Since the beginning of humanity, human beings have outsourced their faith. This happens when the person does not know God or is far from Him, in sin, and does not dare to approach Him. They even want His help without getting too close because they fear being punished and controlled. They want the benefits but not the sacrifices of faith. Thus, they outsource their faith by looking for mediators who speak to God for them.

This happened in the Sinai when the people asked Moses to speak to the Most High for them:

“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:18,19

But God never wanted this distance from people. One of His names is Immanuel, which means God with us. This is the kind of relationship He wants, without mediators. The problem is that people insist on putting someone between them and God. That’s why so many exploiters arise to remedy this need, and so religions are born.

The true servants, the true church, the people of God, are those who serve as a bridge between the lost and the Saviour. But religions, instead of taking people to God, make them slaves to rituals and people. See what Jesus said to the Pharisees:

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13

Laziness and spiritual ignorance facilitate the proliferation of this outsourcing. Therefore, Jesus condemned those who did that because it was an attack on people’s faith.

Open your eyes, and do not outsource your faith; the church or the pastor will not save you. You need to have a relationship with God, which involves reading the Bible, attending church, and seeking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Like this, you will never be deceived or will depend on someone. True faith makes us independent and not puppets in the hands of the religious.