Be Careful Tradition Can Nullify The Bible

Mark 7:13
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

This was a scathing attack by Jesus targeting Jewish religious leaders who went to accuse His disciples of not following the traditions of the elders. It is normal for people who are spiritually empty to always accuse others. They don’t help they accuse. They find pleasure in pointing out the mistakes of others. The chief accuser is satan, Revelation 12:10.

Traditions are recommendations on how things should be done in a community. As time passes by and everyone agrees with it, it becomes a standard of life. Over time they become laws that must now be followed or else you have a problem. Remember, they began as recommendations addressing a situation in the past. That situation is long gone but the tradition has remained. The tradition is irrelevant but it is being upheld and those who reject it though right are misunderstood. At some point, tradition is made to seem like the will of God, yet it is not.

Jews had a tradition of how to wash hands, Mark 7:3-4. The disciples of Jesus ate without washing hands according to that tradition. The Jewish leaders made a big issue of that mistake. Jesus got angry because first the issue had been blown out of proportion. It is immature and unacceptable even before God to show more anger than the offense. Certain matters are so small that when you escalate them to the boss, you are not a good worker. Certain matters are so small that you shouldn’t remind your spouse ever again, even if you still remember. Certain matters are so small you shouldn’t interrupt the activities and attention of others to address them. Jesus bashed them for blowing a small matter out of its proper proportion.

The reason why small matters are blown out of proportion is that there were other hidden issues and this has come as an opportunity to address a past issue. Jewish leaders did not like Jesus. Jewish leaders did not like the disciples of Jesus. That dislike existed before the problem. When the traditional problem occurred, they took advantage and used it to show their contempt and hate for Jesus and His disciples. When you blow matters out of proportion, you are insecure, a secret hater, and a coward who couldn’t raise issues earlier. Blowing issues out of proportion is a sign of a problem with you, not the one you are accusing. Jesus focused on the leaders and not the disciples, and gave them a lecture to shut them up.

Jesus told them that those traditions like all traditions are man-made and should not be seen as equal to God’s word in any way, Mark 7:8-9. Traditions should not be taught as God’s word. Many traditions are good, but we should know they are traditions and should be ready to dispose of them and create space for God’s word. Unfortunately, Jewish leaders were now nullifying God’s word in order to create a priority for their traditions. Jesus condemned this and warned against the creeping coup of God’s word by tradition. Be careful, tradition can nullify scriptures!

Dressing in white during holy communion or baptism is a tradition, not a biblical command. Celebrating the birth of Jesus during Christmas is tradition and nothing biblical (later today we are doing a video on how to celebrate Christmas, to get a notification when the video is ready subscribe to the channel, click this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0lVElbpwxIg1DZlGR1Sixw ). Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Christmas tree, gifts, etc. are all traditions and not a command of God’s word anywhere in scripture.

Religious leaders wearing collars, gowns and certain colors are traditions and not biblical commands. Many of the organizational structures and levels and even titles we use in the church are traditions and not a scriptural order. Any baptism method other than immersion in water is tradition and not biblical. Sunday being considered a Sabbath instead of the biblical Saturday is a tradition that was initiated by the Council of Laodecia in AD 336. Sunday as a day of worship is not scriptural. The Easter celebrations are traditions and not biblical commands.

Singing styles that we think are more religious than others are actually traditions. Most hymns we value like gospel truth were written by people who never ever subscribed to our faith until their dying day. Dressing styles are traditions. Wearing neckties are a tradition. Ceremonies around weddings and funerals are traditions and not bible commands. Dressing the bride in a white gown is tradition. Marriage vows are traditions. Church building styles are traditions. The Sabbath is 24 hours from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. Going to church at a certain time and leaving at a certain time is tradition and not biblical command. Certain aspects of our programs are traditional.

Traditions such as only church choir can sing before a preacher. Traditions such as offerings are taken upfront or collected by deacons. Traditions such as preacher seats at the center. Traditions are all around us. They have become official over time, but they do not replace scripture.

Every country has its traditions. Every race has its traditions. Every tribe has its traditions. Every family has its traditions. Do not impose your traditions on others. Respect the traditions of others. The measure of tradition that we accept or reject is, to what extent does it contradict scriptures. Any tradition that contradicts Scripture should be disposed of or disobeyed.

So many traditions around us. Traditions are necessary for order and productivity. Traditions give us an operating template. Without traditions, we have to keep re-inventing the wheel. We can’t make much progress without traditions. Yet we must recognize that (1) There are traditions that directly contradict the bible and we must discard them immediately. (2) There are traditions that were good but have now become obsolete and we should be willing through a process to accept change. (3) Even though traditions may still be relevant, we shouldn’t split hairs if someone bypasses them or challenges them once in a while, they are not divine. (4) Traditions are temporary and dispensable but God’s word is permanent and indispensable.

This is not a call to go and defy traditions and create chaos in the church. If traditions are on the way to progress, politely change them through an acceptable process. For traditions contrary to scripture, they must be disposed of. If your worship group doesn’t want to dispose feel free to join people who are consistent with scripture and worship with them. Do not defy God using tradition. Jesus is God and He hated it completely. Jesus followed the traditions of His time but did not allow anyone to make an issue out of them. Traditions are not scripture, but if carelessly handled they can, unfortunately, replace scripture in our lives.

The greatest risk we face with tradition is that it may replace scripture and cause unnecessary wrangles. Tradition has its value but we must frequently check it lest it diverts us from the way to eternal life and turn us to the road to hell. The antidote to the threat of tradition is a regular Bible study. We must be very familiar with scripture than tradition. May God help me, to be faithful to Him and His word, may I never be misled by any tradition, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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