There are people who promote severe self-discipline, abstinence from certain foods, and holy days (holidays). Some go into great detail about dreams and visions they’ve seen. They say these practices connect us to God. But do they? What does God have to say about this?

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Proverbs 30:6 CSB “DON’T ADD TO HIS WORDS, or he will rebuke you, and you will be proved A LIAR.”

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1 Timothy 4:1-5 CSB “Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the TEACHINGS OF DEMONS, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3 They forbid marriage and DEMAND ABSTINENCE FROM FOODS that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For EVERYTHING CREATED BY GOD IS GOOD, and NOTHING IS TO BE REJECTED if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 since IT IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER.”

Colossians 2:16-19 NLT “So DON’T LET ANYONE CONDEMN YOU for what you EAT OR DRINK, or for not celebrating certain HOLY DAYS or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And CHRIST HIMSELF IS THAT REALITY. DON’T LET ANYONE CONDEMN YOU by insisting on PIOUS SELF-DENIAL or the worship of angels, SAYING THEY HAVE HAD VISIONS about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO CHRIST, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.”

Colossians 2:20–23 CSB “If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? WHY DO YOU SUBMIT TO REGULATIONS: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; THEY ARE HUMAN COMMANDS AND DOCTRINES. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by PROMOTING SELF-MADE RELIGION, FALSE HUMILITY, and SEVERE TREATMENT OF THE BODY, they are NOT OF ANY VALUE in curbing self-indulgence.”

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Romans 7:6 ESV “But now WE ARE RELEASED FROM THE LAW, having died to that which held us captive, so that WE SERVE IN THE NEW WAY OF THE SPIRIT and not in the old way of the written code.”

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DIVISIONS MUST COME

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 NLT “First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. But, of course, THERE MUST BE DIVISIONS among you so that YOU WHO HAVE GOD’S APPROVAL WILL BE RECOGNIZED!”

Luke 17:1 YLT “And he said unto the disciples, ‘IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE STUMBLING BLOCKS NOT TO COME, but WOE [TO HIM] through whom they come.”

1 John 2:19 LEB “They went out from us, but THEY WERE NOT OF US; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But THEY WENT OUT, in order THAT IT MIGHT BE SHOWN that all of them ARE NOT OF US.”

GOD SAYS DO NOT GREET FALSE TEACHERS

2 John 9-11 CSB “ANYONE who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but GOES BEYOND IT DOES NOT HAVE GOD. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 IF ANYONE COMES TO YOU and DOES NOT BRING THIS TEACHING, do not receive him into your home, and DO NOT GREET HIM; 11 for THE ONE WHO GREETS HIM SHARES IN HIS EVIL WORKS.”

Romans 16:17 ESV “I appeal to you, brothers, to WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; AVOID THEM.”

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