When Traditions Oppose God’s Will

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples transgress against the traditions of the elders?  For they don’t wash their hands before they eat!”  Jesus replied, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God commanded you saying, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘he who curses his father or mother, let him be put to death.’  But you say that if a man says to his father or mother ‘Whatever financial support you might have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ thus he doesn’t need to ‘honor his father or mother’ with it.  Therefore you nullify God’s commandment for the sake of your tradition.  You hypocrites!  Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you saying:  “‘These people draw near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’” (Mathew 15: 1-9.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    Over the course of many centuries, the Jewish people began to elevate their own traditions above the commandments of God.  One tradition in particular required individuals to ritualistically purify their hands before eating a meal.  The religious leaders condemned the Lord and His disciples for not observing this custom.  In response, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for permitting one of their traditions to nullify God’s fifth commandment (“honor thy father and thy mother.”)  This tradition, known as ‘Corban,’ made it acceptable to commit any or all of one’s wealth to God (and to the temple treasury.)  In turn, any money needed to care for or aide ailing parents or loved ones became null and void.  God did not create this tradition of ‘Corban,’ for if He had, He would have clearly outlined it in scripture.  Jesus Christ does not honor the traditions of men; instead, He and his followers obey the laws and commandments of God.

    Today there is no doubt that the Amish people possess a zeal for God.  And yet, at some point, the Amish community contracted a serious case of ‘rigid traditionalism.’  They became obsessed with rituals not outlined in scripture; making it very difficult for them to effectively evangelize to anyone other than their own children (evangelism is a requirement of every believer; Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”  The ‘old order’ Amish have made their customs a requirement for Church membership.  New members must become farmers.  Automobiles, radios, and televisions are prohibited; bicycles and wrist watches are forbidden; photographs are outlawed as well; married men must grow beards and telephones can only be used outside of the home for business purposes, etc. What began as a desire to avoid conforming to the evils of society, has made it very difficult for them to reach the lost. (Note:  Not all Amish traditions are wrong; many do have their genesis in scripture:  modest dress, pacifism, and the sanctity of marriage, to name a few.)

    Today, there are a countless number of Christian denominations, and non-essential doctrines have caused numerous divisions.  Many traditions have been placed above the laws of God.  Potential believers in Christ are viewed as potential believers in a particular church.  However, the Father has a single set of standards. He has laid out what pleases Him in a book (the Holy Bible.)  Any requirements of a church not founded upon God’s word are the rules of men; such rules can serve to confuse, divide, and neutralize the people of God.  (Note:  Does this mean churches that have non-biblical traditions are evil?  No.  All churches contain a measure of ‘traditionalism.’  However, we must never allow non-scriptural traditions to gain power and prominence over the Lord’s commandments.)

“Lord Heavenly Father, help us to avoid becoming victims of ‘traditionalism.’  May we always honor Your commandments above man-made practices.  Help us to find common ground with all those who believe.  Give us the strength to live by Your word; may we know each precept and every teaching; may Your words never be replaced by our own understanding.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Serpents and Doves

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

   “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore be wise as serpents and as harmless (innocent) as doves” (Mathew 10: 16.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Those who accept the Holy Spirit and forsake evil are cleansed of all unrighteousness.  They are made pure and holy; they are reborn, rendering them as innocent as doves.  However, unlike natural born children whose innocence is accompanied by ignorance, the ‘reborn’ child of God retains the knowledge of good and evil.  In the heart of every believer, innocence and wisdom exist in harmony.  The serpent that Jesus speaks about is a creature that symbolizes wisdom.  In Genesis, God created the serpent to be the wisest of all the animals.  Characteristically, snakes are rarely surprised or caught off guard; they patiently wait for opportunities to strike and always keep their eyes on potential predators.  In a world filled with evil, God’s eternal offspring must apply comparable wisdom to avoid destruction. Like the serpent, believers must identify hungry predators and turn to face them.  How can we be loving toward those who are evil, while at the same time making sure we don’t get eaten by them?  Being both a dove and a serpent can be difficult; it demands discipline and divine guidance.

     Some years ago a man entered the coffee shop where I was studying; it was late and there were very few customers. He began speaking in a broken English accent and was behaving in a rather peculiar manner. He started drawing attention to himself by flirting with the workers behind the register.  When the employees were distracted, the man leaned over the counter and snatched some money from the tip jar; quickly concealing it.  I promptly rose up and approached the counter.  When the man turned around he was greeted with a stern look.  “Put it back,” I insisted.  “I’m so sorry” he replied; admitting to his devious actions; he returned the money and asked for forgiveness.  He claimed he was starving and in desperate need of money.  My heart softened a bit; I informed him that what he really needed was Jesus.  I then offered to help him so he didn’t have to steal.  I gave him a bible from my car and some money from an ATM. After gratefully receiving these blessings, he departed.  Like a serpent, God had given me the wisdom to recognize evil, and to expose and oppose a predator. An yet, like a dove, I avoided despising the man or harming him; instead I showed him love and cared for him according to the will of God.

    God has called every follower to be wise; equipping them with the ability to recognize and oppose evil. Believers must also be harmless and innocent; showing love and affection toward those who oppose what is good.  The wicked despise God’s children; they yearn to destroy, to pervert, and to devour the faithful; while the faithful seek to build up, to love, and to convert the wicked.  Walk wisely in the ways of God, and reach out to the lost; bring hope to the hopeless and let the Lord shine through you; submit yourself to the call of God, and become a messenger of light in a world filled with darkness.

     “Lord Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to avoid being harmed by evil while at the same time opposing it.  May we be kind to those who walk in darkness and be willing to love the wicked.  May Your light shine brightly in us and through us; that we might direct others away from destruction and toward eternal life.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Being a Disciple

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “A disciple is not above his master (teacher), but everyone who is properly taught will be like his master” (Luke 6: 40.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     In the bible, God is referred to as “the most high,” because elevation is how human beings distinguish between what is valuable and invaluable.  People honor things by lifting them up.  In ancient times, when a king stepped down from his thrown and stood at ground level with his subjects, those subjects would lower themselves beneath him; many would bow, others would kneel.  If the king was a child, then his subjects would sprawl out face first on the ground to make sure the king stood above them.  The teacher and student relationship is quite similar (as Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher”.) The disciple, or student, must realize his or her lack of knowledge (they lower themselves); the teacher then becomes the superior source of necessary information.  In exchange for their humility and ability to learn, the disciples were promised that they would become like Jesus.  Anyone who lacked this type of humility could not be a follower of Jesus then, and cannot be His follower today.  A person who believes they have a better way, or who desires to learn from sources other than the Lord, cannot be properly taught.

    A long time ago, I was caught in a dilemma. I remember calling up a friend for advice on a situation that had made me absolutely furious.  In the middle of the conversation they said, “What would Jesus do?”  I tried to shrug it off, and replied something like, “Well, He’s Jesus, I can’t be like Him.”  However, the question cut deep into me; the answer to how to react to the situation wasn’t debatable; rather, it had a face, and a name, and that name was Jesus Christ.  I was not called to behave in my own way, but to behave like Him.  After all, a disciple is someone who is a student and follower of their teacher.

    If you are a believer, then you as well are called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  How does that process begin for you?  First, you must humble yourself and lift Him up.  Jesus Christ must become the moral authority in your life.  Get rid of any competing teachers, and make His words the foundation upon which your life and your actions are built.  Bible reading is essential. Commit some of your time daily to the study of His words.  The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the book of Revelation contain His spoken words and descriptions of His behavior; only by knowing your teacher can you be properly taught; and only by humbling yourself before the living God can you become His disciple.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask to become Your disciples.  We lift up Your Son and we ask that He become our teacher.  Jesus, speak to us in our hearts, and mold us and shape us into Your image.  Remind us of all of the words that You have spoken, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may minister to all those You place in our path.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!