A LIGHT VIEW OF TRADITION


Tradition can be a very dangerous thing. It can nullify the effect of the word of God. It blinds us from seeing the actual truth of His word. I am afraid that believers have too long taken a light view of tradition.

Webster defines tradition as "that which is handed down from age to age; the act of delivering into the hands of another." Likewise, Strong defines it as "transmission."

Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, warns the believer against theses traditions of men.

"And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. .. . Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the word, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:4,8).

The tradition of men is a dangerous opponent to the truth.

"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do" (Mark 7:13).

Paul, himself, had been caught up in tradition.

". . . being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (Galatians 1:14).

Could not this statement of Paul have been made by many of us? Have we not been exceedingly zealous of the traditions of "our fathers"? And should we not follow our apostle, in the abandonment of such bondage?

Have you ever questioned the traditions that we so willingly have followed? Why do we do the religious things that we do? Have we ever traced their origins?

Try this, the next time that you do something "spiritual," something "for the Lord," ask yourself why you do it. From where is its origin?

Now, be forewarned, this pathway with not be an easy one. The religious crowd will surely object to a lifestyle free from religious tradition. And most of the opposition will likely come from your closest friends and family members who are blinded by these very traditions of men, from which you seek and have found freedom.

Jesus Himself faced the some opposition and challenge from the traditionalists of His day.

"Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees . . . saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? . . . But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? . . . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. . . . In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:1,2,9).

If we choose to abandon our own religious traditions, I'd say we'd be in good company with Paul, and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Clyde Pilkington

Gladstone, VA

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