Are our Traditions Nullifying the Power of God in our Lives?
Traditions start when someone’s interpretation of something is accepted by others as truth and passed down through time as truth. People who hold to beliefs solely because they have been passed down to them by their respective leaders are traditionalists? That does not necessarily mean that traditions are wrong, but we should critically evaluate for ourselves the traditions we have accepted as truth?
It is scriptural correct to “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thes. 5:21).
We should judge for ourselves our traditions, based on proper original contextual meaning “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right” (Lk. 12:57)?
We should not haphazardly accept our traditions has truth for Christ strongly warns us about our traditions in Mt. 15:3, 6, 9.
Perhaps you have struggled with man-made doctrines and traditions that are contrary the teaching and life of Jesus. Maybe you have questioned the rightness of such doctrine.
The Bible has been translated from ancient languages handed down by word of mouth in some cases, and influenced by men who transfer their own ideas into their translations. These translators cannot help reading manuscripts through the lens of their personal beliefs , all the more so when they are given a set of guidelines given to them with regards how to do the translation. Most of the translators have held man-made doctrines and they intentionally or unintentionally filtered their translations of the manuscripts from that mindset. That is why we must constantly be on our guard, like the Bereans (Acts. 17:11), comparing Scripture with Scripture based on the original Greek and Hebrew words always aware of the contextual setting. “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures…” (Mt. 22:29.
Unless God gives us ears to hear with understanding, the Bible will remain a mystery according to Prov. 20:12 and Lk. 8:8. For unless the Spirit opens our minds and hearts, we interpret in vain. “For our sufficiency is from God and not of the letter…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2Cor. 3:5, 6).
Many organizations are known to have based their evil actions on the “letter” of Scripture, but did they know the Spirit of Truth?
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
To rightly divide the word of truth we need to question our traditions, keep an open mind so we are teachable by the Holy Spirit, pray for understanding and wisdom, allow scripture to interpret scripture keeping in mind the context. Don't be afraid to shelve traditional beliefs until the Spirit resolves the issue in our heart, and remember the Bible was translated by fallible men with belief systems that influenced its translation.
Be mindful that the scriptures we think we understand correctly may not be the way God wants us to correctly understand them.
We can be mistaken in our thinking therefore, the Scriptures we think we understand, may not be God's understanding or purpose for them.
It is scriptural correct to “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thes. 5:21).
We should judge for ourselves our traditions, based on proper original contextual meaning “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right” (Lk. 12:57)?
We should not haphazardly accept our traditions has truth for Christ strongly warns us about our traditions in Mt. 15:3, 6, 9.
Perhaps you have struggled with man-made doctrines and traditions that are contrary the teaching and life of Jesus. Maybe you have questioned the rightness of such doctrine.
The Bible has been translated from ancient languages handed down by word of mouth in some cases, and influenced by men who transfer their own ideas into their translations. These translators cannot help reading manuscripts through the lens of their personal beliefs , all the more so when they are given a set of guidelines given to them with regards how to do the translation. Most of the translators have held man-made doctrines and they intentionally or unintentionally filtered their translations of the manuscripts from that mindset. That is why we must constantly be on our guard, like the Bereans (Acts. 17:11), comparing Scripture with Scripture based on the original Greek and Hebrew words always aware of the contextual setting. “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures…” (Mt. 22:29.
Unless God gives us ears to hear with understanding, the Bible will remain a mystery according to Prov. 20:12 and Lk. 8:8. For unless the Spirit opens our minds and hearts, we interpret in vain. “For our sufficiency is from God and not of the letter…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2Cor. 3:5, 6).
Many organizations are known to have based their evil actions on the “letter” of Scripture, but did they know the Spirit of Truth?
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
To rightly divide the word of truth we need to question our traditions, keep an open mind so we are teachable by the Holy Spirit, pray for understanding and wisdom, allow scripture to interpret scripture keeping in mind the context. Don't be afraid to shelve traditional beliefs until the Spirit resolves the issue in our heart, and remember the Bible was translated by fallible men with belief systems that influenced its translation.
Be mindful that the scriptures we think we understand correctly may not be the way God wants us to correctly understand them.
We can be mistaken in our thinking therefore, the Scriptures we think we understand, may not be God's understanding or purpose for them.
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