“You have made the commandment of God of
no effect by your tradition.”
(Matthew 15:6)
Thoughts… Tradition gets a bad rap in Christian circles these days. Much of modern, so-called “seeker-sensitive” spirituality has pretty much done away with anything that smacks of tradition.
But not all of tradition is bad–if, that is, it brings us into a more intimate relationship with God, a better understanding of his will, and a fuller obedience of his Word.
Having said that, I must add that the reason modern Christianity is down on tradition is that, unfortunately, in many churches and denominations, tradition has done what Jesus warned against: Nullifying the Word of God.
That is the kind of tradition we must be careful to avoid.
Anything that gets in the way of seekers experiencing the reality of a God who loves them so much that he allowed his Son to be sacrificed for their sins; anything that keeps believers from walking more deeply in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ; anything than stands as an obstacle into the presence of the God who has gone out of his way to remove all barriers to peace with him must be seriously looked at and, if those traditions have indeed become barriers to belief, they must be removed.
What traditions am I talking about? I don’t know—you tell me.
Perhaps it has to do with style of music, of appropriate worship attire, or a preferred version of the Bible, or how you do communion. It could be any number of things that in themselves may not be wrong, but because they have been elevated to a status that in all reality, is treated as worthy of worship, they have become mindsets and practices that have nullified the Word of God.
Take a hard look at your traditions, and the traditions of your fellowship. And if you find a sacred cow, it may be time to heat up the barbecue.
Be wise. Be prayerful. Be careful. And enjoy the burnt offering.
Prayer… Lord, keep me from the sin of elevating my preferences to worship-worthy status. May your Word never be nullified by my traditions. Keep my worship fresh, my relationship with you vital and my obedience lovingly alive all the days of my life.
One More Thing… “To do things today exactly the way you did them yesterday saves thinking.” —Thomas Woodrow Wilson
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