Relevant Life

I have been to several different countries around the world. It was always great to travel to a different nation and get immersed into the culture and customs. There is nothing wrong with having culture and customs per say. However, I have seen where culture and customs clash with the word of God and many of them become  weeds growing amongst the wheat.

There are biblical examples of this which show how culture or customs can become religious practices which draw us away from God’s purpose and word.

Mat 15:1-3 GW  Then some Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked,  (2)  \”Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat.\”  (3)  He answered them, \”Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?

The Pharisees and scribes were referring to an oral law that was passed down from generation to generation. The Old Testament law does not require for followers to wash their hands before they eat. However, this oral law was mentioned in the book of traditions called the Mishna. For many of the Pharisees and scribes of the day; the Mishna was more important than the word of God. It is easy to allow traditions and cultural nuisances to become doctrine in our faith. Jesus was very clear in his responses to the Pharisees and scribes question. He asked, “ Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?”

American Christianity has some traditions or cultural dogmas which many parishioners follow and swear that they are biblical truths. I will list a few. ( Jesus would ask the same question to us.)

1. Dressing up for church.

2. Church is in a building. The building fund is more important than the people fund.

3. There should only be one preacher and that preacher is the only one who does the work of the ministry.

4. Women can’t be leaders in the church.

5. Taking up tithes and offering.

6. Prosperity message

7. Missionaries, evangelists, or pastors are the only callings in the church.

8. Christian walk is an individual process.

9. Church services are organized events instead of Holy Spirit led gatherings.

10. Church only happens on Sunday mornings and occasionally Wednesday nights.

Trust me there are many more traditions which are not biblical. Yet mindless parishioners follow these religious tasks while believing them to be the key to get to heaven. I believe it is important to note that traditions and cultural practices can become religious processes within the Christian gatherings. Jesus preached against religion many times through the recordings from the four gospels. He did not hold back any punches either and even called the religious minded serpents. He understood the destruction that religion does to his people and had to come to planet earth in order to give us a way out.

How does Culture and traditions affect our Christianity?

1. Creates religious people without a true relationship with Christ.

2. Creates false doctrine or man made doctrine which is contrary to God’s doctrine.

3. Creates a world which is absence from repentance and spirit led self-reflection.

4. Creates a bunch of pew warmers.

5. Creates a country club instead of Christ intention for the church.

6. Creates division among Christians due to different traditions.

7. Creates religious led endeavors which will one day get burned up in the fire. ( I Corinthians 3).

The list above is not all inclusive. I want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with having traditions or cultural practices. They become wrong when they replace the word of God and when they become doctrine. We have to be careful and continue to pursue after God’s best for our lives. Please also note, I am not saying that people going to churches today are not Christians.Just like there were some followers of Christ who were Pharisees and Scribes.  However, I am declaring that many are not following after God’s perfect design for us.  I will also declare that the longer you sit in the dirty bath tub water; the dirty water becomes apart of your body’s new funk.