler 
04/17/21
The challenge was hard to follow. The writing was good but the challange didn't flow. It was cumbersome and broken up in pieces. There were kernels of truth in the writing but the nuggets didn't connect into a comprehensive essay or story.
Laurie Kiel 
04/20/21
I think you have some important kernels of truth in this article. Hone in on the message you want to convey and take care out other good points that aren’t zeroed into that topic and put them into a different article. Evil is a very strong word and I do believe there is much evil but I would use the word carefully. The scripture references wee a little confusing because of how they were scattered. Keep writing you have a great heart for God’s truth and love of His word.