Traditions

 BY Argie Simonis

CHURCH TRADITIONS ---- Good or bad? Should we follow them or not?

2 Thes. 2:15 vs Matt. 15:2-9

I intend to focus into the uncovering of this dangerous spirit of religiosity that comes in a very subtle way from within the church, or else the "religious" spirit that crucified our Christ. Today's post is just an introduction to what follows.

On one hand we have the apostle Paul telling us:

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

On the other hand we read Jesus' words from the gospel of Matthew:

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

"Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:7‭-‬9

A representative example is the following text I found posted on a page:

"The term Mysteries generally refers to the divinely ordained ceremonies necessary for the salvation of man, which aim at the sanctification of the members of the church, their union with the deity and the ability to inherit eternal life."

If the salvation of man is based on rituals, I do not wonder for the state our society is in today.

The same Paul urging the Thessalonians to keep the traditions they were taught, he says to the Galatians:

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

Galatians 3:1‭-‬3

To be continued...