What personal traditions might God be asking you to reconsider in light of Acts 10:13? Setting the Scene “Then a voice said to him: ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’” (Acts 10:13) Peter had kept kosher all his life, convinced it honored God. Yet the Lord Himself told him to rise, kill, and eat animals he had always avoided. Scripture records the event as literal history, demonstrating God’s authority to override human tradition whenever it hinders the gospel. Key Principle Drawn from Peter’s Vision • Divine revelation outranks personal custom • God’s plan to gather people from every nation required Peter to release long-held, yet now outdated, distinctions between “clean” and “unclean” (see Acts 10:28, 34-35) • Traditions are beneficial only when they align with clear biblical teaching (Mark 7:8) Personal Traditions Worth Reconsidering 1. Dietary or health rules elevated to moral absolutes – Romans 14:3 warns against judging another believer’s eating choices 2. Cultural preferences presented as spiritual mandates – Clothing styles, musical genres, or worship formats not specified in Scripture 3. Social boundaries that limit fellowship – Avoiding believers of different ethnic, economic, or educational backgrounds 4. Family rituals treated as universal commands – Particular holiday observances or homeschooling, for example, upheld as the only godly option 5. Political alignments presumed synonymous with faithfulness – Confusing loyalty to a party with loyalty to Christ 6. “Unwritten rules” about Christian maturity – Expecting all believers to share identical convictions on media, recreation, or courtship Scriptural Touchstones to Test Our Traditions • Colossians 2:16-17: “Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.” • 1 Samuel 16:7: “Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” • Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Steps for Discernment • Compare the tradition with explicit Scripture • Evaluate whether it promotes love, unity, and gospel witness (John 13:35) • Seek counsel from mature believers who handle the Word accurately • Remain teachable, remembering God may stretch us as He stretched Peter Encouraging Promises • Freedom in Christ never contradicts holiness; it clarifies it (Galatians 5:1) • The Lord who challenged Peter also guided him, ensuring the gospel reached Cornelius and beyond • God honors obedience to His Word over adherence to man-made rules, and He grants wisdom generously to those who ask (James 1:5) |
    |