The Cultural and Tradition Trap

Tommy was on the wild side.  He would try anything and lived on the edge.  He liked things and what money allowed him to have.  He had long hair and an earring.  He looked like a rock star or a drug salesman.  Then, he noticed this group of men who always had fun at a party and still happy the next morning.  So, he started asking questions about those Christians who were always happy and having fun. One of those men told him about Jesus and invited him to come join him at church.  Tommy accepted the invitation, and he came to know the same God they worshipped.  No longer did he fill his life with drugs and alcohol. because he was drunk on knowing more about this awesome God who changed his heart.  He had his Bible with him all the time.  He studied and memorized scripture.  He was in church with a congregation who loved him and encouraged him.  Yes, with the long hair and earring, Tommy was changed inside and everything in his heart showed through his actions and compassion for the lost.  He started a ministry in a local prison and came face to face with the man who murdered his cousin.  It was hard, but if God loved this murderer, Tommy would love him and witness to him.  It was hard on him, but he had no regrets.  At work, he pulled people in with his personality and heart of love.  People were making decisions to have a heart of love and giving their hearts to God.  Then, God called Tommy and his wife to be missionaries.

I was so excited for them.  They had to do the usual missionary thing and raise support.  So, I told my church about Tommy, and arrangements were made for them to come speak at my church.  I should have known better.  This was the church who turned away the Nigerian who came to worship with the people who sent the missionary to Nigeria to tell him about Jesus.  This happened in 1965, so I hoped that in 1995 hearts would have changed.  Tommy came and gave his testimony and plans to serve along the Amazon River giving clean water and spiritual water.  All they could see was the long hair and earring.  Church men don't have long hair and earrings.  I was so very embarrassed and disappointed.  They couldn't see what was in Tommy's heart.  They judged by their traditions.  Just as they had turned away the Nigerian. 

Jesus warned such men in Matthew fifteen.  The Pharisees noticed that the men with Jesus did not wash their hands before eating.  Now, I would have a problem with dirty hands, but the Pharisees called it a transgression of the tradition.  They were following Jesus to find fault.  Now, they had him cornered because his disciples sinned because they did not wash their hands.  In verse three, Jesus accused them of transgressing the commandment of God by their traditions.  Then, in verse six, Jesus says, "Honor not his father and mother, he shall be free.  By this you have made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

They created a tradition called the Corban Vow.  Money that should have gone to help needy parents could be given instead to to a worthy cause in the Temple.  Many Pharisees used this money for their own causes.  They were encouraging a man made tradition that went against God's law to honor their parents and help their parents when they were in need of help.  A tradition that trapped them in a sin against God.  They went to the Temple and worshipped.  They prayed in public to show their holiness.  Jesus quoted Ezekiel 33:31, "This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."  

The Pharisees worship was in vain as they taught doctrines of men.  Later, Jesus explained to his disciples, "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart; and defile man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." (verses 18-20)

With these thoughts, where are we with following cultural or traditions that separate us from God?  Is your heart wrapped around the tradition of attending church thinking this will make you a Christian?  Don't you know that what is in your heart tells the truth about you?  Truly, I believe this is why so many young people no longer attend church.  They witnessed the hypocrisy of church people not living for God during the week, but singing praises to God and shouting Amen in church on Sunday.  You know, it is great granddaddy's church, so we got to keep it in the tradition of great granddaddy.  Yes, I've heard that shouted out by a racist after we had a community event with all ethnic groups participating.  Friends, this is why the pews are empty.  Those in the pews were more interested in keeping the traditions of the past instead of leading and discipling in the truths of the Holy Bible.  They lived life as they wished doing what they thought was good during the week, then sat in the church on Sunday because of tradition.  A tradition that did not change their hearts.  Their children saw the trap of the tradition and choose not to follow.

Unfortunately, following a cultural and traditional trap instead of giving hearts to God has not ended well for many churches.  We need to forget tradition and live our lives daily as a true Christian.  Jesus did not promote nationalism but reached out to all the world which includes every ethnic group and every race.  Our faith should not be controlled by the traditions created by man.  Our faith should lead us to love as Jesus loved and serve as Jesus served with compassion.  Hearts need to show love, God's love with following God's commandment to love and accept all men in order to end the cultural and tradition trap.