Are Traditions Needed?

[Monk Brendan]

Hi Family,

As I look to the different denominations I see some riddled with traditions that some individuals find necessary to bless or to appease God.

Do we need these traditions?

Are we naive or small minded to place value on traditions?

Do traditions save you?

Are they necessary?

Why do traditions that are contradictory to the Word even allowed to continue?

~Natsumi Lam~

Even non-denominational churches have traditions.

If you read the NT carefully, you will see that there is a tradition according to Christ.

In 1 Cor 11, the KJV fudges what the Greek actually says. It is not word for "ordinances" but the word that everywhere else, they rendered "traditions".

 

[Calvin_1985]

Just let all this talk subside my grinds, let it all go. Forsake these things and start seeking Jesus. Let us seek to be like him and drop these things that lead to debate of which traditions are right and wrong because I AM will show you the way to go and everything will flow from that of pur worship and communion with Father. Let us seek to uplift one another and bearing one another's burdens. Let us talk of what Yeshua has done for each one of us. I want to hear you guys' stories of the power of Jesus bringing you from death unto life and what he has done in your hearts, minds and souls. What has done to bring you into a better and greater living way?

 

[W2L]

Just let all this talk subside my grinds, let it all go. Forsake these things and start seeking Jesus. Let us seek to be like him and drop these things that lead to debate of which traditions are right and wrong because I AM will show you the way to go and everything will flow from that of pur worship and communion with Father. Let us seek to uplift one another and bearing one another's burdens. Let us talk of what Yeshua has done for each one of us. I want to hear you guys' stories of the power of Jesus bringing you from death unto life and what he has done in your hearts, minds and souls. What has done to bring you into a better and greater living way?

I feel the same way.

 

[Devin P]

Hi Family,

As I look to the different denominations I see some riddled with traditions that some individuals find necessary to bless or to appease God.

Do we need these traditions?

Are we naive or small minded to place value on traditions?

Do traditions save you?

Are they necessary?

Why do traditions that are contradictory to the Word even allowed to continue?

~Natsumi Lam~

They aren't needed. Some traditions are great, so long as you don't wave them about like a command of God. But most that we have today, are worthless, and actually go against God, and we just don't realize it.

Like having our "sabbath" on sunday, instead of the 7th day, saturday. It's a tradition that originates from catholicism. It's against scripture, but the majority of christianity observes it, because we've inherited it, and it takes a lot of faith to come out of that, and a lot of people don't like what it implies, so they stick to it anyway.

Christmas, and Easter are other traditions against scripture, because they both originate from the worship of other "gods". Christmas, is a conglomeration of 3 different sun-god birth stories, and we mashed them up on the day of "sol invictus", and swap out the "sun-god" for the Son of God.

Easter, is a pagan Ishtar, a godess of fertility, whose symbols were bunnies and eggs.

Much more to these things I've mentioned, but these are simply entry points I've mentioned.

Many more things we do like this, that scripture calls us away from, and if you're seeking, I urge you to research into all of the things I've mentioned. See if what I've said is true, by researching into unbiased sources. Don't go to the catholic encyclopedia, or to other christian sources, go to unbiased sources. Because what you'll find with most christian sources, is a twisting of the facts to fit their traditions, due to their biases. So it's best to look at as unbiased a source as you can.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Is a law and a tradition the same?

A law is a tradition with a legal penalty for violating it. But then running a red light might have other than legal consequences for violating it, like a crash. The crash itself is not a consequence of a law.

 

[chevyontheriver]

I also see John, Peter and James.

Why just those three in addition to Paul? Why not Andrew or Philip? Why not Stephen? Why not Titus and Timothy? Why not Silvanus? Why not Ignatius of Antioch or Polycarp? Where in Scripture does it define the 'us' as who you think it is? Or is that your tradition that determines who you include and exclude from 'us'?

 

[chevyontheriver]

I don't follow any traditions, I follow Jesus.

LOL, typical.

 

[W2L]

Why just those three in addition to Paul? Why not Andrew or Philip? Why not Stephen? Why not Titus and Timothy? Why not Silvanus? Why not Ignatius of Antioch or Polycarp? Where in Scripture does it define the 'us' as who you think it is? Or is that your tradition that determines who you include and exclude from 'us'?

Scripture is all that is needed.

 

[Calvin_1985]

LOL, typical.

Call it what you will, but just seek the Kingdom and all will be made known unto you whether a I speak of myself or if what I speak comes from Jesus.

 

[PaulCyp1]

The single most destructive manmade tradition in Christianity is sola scriptura, the unbiblical idea that all of our beliefs have to come directly from the Bible. If that were true, Christianity would have disappeared very quickly after Jesus founded it, because the Bible didn't exist until three and a half centuries later, when the bishops of the Catholic Church compiled the book from early Catholic and Jewish writings. Also, the obvious result of following that false doctrine has been fragmentation into thousands of unauthorized conflicting manmade denominations, each claiming to follow "the Bible alone", yet the teaching of each denomination contradicting the teaching of the others. Truth cannot contradict truth, so obviously sola scripture has resulted in thousands of false beliefs, in just a few hundred years. Meanwhile, the one Church Jesus founded remains one in belief, one in teaching, one in worship, one in biblical understanding throughout the world, with no conflicting denominations, after 2,000 years. You just can't beat God's plan.

 

[truefiction1]

Do we need traditions to remain in righteous standing with God?

Yes, because we need true repentance to be in proper standing with God, and true repentance is Holy Tradition of the Church.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hi Family,

As I look to the different denominations I see some riddled with traditions that some individuals find necessary to bless or to appease God.

Do we need these traditions?

Are we naive or small minded to place value on traditions?

Do traditions save you?

Are they necessary?

Why do traditions that are contradictory to the Word even allowed to continue?

~Natsumi Lam~

Keep the traditions of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. All the rest are the traditions of men.
Blessings

 

[Llleopard]

Interesting to hear all these different views. Our church is grappling with this question at the moment, and this helps me see some other ways to look at tradition. My daughter post on Facebook the other day 'traditions are peer pressure from dead people' which I rather like too.

 

[mnphysicist]

Traditions prevent one from making a god in their own image. However traditions may or may not be true especially so if they have not stood up to the test of time. Ie consider rapture theology as a tradition under 200 years old. On the other hand blindly following tradition without study can be iffy... Consider Origens teaching on UR as nearly 2000 yrs old but few consider it correct despite it being scripturally based.

 

[Yarddog]

Hi Family,

As I look to the different denominations I see some riddled with traditions that some individuals find necessary to bless or to appease God.

Do we need these traditions?

Are we naive or small minded to place value on traditions?

Do traditions save you?

Are they necessary?

Why do traditions that are contradictory to the Word even allowed to continue?

~Natsumi Lam~

A tradition is something is normally done in one's church. If the church opens with the Lord's Prayer, that is their tradition. Not sure which traditions you mean by contradictory to the Word, which is traditionally Jesus.

 

[DamianWarS]

The closest I allow is to be silent when others do.

what posture do you take when you go silent in a non-prayer? do you mimic the prayer posture of the group whatever that may be or you remain the same as you were before the prayer starts? What are you thinking during this time of silence?

 

[Mountainmike]

You need to understand the meaning of "tradition"

There are two separate words "tradition" which is in greek "paradosis" which is the entire faith handed down by apostolic succession as it was to the first Christians. And that is the way in which Paul uses it "stay true to traditions" etc, also the meaning used by such as iraneus and all the church fathers.

It also provides meaning for scripture. Where many groups dispute a meaning eg of real presence or sacramental nature of the eucharist by looking to tradition, the faith handed down from apostles we see that is the true meaning. That is "sacred tradition" in the meaning catholics use it.
So clearly it is essential. WIthout it protestant groups schism.

That is often confused or conflated with the colloquial usage of the word "traditions" that is extraneous acts to faith, which may add colour, or continuity, but are not entirely necessary.

Hi Family,

As I look to the different denominations I see some riddled with traditions that some individuals find necessary to bless or to appease God.

Do we need these traditions?

Are we naive or small minded to place value on traditions?

Do traditions save you?

Are they necessary?

Why do traditions that are contradictory to the Word even allowed to continue?

~Natsumi Lam~

 

[blackribbon]

I think many traditions bring us comfort once you understand what their role is. I didn't like a lot of traditions when I was younger and looked for churches that didn't have many. As I have grown older, I find myself being drawn back because the richness that can be found in the subtle Biblical reminders that exist within these traditions. There are stories being told without a word being recited during many of those traditions.

 

[Unnamed Guy]

Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Matthew 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Churches that emphasize traditions discourage reading the bible, for obvious reasons.

 

[mnphysicist]

Churches that emphasize traditions discourage reading the bible, for obvious reasons.

I agree that traditions are often a power struggle... but it would be really really hard if not impossible for a new believer to take on everything from a point of total deconstruction.

Consider someone who might have grown up in a church that ascribes to inerrancy, OSAS and KJVonlyism, and now they are asked to cast those traditions aside in the pursuit of serious study of the scriptures to become a pastor. Such works out ok for most seminarians in a very supportive environment, being the fallout from such is expected. It rarely works out well for individuals trying to give it a go on their own.... and for a new believer to try and start from a blank state without any traditions being taught, it would be really hard.