The 'church' as an institution is full of many different traditions, theologies and doctrines which have been handed down through the centuries from generation to generation. Within the mainstream church, there are many different denominations (45,000) that believe in very different things.
If we look at the word 'tradition', it signifies handing something over or laying it into one's hands. Traditions are taught by the individual who receives them, and often, the recipient accepts them without question and with confidence. After that, they adopt the customs in good faith without ever wondering where they came from.
Pastors are either trained by the leaders of the denomination they have chosen to join or at Bible colleges. They faithfully teach what they have been taught and what they think is true. As their 'flock', the believers listen to them and have faith that they are credible and knowledgeable about what they are teaching.
In Matthew Chapter 15 Verses 8-9, Yahushua came against the Pharisees' traditions that they had inherited from their captivity in Babylon. He said:
"These people respect me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as teachings the doctrines of men."
He knew that the Pharisees cared more about their traditions—the man-made customs and the oral laws—and that they cared more about their outward appearance to others, rather than having hearts turned towards the Father and His commands. If our Messiah was warning the believers then, how much more should we be on our guard 2000 years later?
"And the great dragon was thrown out, that serpent of old called the devil and Satan, who leads all the world astray."
It states that the Adversary leads ALL the world astray. With this in mind, we must test everything that we hear and are taught.
"O YaHuWaH, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the end of the earth and say, 'Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.' Would a man make gods for himself, which are not gods? Therefore, see, I am causing them to know; this time I cause them to know My hand and My Might. And they shall know that My Name is YaHuWaH."
The Roman Catholic Church was born. Constantine invested a great deal of money in the new faith, erecting churches and appointing church fathers to instruct the populace in its practices. To exert control over the populace, the Roman Catholic Church exploited the newly established religion.
Christianity and its various denominations emerged from this. Scripture was translated into Latin so that only priests could read it to the populace in an effort to keep them under control. Although the church regulated which books may be included in the Bible, the texts were finally translated into English.
There were 80 books in the first edition, published in 1611. Due to the deceit of the Roman Church, which the Adversary/Satan has utilised to fool the entire world, the majority of people are unaware of the names of our Father, YaHuWaH, and his Son, Yahushua. 'God', 'Lord', and the false name 'Jesus' have taken the place of the names of the Father and the Son in our English Scriptures.
The letter 'J' is less than 500 years old. Therefore, Jesus could not have been the name given to the Messiah two thousand years ago. It is undeniable from ancient Hebrew writings that the names YaHuWaH and Yahushua—often shortened to Y'shua—were the names that were used. The Jesuits propagated the name 'Jesus', which alludes to the pagan god 'Zeus', throughout the world. And isn't it intriguing that we currently have a Jesuit pope?
Yahushua the Messiah, the only begotten Son of YahuWaH, was believed and preached by the true apostles. They proclaimed Yahushua, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. From the start of His ministry until His death and resurrection, they were by His side (Acts 1:21-26).
They followed the Law / Torah and its commandments exactly as they had seen Yahushua do, and they taught others to do the same (Matthew 5:17–20; Matthew 28:20). Everywhere they went they preached the true Gospel message of repentance and turning away from sin (lawlessness).
In these last days, with time running short, each one of us has a choice to make: will we follow after the traditions and lies that have been handed down through generations, or will we choose to worship our Creator in spirit and in truth? The choice is ours...