Tradition has the word trade as its root. This is quite ironic, because traditions often trade the truth and spirit of God for the ideas of men which fall short of God's ways. There are many singing hymns, chanting, swinging incense, making penitential processions, and in truth they are no different that Sanhedrin, the holy men who condemned Christ to death. Today, if Jesus was to Return and visit the many churches I am sure they would find His teaching to be radical and in opposition to their traditions. In fact, Jesus was constantly at odds with the religious leaders of his day: the Pharisees and Sadducees who had their own traditions.
We can miss the tremendous move of God because of tradition. We can even miss God himself. For when Jesus came in the flesh, and ministered for three years and half, the religious leaders clung to their traditions of the Mosaic Law, Talmud, and Rabbinical Writings. They ignored the Messiah and Bridegroom of God to keep their traditions; to keep their control. The Sanhedrin did not listen to the words in Scriptures that foretold Christ's Coming, they ignored the Psalms and Prophets. Jesus challenged them and they put Him to death. Which was necessary for the remission of all who believe's sins, but what is tragic is that those tradition teachers of the Law did not believe.
The Church has many traditions from Catholicism to Calvinism. But are these traditions going to create colleges of people not ready to meet Christ? Is it possible that St. Paul words are being fulfilled, "in those days they shall abandon the truth and follow the doctrines and traditions of demons."? (1 Timothy 4:1). And even more poignant remark from Paul is this, "See to it that no one takes you captive hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and elemental spiritual forces rather than Christ Jesus." (Colossians 2:8). I
St. Paul makes it clear how tradition can lead us astray. He says, "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being,
nor did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus." (Galatians 1:17). If there had been any apostle that would have clung to tradition it would have been Paul, who was Pharisee of Pharisees (Philippians 3:5), Studied under Gamliel (Acts 22:3, Gamaliel was a high up member of Sanhedrin), and who knew the Law of Moses, and all the Old Testament. Instead Paul said, "I count it all lost but knowing Christ." (Philippians 3:8).
There are many traditions I like. I think Good Friday, crosses, hymns, books by Augustine, Luther, Kempis, and many others can be useful and helpful. But we must beware of trading the Truth of God (The Holy Scriptures), and The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) for sayings of men and practices of priests and pastors. We should be alarmed when tradition takes hold and the touch and trust in Christ alone is replaced with words of rote and religious pretense. For Jesus said, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.." (Matthew 6:7-9 KJV-NIV). The Our Father Prayer in is ironically used in rote and repetition by churches and said to be purist prayer; but Jesus said not to pray repetitiously! So obviously He was not trying to establish a tradition, but showing us a model of the things to pray by inserting the particulars.
There are traditions that touch us like when the Gospels are carried by a priest with reverence or when we see candles lit ceremoniously. But tradition is not substitute for true relationship with Christ Jesus. All the repetitious prayers, candle lighting, processions, cantoring, bowing, and religious tradition in the world can save you. Do not become like the Pharisees or Necolaitans that Christ mentions in Revelation 2:6, but instead be Christ followers, not followers of a teacher, priest, or prophet and their traditions.
Traditions and methods are born from what was helpful in a season. There are prayers and practices connect to canonized saints or actions ascribed to the Apostle's themselves, but not all of these are useful for today. For each of us connect to Christ and have revelation differently. Yes there are what could be called traditions that must be adhered to like the Apostle's Creed, which really is a summary of what we believe according to the Bible and personal relationship with the Triune God. But those traditions are called doctrine, dogma, tenets, and essentials of the faith; not tradition.
Tradition can be very harmful, holding people in place. If tradition had gotten its way, we would never have been able to read the Bible for ourselves (there are still many who wish we couldn't). We must recognize that the Tenets of our Faith: We believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit; Virgin Birth, Trial by Pilate, Crucifixion, Third Day Resurrection, Forty Days, Ascension, and Christ's Return. We believe that in the Bible is all the doctrine we need, but tradition is the additions, those that cannot be found in the Scriptures or that have been abolished.
The tradition of blessings and curses in the Old Testament are often carried over in churches. But do they not read Hebrews which says, "The Law is obsolete, and fasting passing away."? (Hebrews 8:13). Notice it says the Law, as in Mosaic Law, not the whole Old Testament. For there prophecies in Daniel and other books like Isaiah yet to be fulfilled and that parallel Revelation and events during and after Christ's Return. Tradition can become sedition. It can subvert the faith with its complex and contradicting concepts. We must be wary of traditions of men; canons by clergymen who speak against the Scriptures or advocate a system that is not of the Holy Spirit.
There are some traditions that really unnerve most who see them. One is in Europe where monks carry a cross and flog their backs with flails (whip like weapons with blades, bone, nails, and etc) for their sins. Firstly they are adding to the Blood of Christ, who said, "It is Finished," (John 19:30) and "He paid it all. Secondly, this display harms the physical body and thirdly makes people get a wrong impression of the Faith. So this is triply harmful! Jesus never asked us to do self mutilation, self abasement, or self harm. Even Paul spoke of circumcision for salvation as evil, because it is an act against Christ's all sufficient sacrifice.
Some traditions as I said are beneficial. Christmas and Easter are helpful. They are celebrations of Christ's Birth and Resurrection. They are great moments in year to remind ourselves of God's Grace and Love, and to teach children. There are other traditions with similar value, but caution must be involved in creating a tradition. We do not want to trade the things and thoughts of God, for the things and thoughts of men. For the Lord said, "My ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9). He also said, "The foolishness of God is greater than greatest wisdom of men." (1 Corinthians 1:25).
We can't put God in box and much of tradition is the very act of trying to do just that. Likewise we can't say all traditions are a box or without benefit. But this post is to urge caution and comes from a place of care. We need to examine all things via our personal relationship with Christ, The Holy Bible, and The Holy Spirit Discernment. Ultimately we need to, "Examine everything carefully, hold fast to what is good, but abstain and reject what is evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
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