Articles
Traditions
People’s attitude to the topic of traditions can differ greatly. There are people who do not want to do anything which may seem traditional. Such individuals may enjoy change and might prefer to be on the cutting-edge in a particular area. Such individuals may like things which are contemporary or modern. On the other hand, there are people who want to do everything in a traditional manner. Such individual may like things which might be old-fashioned, tried and true, etc. What does the Bible teach when it comes to the subject of traditions and our attitude toward them?
The Bible warns us about the dangers of manmade traditions. Jesus addressed the Jewish tradition of washing one’s hands before eating in Mark 7:1-16. What can we learn about manmade traditions from Jesus’ statements in Mark 7:1-16? Jesus teaches when our service toward God is based upon the “commandments of men” or we might say manmade traditions our worship becomes vain (Mark 7:7). Jesus teaches it is possible to allow our allegiance to manmade traditions to cause us to neglect the commandment of God (Mark 7:8). He illustrates this point by examining the Jewish practice of Corban where a person could dedicate a part of their possessions to God and thus not use those possessions to take care of their parents, which is something God had commanded them to do (Mark 7:10-13). Let’s recognize there are some manmade traditions which clearly violate God’s law and such things must be abandoned if we are going to be pleasing to God. The tradition in some families and places is for individuals to drink alcoholic beverages. To be pleasing to God we must abandon such a tradition (Proverbs 20:1; Ephesians 5:18). The tradition for some might be to worship God with mechanical instruments of music. To be pleasing to God we must abandon this manmade tradition and get back to doing what it is God commands us to do and only what God authorizes - singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Some manmade traditions may be okay for us to observe as long as we keep them in the proper place. For example, a church may engage in the various acts of worship in a certain order. The New Testament does not teach we must do things in a specified order. Such can help our services be more decently and in order to have some order (1 Corinthians 14:40) and thus be more edifying (1 Corinthians 14:26). However, we cannot bind a particular order to the acts of worship because such is not something bound by God. Sometimes people may allow their allegiance to a manmade tradition keep them from doing those things which God commands them to do and thus are elevating manmade traditions above what God commands like the Jews Jesus was addressing in Mark 7. We can certainly take or leave various human traditions without violating a command of God.
The Bible teaches there are certain traditions we are expected to keep in order to be pleasing with God. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle”(NKJV). 2 Thessalonians 3:6 says, “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (NKJV). Paul praises the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:2, saying, “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” (NKJV). Clearly, there are certain traditions we are encouraged and are expected to keep. These traditions do not find their origin in the minds of men but rather have been handed down from God to us through inspired men. Our observance of the Lord’s Supper is something handed down from Jesus to His disciples to us and something we are required to keep because it is a divinely given tradition (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The practice of giving on the first day of the week is a tradition we are expected to keep because it is commanded by the Lord (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The practice of baptizing penitent believers for the remission of their sins is a tradition but one we must keep because it is that which God has taught us to do (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16). Let’s not just reject something or view it as unimportant simply on the basis it is a tradition! If the tradition came from God, we need to be careful to keep that tradition in order to be acceptable to God.
