It’s tough when tradition trumps family. Daman Rao knows this bitter reality only too well. Born in a small south Asia village to a family steeped in superstitious tradition, he was despised and mistreated by them for simply being the fifth child and a boy.
Fortunately, as Daman grew into his teens, he was befriended by believers in Jesus and received the Lord as His Savior. His new family in Christ loves Him and is helping him grow in his faith.
Jesus voiced some strong words about man-made practices to some religious leaders of His day. He questioned, “Why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?” The Pharisees and religious teachers had asked Jesus why their elaborate hand-washing routine had been ignored by the disciples as they headed to the buffet table (Matthew 15:2-3).
Jesus’ potent question blew away their smokescreen and revealed two things:
• The religious leaders’ adherence to futile human laws and tradition versus God’s commands (they were not honoring their parents, v.4; Exodus 20:12).
• The leaders were acting nice and righteous, but they lacked a real heart of worship for God (Matthew 15:8-9). This latter point was driven home by Jesus as He quoted Isaiah 29:13—a passage familiar to His audience in which God condemned His people for being all about man-made, legalistic rules, but not His commands.
Traditions can be important. But when we begin to confuse them with what Scripture actually teaches, we’ve crossed a line. When we start to love them more than God Himself, we’re in trouble spiritually. Let’s strive to honor God with our actions and worship Him with all our hearts (Matthew 15:8-9).
More:
You cancel the Word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others (Mark 7:13).
Next:
How has tradition trumped your fellowship with other believers? Why must God’s Word always supercede tradition?
R R Kelkar on June 13, 2010 at 3:39 am
I live in a predominantly non-Christian country. It is my practice each year to invite my friends to join me in celebrating Christmas. I would like to share with them the joy of the birth of my saviour. But for that do I have to set up a Christmas tree? Or do I have to sing Jingle Bells? These traditions, which are alien to our indigenous culture, mean little to them. On the other hand, with globalization, it is our shopping malls that are now organizing Christmas celebrations with Christmas trees, dancing and Santa Claus. How do we bring Christ into this culture of merrymaking, fun and frolic?.
Sheila V. Williams on June 13, 2010 at 9:42 am
No not unless the Heavenly Father lead you to do so. I love Christmas I put up my tree in the honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because that who it is all about anyway. Him come on this earth to die for ours sin sick souls. And I am so glad that He did. Without him we can not even take a breath so when I invite non-christian and christian to my home and they see my tree that when question are ask. And that give me a chance to let them all know who Jesus is and who He is to me. So just let the Spirit of the Lord lead you in all that you do and you want go wrong with nothing or in nothing Amen Just remember Proverbs 3:5-8 and walk on my brother in Jesus name.
censation on June 13, 2010 at 9:42 am
I’m just starting to read the daily word and it’s like good medicine for the soul. I enjoyed this mornings reading about tradition.I normally go to the street festival in D.C it’s a gay pride festival and I usually look forward to going every year but for some reason I chose not to go maybe it was God’s Will
after all it’s His Will and not My Own. I’ve been living a gay lifestyle for a long time but in my heart I know God does not approve and I struggle with this fact everyday. And I know God loves me he even cured me of cancer recently and I’m trying so much to get back in his good gracious.I may have missed my normal tradition by going to the annual festival but I’m going to start my own tradition by reading the daily bread.
Sheila V. Williams on June 13, 2010 at 9:55 am
My dear God love you and didn’t you ever forget that. Now this is what you need to do ask God to clean you spirit of all spirits that are trying to keep you in your past. Then you read Psalms 23,27,24,27,51 and Psalms 91,92,93,94,103 everyday and well as Ephesians6:10-18,and Romans 8 and Chapter 8 and IPeter 2:9 and run on my dear in Jesus name.Amen
Fitzman on June 13, 2010 at 2:56 pm
God is really awesome–He has given us His Holy Spirit Who leads us into all truth. What is truth? That Jesus Christ died in our place nailed to a tree. The Bible is truth and the Holy Spirit teaches this. Tradition is fine if you know why it is there. God is love. Jesus is alive and wants to trade His Life for ours. We do this by practicing Romans 12: 2 –“Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…” What a great trade. Amen?
ncaberte on June 13, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I also come from a very ritualistic religion which my family believes in but when I became a bible believing Christian, they ostracized me. It was painful but I continue in my faith and day by day my life has changed from being a bitter person to a much, much better person. And they saw that changed (for which i didn’t know at first) and they became curious. They know Jesus and about Jesus but not the real Jesus I KNOW. So I began to let them know through my life and through sharing of His Word. I thank God for everything He has done in my family.