Earlier this year I wrote about Mark 7:9. I am going back to Mark 7 again. I have said several times here that repetition is something to which we need to pay attention. Look at the concept of tradition in Mark 7:1 – 13:
Notice in verse 9 and 13 what tradition does, it sets aside the commandment of God and it invalidates the Word of God.
How?
When we come up with ideas that are not sourced in or validated by the Word of God and we hold those ideas closely, we are putting those ideas ahead of God’s Word, setting aside the commandment and invalidating God’s Word. If we base our lives and or ministry on anything other than the Word, we have done what Mark 7:1 – 13 says.
It does not matter how old the ideas are. It does not matter who came up with them. If they are not validated by the Word of God, they are setting the Word aside for man’s idea.
This has happened before, Jeremiah 23:21 – 32 records for us a time when the leaders, prophets, and priests were sharing their own ideas, dreams even stealing those ideas from one another rather than sharing the Word of God with the people.
It is a good thing that does not happen today.
| Verse | |
| 5 | tradition of the elders |
| 7 | precepts of men |
| 8 | tradition of men |
| 9 | your tradition |
| 13 | your tradition |
Notice in verse 9 and 13 what tradition does, it sets aside the commandment of God and it invalidates the Word of God.
How?
When we come up with ideas that are not sourced in or validated by the Word of God and we hold those ideas closely, we are putting those ideas ahead of God’s Word, setting aside the commandment and invalidating God’s Word. If we base our lives and or ministry on anything other than the Word, we have done what Mark 7:1 – 13 says.
It does not matter how old the ideas are. It does not matter who came up with them. If they are not validated by the Word of God, they are setting the Word aside for man’s idea.
This has happened before, Jeremiah 23:21 – 32 records for us a time when the leaders, prophets, and priests were sharing their own ideas, dreams even stealing those ideas from one another rather than sharing the Word of God with the people.
It is a good thing that does not happen today.
OK Mike.. This one touches a nerve, because of how deceitful the enemy is at making these "traditions" LOOK like they are based in scripture. Take hard-line and neo-calvanism as an example: The messages taught are often read directly out of scripture - but lacking the overall emphasis of scripture on the heart and love of God for all mankind. If two theologians, one Armenian/Free-will theist, and one Piper-driven-Calvinist, were to argue from scripture, an intelligent yet detached observer might be persuaded by the Calvanist's strong reliance upon scriptures that appear to uphold his argument, while finding the Free-will theist with very little 'direct' support for his argument. And yet, in the whole of scripture, with all of God's word in consideration, there is a delicate balance and inter-mixing of the two opposing viewpoints. So, in this case, as well as in many other cases, it is critical that we consider your warning (as well as Jeremiah's and Mark's) in context of using scripture to uphold our own ideas above God's Word as a whole. Remember, one of the litmus tests of scripture (or more accurately, our interpretation of scripture or the people wielding it) is whether or not it matches what Jesus did and said on the earth, and another is whether it bears the fruit of the Spirit, or some other fruit. I'd argue that someone can mis-use scripture to "validate" their own ideas above God's rather than seeking after the ideas of God via the scriptures as they make sense in the context of WHO God is and WHAT His character is throughout scripture and the life of Christ.
ReplyDeleteBeware - knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Andy