How can we discern between beneficial traditions and those contradicting God's Word? Discernment Begins with the Text Mark 7:9: “He continued, ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the command of God in order to maintain your tradition!’” • The Lord treats Scripture as the final, infallible authority. • Any practice that competes with or nullifies clear commands is instantly disqualified. • Our first and constant step is therefore to measure every tradition—family, church, cultural—against the plain words God has already spoken. Why Certain Traditions Turn Toxic • They elevate human preference above divine precept (cf. Matthew 15:3-9). • They replace heart obedience with external performance (cf. Isaiah 29:13). • They obscure the gospel’s simplicity and sufficiency (cf. Galatians 1:6-9). • They create inequity, giving power to those who “interpret” while silencing ordinary believers. • They deaden spiritual vitality by discouraging fresh submission to the Spirit and Word. Guidelines for Evaluating a Tradition 1. Origin Test – Trace its roots. Was it instituted by the apostles (1 Corinthians 11:2) or by later human authority? 2. Command Test – Compare it line-by-line with explicit biblical commands (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If it contradicts, discard it. 3. Gospel Test – Ask whether it adds to, subtracts from, or muddies the message of Christ crucified and risen (Galatians 2:21). 4. Fruit Test – Look for outcomes: holiness, love, and sound doctrine—or pride, division, and legalism (Matthew 7:16-20). 5. Edification Test – Determine whether it builds up the body without binding consciences where God gives liberty (Romans 14:5-6). 6. Permanence Test – See if it can survive unchanged wherever and whenever God’s people gather, or if it depends on a fleeting culture (1 Peter 1:24-25). When a Tradition Can Serve the Gospel • Aids that help remember God’s works (e.g., communion, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). • Rhythms that foster corporate worship and order (e.g., regular assembly, Hebrews 10:25). • Tools that transmit sound doctrine across generations (e.g., creeds reflecting Scripture). • Practices that encourage mutual love and submission without replacing God’s commands (Ephesians 5:19-21). Cross-References That Sharpen Discernment • Colossians 2:8 — warns against captivity to human philosophy. • Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony!” anything else has “no light of dawn.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:21 — “Test all things; hold fast to what is good.” • 2 Thessalonians 2:15 — commends traditions handed down by apostolic teaching, not by mere men. • Revelation 22:18-19 — severe warning against adding to or subtracting from God’s Word. Putting It into Practice • Stay immersed in daily Bible intake; it calibrates the heart to God’s voice. • Evaluate long-held customs afresh as you grow in understanding; Scripture never changes, but your insight deepens. • Discuss potential conflicts in community, letting Scripture, not charisma or history, settle the matter. • Retain traditions that clearly align with the Word and bear good fruit; release those that compete or distract. • Rejoice that the unchanging Word equips believers “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17), freeing us to honor Christ above all else. |
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