“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:1-6). Jesus conclusion to these scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem was, “But in vain they do worship me; teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Isn’t this interesting to note that the scribes and Pharisees had traditions that had grown into the position of being on par with God’s commandments?
One wonders if this can still happen today. Can we, talking about any one of the church of Christ make our thoughts on level with the commands of God? Could we, of the church of Christ, make any of the traditions that we hold near and dear to our hearts on level with the commands of God? Yes, we can and many times we do. Let us notice how and then what are some of our thoughts and traditions that we place on the same par as the Word of God.
First, let us see how this can happen. Do you have full knowledge about every biblical subject? Be very careful before you answer this question. We almost all would answer this in the negative, but actions speak volumes. What we say is one thing but when we live our lives it is saying something clearly and loudly something else. Let us notice an example of this. Do we need to study God’s Word? Yes, we answer and there are multitudes of Scriptures that would tell us this is so. What about certain subjects? Are there subjects that we would be willing to study? What if we have studied and studied a subject? What if a favorite preacher of ours stated what we wanted to hear about this subject? Is that the final answer? If so then you have just made a thought of a man on par with what the Bible says! There is no difference in what you have just done and what the scribes and the Pharisees did in the time of Jesus. It does then effect your worship to God!
What would be a thought of man that one might place on par with the Word of God today? How often do we need to worship and study God’s Word publicly? How one answers that question will state if that person has placed a thought or a tradition of the same plane or level as the Word of God. Are you willing to study the subject or is your mind made up already because “preacher so in so said that it is not necessary.”
There are several answers to this question of how often are we to come together as a church in a public way to worship and study God’s Word.
Answer one. We have elders who are to watch for our soul. We are to follow their faith (Hebrews 13:7). The Bible tells us also to “obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). The elders are charged with feeding the flock and they are to take the oversight thereof (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). The elders have set time aside for us to study and to worship God. We are to obey them. If one does not obey the elders they are in volition of the Scriptures.
Answer two. We are commanded to worship God. John 4:23-24. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” “And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:21-26). Thus in these two passages we are commanded (see the bold print) to worship God. To say otherwise is to place a man’s thoughts or traditions on the same level as the Word of God.
Answer three. We are to love the brotherhood (1 Peter 2:17). We are to love the Lord (John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3). When we love someone, do we want to spend time with them or away from them? Most, who are in their right minds, want to spend time with those they love. If you do not want to spend time with the church (the brotherhood) or with the Lord maybe you need to work on your love for both. The Lord says that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. Then the question comes to the forefront of thought, do you love the Lord? Your answer may be in the positive but your life is saying something else. All can tell.
Thus three answers have been given to see if your traditions or thoughts are on par with the Word of God. Our thoughts ought to be with a thus sayeth the Lord. We ought to give a Bible verse or have one in mind when we answer a Bible question. If not then our thoughts and traditions are brought up to the level of God’s Word, which ought not to be so.
Love, Keith
