False Beliefs Cannot Satisfy Jehovah

Religious lies never bring joy to Jehovah, who values truth above all else. When Jesus walked among people, a religious group wished to put him to death. These people were certain their traditions were correct. They claimed—“We have one Father, God.” Yet, Jesus made it clear he did not agree. He told them plainly—“You are from your father the Devil.” (John 8:41, 44)

Many today feel convinced they are honouring God, but in reality, they may be supporting Satan and his demons—“No; but I say that what the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:20)

The Results of False Religion

A diseased tree can only produce rotting fruit. In the same way, false religion leads people to act in harmful ways. The world overflows with suffering caused by wrong actions, such as sexual immorality, violence, theft, abuse, killing, and assault. Many people doing these things still claim a religion, yet their beliefs do not guide them to live well.

Unless people stop what is harmful, they cannot be true friends of God—“Likewise every good tree produces fine fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; a good tree cannot bear worthless fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit.” (Matthew 7:17, 18)

Misleading Teachings About Worship

False religion often teaches people to pray to idols. God clearly says not to pray to images. This is simple to understand. Imagine someone always spoke to your photograph but never to you—would you call that a real friendship?

We would not. Jehovah wants us to speak to him, not to a lifeless statue or painting—“You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth underneath or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be led to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion.” (Exodus 20:4, 5)

False religion claims it is good to kill others during wars. Yet, Jesus explained God’s true friends would be known for their love. We do not harm those we love. Jesus said—“By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) Even when people treat us badly, we do not have permission to kill.

When enemies came to arrest Jesus, he did not let his followers fight on his behalf—“But, look! one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, taking off his ear. Then Jesus said to him: ‘Return your sword to its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.’” (Matthew 26:51, 52)

Hellfire—A False Doctrine

Another error is the idea that wicked people will burn forever in hellfire. The Bible teaches the result of sin is death—“For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jehovah is a loving God. Would a loving God torture anyone without end? Of course not.

When Paradise arrives, only one pure form of worship will exist—the one God accepts—“Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, for you alone are loyal? For all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous decrees have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4) Every religion teaching Satan’s lies will no longer exist.

Let us choose worship that honours Jehovah, guided by the truth he has shared.