Jesus said the traditions of men make the word of God void.
Mk. 7 ... 1 Then came together unto HIM the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of HIS disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
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?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth ME with their lips, but their heart is far from ME. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 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. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Paul warned us about taking on the traditions of men.
Col. 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. 9 For in HIM dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:
Some of the traditions of men ...
- Decorating graves ... What is a person really saying when he carries flowers to a grave and decorates a grave? Is this pagan or Christian? Where did this tradition come from? Is this worldly or spiritual? Are we told in Bible to do this or is this tradition of man?
My cousin's husband of 60+ years died. As she spoke of the funeral they had planned for him, she spoke of decorating his grave. I asked her, "Who are you trying to impress? Thurman is "asleep". This is what death is, falling asleep. He doesn't see you there. He doesn't know you are there. So who are you trying to impress?"
She grew silent for a moment ... then she said, "Then it really doesn't matter where a person is buried."
I replied: "THAT'S RIGHT!"
In USA there is day set aside yearly called "Memorial Day." People go out and decorate graves. When some Baptist women were doing this is asked them why they would do this. It does not testify to the resurrection so why would you do this. One said, "It made her feel better." Flesh ... all flesh ...
Isaiah 65 ... God says ... 3 A people that provoketh ME to anger continually to MY face;
that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;
4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments,
Bible example: When Sarah died, Abraham purchased a burial place so he could "bury her out of his sight."
We go forward, pressing forward in the ways of God, not focused on the dead.
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Another tradition of men ... making New Year's Resolutions which worldly men and women consider to make themselves better on this earth ...
Only by God are we made better as HE reveals to us HIS Word and we choose to set aside our own way of our flesh and go in HIS way are we made better.
The flesh never improves! Paul told us this in Romans 7.
The works of the flesh are: Gal. 5 ... 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
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The churches today also have set up some traditions to be observed in the church services.
Many churches pass around crackers and grape juice calling this "The Lord's Supper."
There is no power at all in crackers and grape juice.
The Lord's Supper is the eating and drinking of the Word of God.
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The world sets up traditions thinking the eating of certain foods to bring luck through the year.
In the USA, on New Year's Day, many eat black eyed peas saying this brings luck throughout the year.
This becomes food offered to an idol.
Paul warns us not to participate if anyone give us a food offered to an idol.
I Cor. 10 ... 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God:and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils:ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
... 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake:for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
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Another tradition of man that I will not participate in is the clicking of drink glasses together as if there is some power by doing this.
Man is just acting by tradition when he does this and is trying to feel power is of himself.
I know power is of God and not of man. I do not want to exalt man falsely, over God and will not be a part of such.
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We, as Christians, delivered from this world by God should think about what we do on this earth.
"Where is that in the Bible," should be continually in our heart as a point of examination over that which we do on this earth.
There are many idols today which man avidly pursues that I choose to avoid.
Bodily exercise ...
Paul says, 7 But refuse profane and old wives 'fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little:but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. I Tim. 4
Abstaining from meats ...
I Tim. 4 ... 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Preventive medicine ...
Jesus said ... 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Jesus was making a common sense point that whole people do not need a physician. Today we have entered into another wisdom of man but even now some are questioning this wisdom.
Lighting of candles and tying ribbons around trees thinking some form of power in such ...
This ribbon "tradition" came from a popular music song during a recent war.
Lighting candles for power is practiced in Catholic church, as I understand, it has to do with getting prayer answered. There is certainly no such thing in the Bible. Faith in God is important in prayer.
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As people of God we should be very careful about participating in pagan rituals. We should think about what we are doing after we are born again.
Is this really in the Bible?