THE
TRADITIONS OF GOD
AND
THE TRADITIONS OF MEN
(AND
APOSTASY)
THE WORD "TRADITION"
as used in the New Testament signifies a giving over or handing down. It
is used in a good sense; it is used in a bad sense. There are the traditions
of God (I Corinthians 11:2; II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6). There are the
traditions of men (Colossians 2:8; Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13). We have
received the traditions of God from the apostles and other holy men inspired
and guided by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 11:2; 14:37; Ephesians 3:3-5).
These traditions are now embodied in the Holy Scriptures (II Timothy 3:14-17).
The traditions of men are simply that, traditions of men. They come from
an extra-scriptural source, from uninspired men, and not the Holy Scriptures.
Consequently the religious traditions of men are found to be at variance
with the Scriptures. This conflict is seen in the words of the scribes
and Pharisees as they confronted the Lord: "Why do Your disciples transgress
the tradition of the elders?" And in how he forthwith replied with his
own prodding question: "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God
because of your tradition?"
The Bible ends with these words of warning: "For
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:
If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are
written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from
the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation
22:18,19, NKJV). Paul, years before, had solemnly written to the Galatians,
"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8,
NKJV). Apostasy and departure from what they had been taught, the traditions
of God, ever loomed before the early church (Acts 20:26-32; I Timothy 4:1-5;
II Timothy 3:10-4:5). This impending apostasy is graphically portrayed
in II Thessalonians 2:1-12. Paul even said in his day that "the mystery
of lawlessness is already at work" (2:7). It is no surprise then that serious
departures from the faith surfaced in the second century. The extra-scriptural
writings of the second century cannot be trusted.
We live today in the midst of falling away when the
doctrines, commandments, and traditions of men fill the land in varying
degrees (as evidenced by so many denominations and their diverse teachings).
The great falling away, as prophesied in II Thessalonians 2:1-12, came
with the bishop (pope) of Rome asserting his authority over the church
that was becoming increasingly apostate. The councils (and counsels) of
men with the traditions of men were exalted over the traditions of God,
the Holy Scriptures (and what they taught). With the decline and fall of
the Roman Empire the Dark Ages really set in. The apostate church, with
its superstitions, filled the vacuum. But in time, leaders of the Protestant
Reformation arose and sought to correct the religious ills of their day.
Some of their efforts were good, while others were simply reactionary,
producing additional traditions of men. Then, generally, many simply modified
many of the traditions of the apostasy and carried them over into their
denominations in varying degrees. Today we have a mixture of all of this
in denominationalism (along with modern-day sects and cults), plus modern
unbelief that sets aside the basic tradition of the Word of God itself.
Most have a musty mentality when it comes to even considering religious
truth. Indeed, these are perilous times in which to live.
As always, God has His remnant. As always, God's
people are in the minority (Matthew 7:13,14). And we would address these
words to them (to you). Let us not be taken up into apostasy again, forsaking
the holy traditions of the Lord. The danger is very real; it is ever before
us, and especially in such a world as we live today. We point you to the
antidote for apostasy that the apostle Paul and others kept before the
early church. It is a sure way not to stumble into the doctrines and traditions
of men.
First, then, we point you to God. We point you to
Christ. Don't belong to a denomination, belong to Christ. Know Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote, "Beware lest anyone cheat [plunder] you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according
to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For
in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete
in Him, who is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:8-10,
NKJV). The same message is found in II Peter (II Peter 1:2-4; 3:17,18).
We are not a candidate for apostasy if we really know the Lord (and appreciate
the unsurpassed relationship that we have in him). The epistle of I John
stresses this same truth.
Finally, we point you to God's Word. This is the
mighty bulwark of truth. Believe it. Know it. Keep it, and it will keep
you. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of the coming apostasy, then pointed
to God and the Word of God. He said, "So now, brethren, I commend you to
God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give
you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32, NKJV).
Likewise, II Timothy chapter 3 speaks of falling away. To get the full
picture read the whole chapter and part of the following chapter. Timothy
was told that "evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived" (3:13). To deal with the situation personally, he was
told, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been
assured of, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood
you have known the Holy Scriptures…All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work" (3:14-17, NKJV). And to safeguard the church,
he was solemnly charged, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according
to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up
for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to fables" (4:1-4, NKJV). Yes, we point you to the
Word of God. Being the truth of God, there is nothing like it to put false
teachers to flight with their traditions of men. But when the Word of God
is not preached in all of its fullness, we are already on the road to apostasy.
Yes, we live in perilous times wherein the spirit
of apostasy permeates the air and the traditions of men are all about us.
With the apostle Paul we seriously admonish you "that we should no longer
be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…"
(Ephesians 4:14, NKJV). Let us love and appreciate the truth. If we don't,
we are in grave danger (II Thessalonians 2:10-12; II Timothy 4:3,4). And
with Paul we further admonish you, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and
hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle"
(II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6). Not only that, go a step further and with
Jude let us "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered
to the saints" (Jude 3). Amen!
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