Tradition Sucks All Divinity

Scrolls of ancient Times

The 21st century Church is not so different in its different in its beliefs and adherence to the traditions of man and doctrine of man. Paul in writing to the Galatians made a powerful reflection for the church, when he said who has bewitched you to now want to fulfil the Gospel by the flesh.

Yes Paul is talking about the people not going back to be saved by the works of the law. Consequently, can man be saved by following Traditions? Why are we denying the truth for tradition?

Notwithstanding that there are good traditions that are passed down to us from one generation, the challenge comes however, when tradition of man replaces the truth of the Word of God.

Jesus clashed with the Religious elders of His day because they were holding to the tradition of man and not the truth of what God had instructed. Church of our time have also being found wanting in the same dilemma were the Religious leaders are inclined to tradition, experience and man’s Ideology and not the Word of Truth.

What is it that drives you as a believer, is it the word of the truth or tradition, experience and ministry ideology. As a Minister of the Word what is your thrust, is it focused on the Truth of the or you are standing firm apologetically on your church traditions and man ideology.

In simple terms it is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way. A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another by way custom, practice, convention, ceremony, rituals, routine, rule, usage and habit.

Furthermore Tradition is an artistic or literary method or style established by an artist, writer, or movement, and subsequently followed by others.

Theologically it is a doctrine believed to have divine authority though not in the scriptures, in particular:

· (In Christianity) doctrine not explicit in the Bible but held to derive from the oral teaching of Christ and the Apostles.

· (In Judaism) an ordinance of the oral law not in the Torah but held to have been given by God to Moses.

· (In Islam) a saying or act ascribed to the Prophet but not recorded in the Koran

For the purposes of this presentation we will use the Theological definition of the term. From the definition it is evident that man tradition is an extra biblical

“Tradition” was originally equated with the regula fidei, or the rule of faith, which was passed down from Jesus to the apostles, then from the apostles to their followers, etc.

 These lists of beliefs were later collected in the form of the early creeds, such as the Nicaean Creed or the Apostles Creed or the Chalcedonian Creed, and later into the various confessions of the Protestant denominations. As time progressed, more and more “beliefs” were added to the various Traditions as well.

Traditions influence our experience and interpretation of faith, not least because Christians exist in fellowship. We find ourselves in a community that has a history, even if it’s only a very short one. This history bequeaths to us a way of thinking and a pattern of behavior.

Certain denominations place a greater emphasis on the role of Church tradition than others, but all of us are indebted to tradition in one way or another.

Inasmuch as certain denominations placing faith and doctrine to be emphasized by Traditions. Is it the way to go, will tradition brings transformation and salvation by observing them?

Tradition truly does limit the life of the Divine and the power of the Word is made powerless.