Christian Masons???

reply to post by LowLevelMason


As a proclaiming christian, you should be aware of the teaching that God's children are not all mankind, but only those who have accepted His son Jesus as their redeemer. You should also be aware of the teaching that we are to be in the World, yet not be a part of it.

The bible i read, is the (Old) King James Version, which, believe it or not, states that the God i serve is the Creator of all things. Your little GAOTU only drew up the plans for one universe. Who was the Builder? My God created that which is past this universe, also - called heaven and hell, angels and devils. Going on its name, it seems that GAOTU got so caught up in one universe, it could not draw up the plans for anything else.

Currently, i would rather see people sincerely proclaim with their heart and mouth, that they trust in God, than see it as a slogan on a piece of paper. And of course, that they do not commit what is called "harlotry" in the bible, with "foreign gods" - those little devils that got cast into the mould chipped out by the early mason, to set their own god in the place of the Creator. You clearly do not know Who or What God is.

So where does the bible teach that christians are to call on one god with other religions? I clearly recall the part where it is written, not to have anything to do with the worship of devils.

Which is what you partake in when you call on or teach of GAOTU.

Last time i checked, God's Name is YHWH. I AM.

As for the last paragraph: No rage. No anger. No hatred. Just a sadness for people who claim to know God, yet share their worship with religions devised from satan.

As for the Judgement: i stated that no unrepentant Freemason shall enter heaven, if they knew the truth before becoming a mason, or learned of it while in the craft.

You read what you do not want to. But the Return of Jesus is drawing closer, and the World still has not heard the gospel.

While those who know it, either seem to want to hold it with themselves, or they attempt for a form of Worldly peace, going into truce with foreign gods that completely oppose the teaching that Jesus is the only Way to the Father.

Why is it necessary to join a lodge to do good to others? Why not let the christians come together and do the good?

As for the boats: i am glad that the NSRI has those boats. And that they were sponsored. But why would it need to be called anything Freemason, if not as an advertisement for the craft?

And contrary to what some charismatics teach, Jesus and satan did not become one.

reply to post by J.Smit


OK if only those who accept Christ are God's children, who's kids are all the rest of the people?

We are all God's children, created by Him and loved by Him.

Christ taught us that we are to love one another and to love Him above all.

As a proclaiming christian, you should be aware of the teaching that God's children are not all mankind, but only those who have accepted His son Jesus as their redeemer. You should also be aware of the teaching that we are to be in the World, yet not be a part of it.

God created all of mankind. He's also fairly intelligent. Based on people's reactions to each other, it'd be deluded to believe that only one particular religion or denomination would be followed for eternity. Ever religion has and will change over time.
Open your mind a bit and see the God of all, instead of the God of You.

reply to post by emsed1


Sadly, this is a hard thing to say. But all mankind falls short of the glory of God, and therefore cannot go to the Father except for accepting Jesus as their Saviour.

Only those who accepted Him, have He given the authority to be called children of God.

As for those who oppose Him, they are children of the devil. Those include all religions, also atheism, that do not accept Jesus as the Son of God and as God who came in the flesh.

Those who have not heard the gospel, are to be judged according to their laws; those who have heard it, shall first be judged on whether or not they accepted His sacrifice on Golgotha; and those who did, only then on their deeds.

The road to heaven is hard, the highway to hell is an autobahn.

Originally posted by J.Smit
The bible i read, is the (Old) King James Version, which, believe it or not, states that the God i serve is the Creator of all things. Your little GAOTU only drew up the plans for one universe. Who was the Builder? My God created that which is past this universe, also - called heaven and hell, angels and devils. Going on its name, it seems that GAOTU got so caught up in one universe, it could not draw up the plans for anything else.

Translation: Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyaaaahhhh, Nyah, my Gods better then your God.

So where does the bible teach that christians are to call on one god with other religions? I clearly recall the part where it is written, not to have anything to do with the worship of devils.

So Jews, Muslims, Zoroastrians and other monothiestic peoples are worshipping the Devil?

Last time i checked, God's Name is YHWH. I AM.

That is one of many and is not even close to being the oldest.

As for the last paragraph: No rage. No anger. No hatred. Just a sadness for people who claim to know God, yet share their worship with religions devised from satan.

If there were indeed a Satan it would seem that your bigotry towards others beliefs would be right in line with his teachings.

You read what you do not want to. But the Return of Jesus is drawing closer...

Is that so.....

Why is it necessary to join a lodge to do good to others? Why not let the christians come together and do the good?

Because certain ones, such as yourself, do not want all Christians to 'come together', not unless they prescribe to your rigorous interpretation of the Bible.



[edit on 27-10-2008 by AugustusMasonicus]

reply to post by RuneSpider


Trust me, God is a job i would not even attempt to apply for. There is not "God of You," nor "God of Me."

There is one God, the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. Those who call on the Son, shall be acceptable to the Father. Those who reject the Son, reject the Father who hath sent Him. Those who continually reject Him (for He Himself, proclaimed that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, a person shall be judged guilty or innocent; therefore, as He is Justice also, He shall make sure that you have at least two chances to accept or reject, if you have heard the gospel) shall eventually grieve the Holy Ghost, and then have no forgiveness left.

reply to post by AugustusMasonicus


Excuse me, this was a reply to LowLevelMason, mainly on the topic of christianity. As you are not one, please leave this topic to LLM.

Thank you.

reply to post by J.Smit

Friend, you attack one person's beliefs, you attack the beliefs of their friends.
Expect replies from everyone.
You have a very narrow idea of God, and expect everyone to share it or be damned. Again, expect replies.

Originally posted by J.Smit

Excuse me, this was a reply to LowLevelMason, mainly on the topic of christianity. As you are not one, please leave this topic to LLM.

As this is a forum open to the public I will reply to what to what I choose. If you do not care for this tact then perhaps you should refrain from posting or endeavor to answer the questions.

J Smit - you type things in a way as to be intentionally inflammatory and condescending, so really, I hope anyone that wants to replies to you does so. Thanks for your good points, Augustus.

Originally posted by J.Smit
As a proclaiming christian, you should be aware of the teaching that God's children are not all mankind, but only those who have accepted His son Jesus as their redeemer. You should also be aware of the teaching that we are to be in the World, yet not be a part of it.

You should also be aware of the teachings that its is not up to you to sit in judgment against people - particularly those for whom you sit in judgment without evidence - God does the judging, not you.

Originally posted by J.Smit
The bible i read, is the (Old) King James Version, which, believe it or not, states that the God i serve is the Creator of all things. Your little GAOTU only drew up the plans for one universe. Who was the Builder? My God created that which is past this universe, also - called heaven and hell, angels and devils. Going on its name, it seems that GAOTU got so caught up in one universe, it could not draw up the plans for anything else.

I've got news for you buddy. The King James Bible is not the best translation of the Hebrew or Greek of the Bible. It is actually among the worst translations available. Jesus Christ, nor any of the disciples, nor any other person in the Bible never used the word God in their lifetime. They called god by many names, so many that I can't possibly type them all out. In the old testament itself God is called several times El Roi, El Elyon, El Shaddai, El Bethel, Elohim, and countless other names. The God of the Bible has no problem being called by a multitude of names, and the Grand Architect of the Universe is just another name for God.

Perhaps your God is too weak and feeble to design anything and is only good for manual labor. Thats fine, that is your God and I hope you enjoy worshiping it. However, my God is the God of the Bible and is capable of designing the universe and simply speaking it into existence - no manual labor required. I suggest you read genesis, as it does not contain the God your making up.

Originally posted by J.Smit
Currently, i would rather see people sincerely proclaim with their heart and mouth, that they trust in God, than see it as a slogan on a piece of paper. And of course, that they do not commit what is called "harlotry" in the bible, with "foreign gods" - those little devils that got cast into the mould chipped out by the early mason, to set their own god in the place of the Creator. You clearly do not know Who or What God is.

Good for you. I hope you shall then be content in casting down all the great heroes of the Old and New Testament, who wrote down the names of God - since its just a slogan on a piece of paper.

You have created your own God that you worship, and thats fine. I worship the God of the Bible.

Originally posted by J.Smit
So where does the bible teach that christians are to call on one god with other religions? I clearly recall the part where it is written, not to have anything to do with the worship of devils.

As no one is calling on god with other religions, exactly why does this matter? And is your God so weak and incompetent that he cannot be called when others are around?

Originally posted by J.Smit
Which is what you partake in when you call on or teach of GAOTU.

Ah, for ignorance is bliss for you is it not? GAOTU is a name for God, among millions of other names. When I use it I refer to the God of the Bible, for he is worthy of being the Architect of the Universe - as indeed the Bible says he is. Your god, as I can see, is too weak and incapable of such praise.

Originally posted by J.Smit
Last time i checked, God's Name is YHWH. I AM.

Then perhaps you should actually read the Bible: Because there are in that book alone at least 50+ names for God, and God never once says "Dont call me that!"

Originally posted by J.Smit
As for the last paragraph: No rage. No anger. No hatred. Just a sadness for people who claim to know God, yet share their worship with religions devised from satan.

You are filled with unrighteous and indignant hatred because you do not understand what you say and you worship a weak God. I will pray that God will remove the scales from your eyes and that you will finally see the God of the Bible, and not worship whatever devil spirit it is that you worship who is incapable of doing anything.

Originally posted by J.Smit
As for the Judgement: i stated that no unrepentant Freemason shall enter heaven, if they knew the truth before becoming a mason, or learned of it while in the craft.

And so you sit in judgment against something you know nothing about and cast into hell those who you have never known. I guess your god is too weak to do the judging so you must do it for him? That is fine. My God, who is the God of the Bible, has said that he shall judge all and his word offers nothing in condemnation of freemasonry.

Originally posted by J.Smit
You read what you do not want to. But the Return of Jesus is drawing closer, and the World still has not heard the gospel.

Then why aren't you going out and spreading it instead of condemning Christians to hell because you have no idea what your talking about? Perhaps if you actually read the Bible instead of preaching from it, you might see the error of your ways.

Originally posted by J.Smit
While those who know it, either seem to want to hold it with themselves, or they attempt for a form of Worldly peace, going into truce with foreign gods that completely oppose the teaching that Jesus is the only Way to the Father.

Again, I feel for you that whatever demonic spirit your worshiping is incapable of being present among others who do not believe, and that he is too stupid to be able to work with others unseen. That is not the God of the Bible, and that is all I care about.

Has it ever occurred to you, when you pray to your Satan, that the Real God can work through anyone?

I find it odd that most "anti masons" tend to point out the men that follow the more esoteric ideas and philosophies, while ignoring those that are in the majority. At least three of the 20 greatest preachers of the 20th Century were Masons. The list was created by The Preaching, a magazine for preachers, and the editors based their criteria on a preacher's influence on church and society and on their fellow preachers.

The following Masons were on the list: George W. Truett pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Baptist World Alliance. Norman Vincent Peale, pastor of Marble Collegiate Reformed Church, New York City, editor of Guidepost magazine, and author of such books as The Power of Positive Thinking. Peter C. Marshall, a Presbyterian pastor of churches in Georgia and Washington, DC, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and author of such books as Mr. Jones, Meet the Master.

Other men include, Rev. Charles T. Aikens, who served as President of the Lutheran Synod of Eastern Pennsylvania. Bishop James Freeman, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., who first conceived and began construction of the National Cathedral. Bishop William F. Anderson, one of the most important leaders of the Methodist Church.
Rev. Lansing Burrows, American Civil War hero and Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention. Rev. James C. Baker, who created the Wesley Foundation. William R. White, who served as President of Baylor University, and was Secretary of the Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention.

Included on my list are Rev. Hugh I. Evans, who served as national head of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. James P. Wesberry Former Executive Director and Editor of the Southern Baptist Publication "Sunday". The Reverend Louis R. Gant,
District Superintendent The United Methodist Church. LeRoy C. Brandt, Ph.D., Pastor Reformed Church Delmar, New York. John W. Dowdy, D.D., Pastor First Baptist Church Guthrie, Oklahoma.

We see here a number of Christian men from various denominations who have found no incompadability between their faith and their fraternity.

reply to post by AugustusMasonicus


Point taken. I was wrong there. But your reply to the first quote, seemed a bit childish. If you take a look at LLM's posting i replied to, maybe you'll notice he did the exact same. But you are right, this is a public domain, you are free to respond where and when you wish.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


True. In the books of Jeremiah and Isaiah, you might find that Israel also had no trouble with worshipping YHWH and the idols in the same temple. But only if you actually read those books.

And to all charismatics: Isaiah does not begin and end with the first part of Isaiah 43.

reply to post by RuneSpider


You do not know God. That is clear. I know His from faith, and from belief, and from experience. You do not know Who i know. Not at all.

reply to post by J.Smit


I have read those books a number of times, and have preached sermons from them. As no doubt the men listed have. The fact remains that no one has ever found flaws with the doctrine or dogma those men taught that was based on their Masonic affiliation.

reply to post by LowLevelMason


By your own words, i leave you to God's Judgement.

You wish to follow the New-Age all-in-one godhood, it was your choice. And calling my God, the Creator of heaven and earth, satan, i pray you did not do so intentionally. For if you did, you have damned yourself and shall be Judged for those same words.

You mention the names of God from the old Testament? Please point out where He said HE is, or even where He is called, GAOTU?

The "slogan on a piece of paper" refers to "In God We Trust" on the dollar bill. Nowhere, did i mention His name being written in the bible as just a slogan.

You wish to serve Him under a name that is also used for the heathen gods - your choice. Remember the First Commandment. And the Second. And the Third.

I do my teaching and preaching all-over. Not just at my PC. There is actually a world out there.

Sadly, you seem very much into the worship of God. The same way the Israelites did it in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

He shares His Glory with no-one. He shares His Honour with no-one. And He shares His Name with no-one.

Again, i truly hope that you called Him, satan in ignorance. As you stated, He can work through anyone.

Your damnation or salvation lies in whether or not you will repent of your two last paragraphs. "...he is too stupid to be able to work with others unseen..."

YHWH is too wise, to let His work be shared with devils. Like the 3 000 000 of Hinduism and the Mother Goddess and Allah and Vishnu and Ra and Baphomet et. al.

YHWH knows Who and What He is. GAOTU apparently, cannot decide between male, female, some force, is it a father or has it no son. YHWH states clearly how He wants to be worshipped. GAOTU has to appease different people with different religions and rituals. YHWH sent His son to die and be resurrected to gain entrance into Heaven, for all who call on Him. GAOTU cannot decide between which one it is, did he/she actually die, is the faith merely a way or is it rituals, is it in man's works or in god's work. Note the lower case "g."

I get upset when people want to put YHWH into the same mould with the devils of other religions. Again, stick to the First three commandments, and GAOTU cannot be the God of the bible.

And you probably want to say "there are only two." Jesus gave the summary of all ten. The original ten still stand. And take into account, the the Vulgate, on which most, if not all, the "new translations" are based, got rid of the "no other gods" - bit and divided the tenth into two.

It's been sad, not fun, and i hope i upset some who wish to share God's glory with other gods and devils. If it seemed inflamatory, sorry, but i am a bit of a hothead when it gets to these things. And i know, that is a bad way to communicate.

LLM, i hope you find the God of the bible. Who refuses to share His Name, His Glory, and His Worship.

Fare thee well.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


Notable Christian Leaders who where Masons. Ok, for all the holier than thou people out there. Tell us all how much you have done to build the Christian Faith/Church. These men preached Christ to the world, and no one has question their theology based on their being a Mason. As scripture states: If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

Aikens, Rev. Charles T. - who served as President of the Lutheran Synod of Eastern Pennsylvania

Anderson, Bishop William F. - one of the most important leaders of the
Methodist Church Rev. Lansing Burrows, Civil War Hero and Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention

Baker, Rev. James C. - who created the Wesley Foundation

Boaz, Hiram Abiff - Bishop of the Methodist Church, one of the first presidents of Texas Wesleyan University

Brodie, Very Reverend RW Bro. Sir Israel, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Burrows, Rev. Lansing - American Civil War hero and Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Cherubim, (Anninos)- Bishop, Metropolitan of Paronaxia

Chrysanthus, Bishop - Metropolitan of Trebizond, later Archbishop of Athens Eastern Orthodox Church

Dowdy D.D., John W. - Pastor First Baptist Church
Guthrie, Oklahoma

Evans, Rev. Hugh I. - who served as national head of the Presbyterian Church.

Fisher, His Grace, The Right Honourable and Most Reverend Dr Geoffrey Francis (1887-1972). The 99th Arch Bishop of Canterbury

Freeman, Bishop James - the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., who first conceived and began the construction of the National Cathedral

Grant, The Reverend Louis R. - District Superintendent
The United Methodist Church

Hamilton, Frederick William - Unitarian minister and President of Tufts College

Hobbs, Herschell Harold (d. 1995). - Southern Baptist minister for 69 years, he wrote at least 147 books and Bible commentaries used in Southern Baptist churches. He preached more than 700 sermons on the syndicated radio program, the "Baptist Hour" between 1958 and 1978. He was president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1961-63.

Hugh, Bishop Don - Holy Celtic Church, California

Jackson, Reverend Jesse - Baptist Minister, American civil rights leader and politician

Lawrence, J. B. - Vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Secretary-Treasurer of the Home Mission Board for 30 years

LeRoy C. Brandt, Ph.D., Pastor Reformed Church
Delmar, New York

Lord, John Wesley - Bishop, United Methodist Church

Maier, Fr. Charles E. O.C.R., Bishop, Old Catholic Church, missioner with the Navajo Nation in Arizona and as a pastor and therapist, working with alcoholism and substance-abuse patients.

Marsh, Daniel L. - (1880-1968) Clergyman and Educator. President of Boston University

Marshall, Peter C. - a Presbyterian pastor of churches in Georgia and Washington, DC, chaplain of the U.S. Senate, and author of such books as Mr. Jones, Meet the Master. His biography is entitled A Man Called Peter.

McBeth, Dr. Leon - longtime professor of church history of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas

McCall, Abner V. - President, Chancellor and President-Emeritus of Baylor University in Texas, he also served as the First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1979-80) and a long-time leader of the Organization of Baptist Colleges and Universities.

Moore, David - Well known Baptist pastor in Southeastern New Mexico until his death in 1992 at the age of 103.

Murrow, Joseph Samuel - Southern Baptist Home Missionary - and the 'Founder of Freemasonry in Oklahoma', he is said to have established more than 100 churches

Newton, Joseph Fort - Christian Minister and Masonic Author

Owen, Most Rev. Derwyn T. Archbishop of Toronto and Primate of all Canada.

Peale, Norman Vincent - Pastor of Marble

reply to post by J.Smit


My mistake: it seems not to be the Vulgate. But an RC preacher had a bible here, with the Commandment concerning worshipping other gods taken out, and the Tenth divided into the Ninth and Tenth. As i said, my mistake.

[edit on 2008/10/29 by J.Smit]

Originally posted by J.Smit
By your own words, i leave you to God's Judgement.

Oh if it were true. You say such things and then lie and do nothing but continue your pompous, ignorant, and frankly simply wrong judgements. You do realize what the Bible has to say about people who lie, right?

Originally posted by J.Smit
You wish to follow the New-Age all-in-one godhood, it was your choice. And calling my God, the Creator of heaven and earth, satan, i pray you did not do so intentionally. For if you did, you have damned yourself and shall be Judged for those same words.

It is you who appears to worship some weak and feeble devil like entity who is not worthy of praise nor capable of great things, not me. My God is the God of the Bible. You worship something else.

Originally posted by J.Smit
You mention the names of God from the old Testament? Please point out where He said HE is, or even where He is called, GAOTU?

I hope you realize what you just stumbled into. I want you to point out one time in the entire Old and New Testament that either the Hebrew or the Greek text ever contains the word God with the letters G-o-d. It never appears. Its a English word. How hypocritical that you castigate those for using a term of reverence when you yourself refer to God in a language and a word that never ever appears in the Bible? You know what the Bible says about hypocrites, right?

The Grand Architect of the Universe, like the word GOD, never appears. However, the God of the Bible is more than worthy of being the Architect of the Universe. Your god does not seem worthy of such according to you, he appears to be rather weak and incapable of designing anything. Thats fine, but I worship the God of the Bible and not your weak feeble god.

Originally posted by J.Smit
You wish to serve Him under a name that is also used for the heathen gods - your choice. Remember the First Commandment. And the Second. And the Third.

And what do you think Hindus call their deities? And what do sects of Buddhists who recognize a divine Buddha call him? And under what name do the Jews call their deity? And Muslims?

If they are English: G O D.

Therefore, I hope you will join me in hell for your use of using a name that is also used for heathen gods. Perhaps you should be reading the ten commandments yourself before asking others to do the rest?

Originally posted by J.Smit
I do my teaching and preaching all-over. Not just at my PC. There is actually a world out there.

And yet here you sit spending time sending people to hell whom you do not know and you have no idea what your talking about. If this is reflective of your general ministry, I would highly recommend going back to school or otherwise getting some knowledge before you preach.

Originally posted by J.Smit
Sadly, you seem very much into the worship of God. The same way the Israelites did it in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Is your God too weak and not worthy of worship? I must say, your God does seem to be laughable because he has no relation to the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is not only worthy of worship but commands it. You worship some other satanic god.

Originally posted by J.Smit
Again, i truly hope that you called Him, satan in ignorance. As you stated, He can work through anyone.

You are the one obsessed with worshiping satan. You have described a god incapable of intelligent design and one who is not worthy of worship. That is your satanic god, not mine. Perhaps you should read the bible and open your eyes and be delivered from whatever demon you worship?

Originally posted by J.Smit
Your damnation or salvation lies in whether or not you will repent of your two last paragraphs. "...he is too stupid to be able to work with others unseen..."

I do not worry about damnation from the Satan that you worship, nor do I want salvation from it. I only care about the salvation from the God of the Bible, whom you have demonstrated you have no knowledge of. My God, the God of the Bible, is perfectly capable of working without being seen.

Originally posted by J.Smit
YHWH is too wise, to let His work be shared with devils. Like the 3 000 000 of Hinduism and the Mother Goddess and Allah and Vishnu and Ra and Baphomet et. al.

How ironic that you worship a satan and not YHWH then, since you keep using the term GOD which is used in all religions by people who speak English.

Originally posted by J.Smit
YHWH knows Who and What He is. GAOTU apparently, cannot decide between male, female, some force, is it a father or has it no son. YHWH states clearly how He wants to be worshipped. GAOTU has to appease different people with different religions and rituals. YHWH sent His son to die and be resurrected to gain entrance into Heaven, for all who call on Him. GAOTU cannot decide between which one it is, did he/she actually die, is the faith merely a way or is it rituals, is it in man's works or in god's work. Note the lower case "g."

This pretty much confirms you have absolutely failed to do any research about freemasonry. This must be a characteristic of your satanic ministry, since if you worshiped the God of the Bible instead of satan you would know better than to speak before you have actually done your research.

The term GOD refers to whatever God the person using it is referring to, just like GAOTU. Its a male God with a Son to Christians.

Maybe the Satan you worship tells you how he wants to be worship, the God of the Bible whom I follow does not. He finds pleasure in many hymns, instruments, and expressions of devotion.

Originally posted by J.Smit
It's been sad, not fun, and i hope i upset some who wish to share God's glory with other gods and devils. If it seemed inflamatory, sorry, but i am a bit of a hothead when it gets to these things. And i know, that is a bad way to communicate.

I believe God is indeed saddened that you worship Satan instead of Jesus Christ. It does not bother me, for I do not worship your Satan.

Originally posted by J.Smit
LLM, i hope you find the God of the bible. Who refuses to share His Name, His Glory, and His Worship.

There is no hope to be had for I have the God of the Bible. I will pray that you will decide to worship Him over Satan.

reply to post by LowLevelMason


[He finds pleasure in many hymns, instruments, and expressions of devotion.]

I disagree with this Lowlevel .


Isa 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Amo 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Why do you think he hates our assemblies and our RITUALS etc ???I think the word VAIN OBLATIONS says it it all ......and dont think was just written to the Jews because it was also written for our EXAMPLE ...those RITUALS did NOTHING for them people when their hearts were far from him ....They actually worshipped the RITUALS more than the CREATOR >....(and so do many Christians today ..they do the same thing with all their rituals) ..

Because they are really nothing but TRADITIONAL MANMADE forms of worshipping ...which are not much different than the Israelites needing to create an image of a cow to have something they can see and feel instead worshipping GOD who is spirit ...who is not seen and is not an image of anything but is the REAL DEAL >...........

The God I worship must be worshipped in spirit ...
Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.



VAIN
1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood

a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity

b) emptiness of speech, lying

c) worthlessness (of conduct)

OBLATIONS
1) gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering

a) gift, present

b) tribute

c) offering (to God)

d) grain offering

Lev 22:29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer [it] at your own will.
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Amo 4:5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Jon 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD.


And before you go and accuse me of doing all the ritualistic stuff in church ..dont ...because that was one of the reasons I left them ...RITUALISTIC stuff that means NOTHING to GOD ...