There seems to be a common idea among many religious people that, as long as we are sincere, we can do anything in religion we want as long as it is not specifically prohibited. However, if one examines the scriptures for guidance, we find that exactly the opposite is true. We cannot do anything in religion that is not authorized. In Leviticus 10:1-3 we read of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron who, “offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them”. As a consequence of their doing something other than what had been authorized, “fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” Their fault was not that they did what was prohibited, but that they did what was not authorized.
In Hebrews 7:14 the Hebrew writer points out that the law has changed citing as evidence the fact that Jesus is our High Priest and He could not be a priest under the law of Moses since, “it is evident that our Lord arose from the tribe of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” The law of Moses did not prohibit those from the tribe of Judah from being priests but only those from the tribe of Levi were authorized the be priests.
In 1 Corinthians 4:6 the apostle Paul cautions his readers, “not to think beyond what is written”. In other words, to base what is believed, practiced, and taught in religion on what we are authorized in scripture to do rather than doing what we want to do. Those who insist on doing their “own thing” in religion are guilty of practicing “self-imposed religion” or “will worship” as the King James Version puts it (Colossians 2:23). They are following their own will in what they do in religion instead of God’s will.