Unsatisfactory Religion
by: Keith Camp



   Is it possible to be satisfied with an UNsatisfactory religion? Yes! Consider the apostle Paul who "in his former conduct in Judaism persecuted the church of God" (Galatians 1:13). Before he learned that God was 
NOT satisfied with his religious practice, Paul was content in doing "many things contrary to the name of Jesus" (Acts 26:9). What about you? Could you, like Paul, be satisfied with a religion that is not satisfactory with God?

   And isn't that what we should REALLY be concerned about? Instead of asking, "AM I satisfied?", shouldn't the question be, "Is GOD satisfied?" 
(see Galatians 1:10).

   How can we know whether or not our religion is satisfactory with God? 
Simple. Open the New Testament and compare your faith and practice, keeping this Divine admonition in mind: "Whosoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God, He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). Or as Paul, speaking of himself and another preacher, put it: "...Learn from us not to go beyond what is written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). And if you do not find 
what YOU presently believe and practice in "the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2), GIVE IT UP! For anything more or less is "self-made religion" (Colossians 2:23) and IS unsatisfactory with God (see Matthew 7:21-23 & 15:9).

   A good place for everyone to start in determining if God is pleased with their faith and practice, is to search the Bible for the NAME of the church where they worship? Feel free to call on us to help you with that search. And if we together are unable to find it... Well, since there isn't scripture that proves God is satisfied with membership in a church NOT found in the His word, we will be happy to give you the Scriptures which tell us of God's satisfaction with, among other things, the name "church of Christ" (see Romans 16:16)

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