The cost of Traditions

[MatthewG]

While I believe anyone can do what they want as far as their church teaches. Some people may celebrate new moons, or whatever. As long as the person knows where their heart stands in front of Yahavah, that is all fine and good.

“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is why I don’t mind if people want to celebrate Christmas, Saints Paddy’s day, Halloween , continue to have communion, or perhaps go by what their church dictates though traditions can get in the way of a person relationship with God.

Jesus explains to the Pharisees that it was trust what Isaiah had to say about them concerning their hearts, all these things would continue to grow and accumulate, even with the lie told about Jesus resurrection.



They would side step the law for the case of their traditions, and ultimately have Jesus put to death to carry on their supplications of ignoring God all together which accumulate at their destruction when Jerusalem was over thrown and destroyed by the armies as Jesus had predicated.

“A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I tend to believe all the Gospels were written after the resurrection so the lie they tell to this day would be concerning the traditions they had accumulated over time which in the end cost them, their very own lives, for a Kingdom which they believed was material but in the end was Spiritual.

“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.””
‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It all depends on where your own heart is, on the things of God despite traditions, because the changes of the heart only come by the Spirit and not the fleshly way of doing things.

 

[MatthewG]

I believe in the personal journey of going with God is one of faith. Though I believe that people are truly free to believe in the face of this notion. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood." One tradition that I believe is continually taught is that "Jesus is coming back." And I believe that is totally okay if a person who desires to believe that Jesus is coming back in this day and age, and they believe the rapture is coming, and they believe there will be a third temple that is coming, and the antichrist shows up etc... I don't believe those types of traditions help us in our spiritual walk. The walk of the person who walks in the Spirit is one of love. Many people will fight against my belief, of choosing faithfully that Jesus had come back already and that is fine. You are truly free to believe how you want to.

The question that comes up most in peoples mind is this "If Jesus has come back, then what's the hope, you are taking hope away from me because you say that Jesus has already come back."

Well the hope to me is faithfully accepting that you are part of God's Kingdom in faith of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Yeshua (I believe this can include his return having happened now today as well.) Hope in newness of life through Christ, being heirs with him, walking in Spirit which causes fruits of love, which comes by and through abiding Christ. Hope in that the afterlife place of the Heavenly realm, contains unbelievers, and believers are going into the Kingdom. Hope that there is something to do in the afterlife, (perhaps helping those outside the gate.) Hope in hell being done away with as promised in the Revelation.

I find the differences of what is going on here interesting, but not one person has to believe, or hope in these things if they choose not to, in the end people must choose for themselves what they will believe, and in the end I believe that the World has been reconciled because of Christ, and that everyone has a part of Christ in them, not everyone looks to God, in which the newness of life stims from. I believe that a separation exists in the afterlife, and no one ends up in hell anymore. I find this to be a greater view, compared to the traditional views many hold.

I don't mind being told I am wrong, and that I am miss guided, or that I am a heretic. In the end I just desire the best for everyone in their life looking to God, faithfully towards the Lord Jesus, worshiping God in spirit and truth.

 

[Wrangler]

The cost of Traditions​

Contrary to JW mindset, a major reason for Christianity's success as it exploded out of the near East was its few doctrines allowed it to not compete or displace existing traditions.

By cultural appropriation, Christianity melded seamlessly with Pagan cultures outside the territory directly touched by Christ. As far as the cost, one who examines their life must separate the mundane from the divine. As a Christian, we need not take a moral stand against the tradition to celebrate birthdays on the grounds that it is not ‘Biblical,’ not a 1st century Palestine tradition.

I’m all for embracing reasons to celebrate - provided we are otherwise living up to our responsibilities. For instance, in my lifetime in America a new tradition emerged, Gender Reveal. It should not ‘break the bank’ in extravagance or violate other Biblical principles.

 

[Rita]

Contrary to JW mindset, a major reason for Christianity's success as it exploded out of the near East was its few doctrines allowed it to not compete or displace existing traditions.

By cultural appropriation, Christianity melded seamlessly with Pagan cultures outside the territory directly touched by Christ. As far as the cost, one who examines their life must separate the mundane from the divine. As a Christian, we need not take a moral stand against the tradition to celebrate birthdays on the grounds that it is not ‘Biblical,’ not a 1st century Palestine tradition.

I’m all for embracing reasons to celebrate - provided we are otherwise living up to our responsibilities. For instance, in my lifetime in America a new tradition emerged, Gender Reveal. It should not ‘break the bank’ in extravagance or violate other Biblical principles.

I agree, the other traditions that have come here to the U.K. , from the US, are ‘ Sweet sixteen ‘ ‘ Graduation ‘ Baby Showers ‘. Weddings have become extravagant- so much money spent on one day !
Christmas I have mixed views about as it has become so engrained in our cultures that it is hard to take a step back and not celebrate ect.

 

[MatthewG]

I think in Jesus day, he was speaking against the Pharisees, whom would violate the law, in order to get their means met. Such as disregarding the law of Honor your Father and Mother, if not they were to be put to death. They would disregard the law in saying what they had been doing was given to God “corbin” I think was the word at least in the KJV. Similar how they are asking him about why do your disciples not wash their hands as the traditions of the elders before them had set in place. Jesus fulfilled the law and prophets by loving God first and loving others. I believe that is why he also said to them, have you not read where it was against the law to eat the bread of the priest but “for the good of David” he was hungry so he ate but not to himself he had given to his friends who were with him.


When it comes to all these modern traditions today, some of them are used with biblical tenants, just as the example I gave with the second post. Of if you don’t give money to the church you are restricted from God and other things abound Im sure.

 

[MatthewG]

On note of Marriage, Jesus explains quite clearly, because both of you are right it’s not about that big emotional thing. It’s an intimate thing rather than the emotional drive of some big planned wedding.

The Biblical Defintion of Marriage; by Jesus

Most believe it’s about having some extravagant wedding, or rings, etc… According to Jesus/Yeshua. It’s when a man and woman become one. In otherwords, laying down with their becoming husband or wife. While states require people to record their marriage: one can simply do so by going to a...

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