Is It Tradition Or Is It Biblical?
"Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 'Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!' Jesus replied, 'And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?'" - Matthew 15:1-3
Sometimes we have to get outside of our own traditions to notice some of the legalisms we have embraced. During our seminary days, my wife and I were serving as missionaries at a Scottish Baptist church. I soon noticed that there was no specific time at the end of the sermon for people to "walk the aisle" to make a decision to join the church or to accept Christ. I went to the pastor and expressed my concern. "This is not good," I told him. "Why are you not doing this?" He looked at me with that rather condescending smile that Englishmen specialize in and said, "Well, Bryant, would you show me in the Bible where it says you've got to 'walk the aisle' to become a Christian or join a church?" And then he added, "Bryant, would you do a little study and see how the Bible teaches us to make a public confession of our faith in Jesus Christ? The only thing you'll see is baptism."
So often we elevate tradition to the level of the Bible. Tradition can be meaningful, but when we elevate it to the level of the Bible, we make it idolatry and ignore the 2nd commandment. Let's be sure that in following Christ, the Bible is our ultimate authority on how to live for Him.
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14 Comments
A very good devotional, but I have a question: Is this suggesting that in order to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, all one has to do is be baptized? This confused me, because I wasn't sure if that is what was meant, or simply that in order to make a public confession of your faith, it's only required (Biblically) to be baptized, not to "walk the aisle," as you say. - Luke_13
This is an awesome devotional. I have been to so many traditional services and it takes the power of the Holy Spirit away from the church. - Adrian Rodriguez
This is an awesome devotional. I have been to so many traditional services and it takes the power of the Holy Spirit away from the church. - Adrian Rodriguez
thanks, guys! i've been saved for 46 years, and still growing and learning! thanks! george - george spaulding
I grew up in a denomination that's main focus is the traditions. Traditions can be meaningful and comforting, but I believe it can also make us rote in our worship...now we do this...now we do this... I felt the focus was being taken away from Christ and the Bible. I felt God gently pushing me to a church where the focus is on my relationship with Christ and getting into the Word. I have SO much to learn but it's SO exciting!! - Melanie
Luke, in my opinion Bryant was just saying that the bible teaches us to follow the tradition of baptism as a public profession of faith. In fact, it seems to me he was trying to sort of minimize the importance of traditions except for the "profession" of faith through baptism. It was the one thing that Jesus did tell us to do, so for that reason I think it's something that we should follow, but does not "make" us Christians. Only asking Christ to come into our lives and forgive us for our sins can actually do that. God bless - Christ Follower
luke_13,
i agree with you, nowhere in the bible does it say that one needs only to be baptized to be saved, as well as only accepting the lord, i can accept the fact that if i order a pizza i will be fed, but unless i eat the pizza i will not be filled, what did peter say to do in acts 2;38 repent,be baptized,and ye SHALL receive,,, three things
death,burial,Resurrection
repent,baptized,receive !
lord bless you ! - david, from redding ca.
The "alter call" actually was started in the late 19th century by an evangelist named Finey. It was so successful that it was quickly adopted by other traveling evangelists and eventually found its way into many denominations. A public profession of faith never saved anyone. It is the heartfelt confession of your sins and prayer for forgiveness, motivated and assisted by the Holy Spirit, soley by the Grace of God that we come by faith to give ourselves to the Lord. This may or may not be accompanied by a public profession of faith. We are justified by faith alone, by grace alone. Baptism is the sacred ritual of confirmation of our surrendering to our Lord and Savior, but it may not always be possible. Think: thief on the cross, or deathbed acceptance of Jesus as Savior. - G Man
Traditions will spiritually kill a Church and will damage a Christian walk. The Bible tells us to search out the old paths and if they are good to walk in them, but it never tells us to hold to traditions. There is a difference and if we take a moment to examine what is going on we will see the difference. Baptisim is a ordinance of the Church but it is not essential to salvation. The scriptures does say to "believe in thine heart and to confess with thy mouth and thou shalt be saved". We do need to tell others of the good things the Lord does for us, or else how do we think others will want to become a Christian. God bless and have a great weekend. - Jerry
Jerry & GMan I so agree with you that baptism in no way "saves" you. It was a combination of being symbolic of our being born again & an open profession to others. It is sort of like a couple could get secretly married and still be married, but traditionally there is some sort of public ceremony whether small or large that shares with the world that the couple has come together as a commitment to each other. That is what Christ desires when He tells us to be baptized is that we openly share our faith in Him with the world and not do it secretly. It is not what saves you though. I was a teenager when I was saved, watching a Billy Graham crusade on TV. We did not attend church and it was several years down the road before I was able to go to church on my own and then be baptized. I just wouldn't want someone to be confused about it.God bless - Christ Follower
John 3:5
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - david
I have always heard the interpretation of John 3:5 as the water-meaning being born from the womb & being born of the spirit- meaning receiving the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ. So I guess it's sort of left up to interpretation, but all I know is that I was saved several years before I was baptized. I may not be sure about anything else in this life, but that's one thing I've never doubted and am absolutely positive about. Hope I don't sound argumentative. I just don't want people that for one reason or another thatare unable to be baptized(some have been saved even on their deathbed) to worry about it, but you're certainly entitled to your opinion. Many things in the bible are sort of open to interpretation & I don't think that Christians should argue about things that we won't completely understand till we leave this world. God bless! - christ follower
GMan also had a good example of someone that was not able to be baptized- the thief on the cross. That was my only point was that for one reason or another some people aren't able to be. Anywho, that's just my opinion. - Christ Follower
Being baptized is simply following the example that Christ gave us to show an outward expression of our decision to accept Gods will, and Christ death on the cross. The thief was not baptized and yet Christ told him "this day shall thou be with me in paradise". If he had to be baptized to enter heaven then Christ would have had to come down from the cross and baptized him. It is again an outward expression of our acceptance. God bless everyone. - Jerry