Tradition is NOT a Synonym for Ignorance

Folks, we are living in a day and time where people are living in ignorance; not aware of the issues or have no knowledge to confirm or justify why they live they way they do. Why is this? Because so many people will listen to what somebody says, or rather, believe what someone "credible" told them and that this is what they should do because of tradition. Well, tradition is not a synonym for ignorance; we need to know what we believe and why we believe it. Tradition is defined by Webster as "a long-established custom or belief, often one that has been handed down from generation to generation, that are valued by a particular culture."

Traditions are important. Traditions provide the blueprint for our lives, or in other words, the way we live and how we live. Traditions, though, become powerless to a society if that society does not understand why they do the things that they do. Sometimes blindly following tradition becomes the excuse of those that refuse to search out and see if what they are doing is even right or if they are following the tradition with the right motive or right frame of mind. We need traditions in this world-good traditions. We need to pass down the traditions of righteousness, morality and holiness towards God. We need to pass down to men and women their God-given roles in society and in the homes. We even need to pass down the traditions of worshipping the one-true God, the creator of the world and father of our Lord Jesus Christ. These are traditions we must value and protect as law-abiding citizens of society and not allow anyone to tamper, distort or misrepresent them. But again its becoming apparent that traditions now have been distorted from the intention wherein they were orignally ordained. Good wholesome traditions now have become humanistic, self-serving, self-conceited unethical customs that have made the original intent null and void. Consider these words from Christ:

...Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.-Matt 15:6

and

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.-Mark 7:9 (emphasis added)

Look at what Christ said! People in the attempt to hold to some tradition that hasn't been proven or justified can make the commandments and statues that God has given of none effect resulting in total rejection of God's laws. Check your traditions! Do they line up with God's word? Are they making His commandments of none effect or ineffictive? People are holding on to lifestyles and mindsets that clearly go against the commandments of God due to "tradition" and act as if they inable of searching out why they do what they do. Who do you vote for? Why? Who or what do you live your life for? Why? What do you believe in? Why? Just saying "because of tradition" is not an excuse, especially not one for ignorance. First of all, traditions that are not passed down or acknowledged by the word of God is vain and futile. How do I know? Because the word of God, the Bible, tells us how to live and who to live for. Consider these words fron the Apostle Paul:

Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.-1 Cor 11:2

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.-2 Thess 2:15

What is the Apostle saying? He's saying there are some traditions that are worth preserving and those are the ones that have been handed down by God not men-though they may have come through the medium of men. Christ gave them this provision in Luke 10:16, "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiset him that sent me." So, providing that the disciples of God are on one accord with God's word, when you hear them speak you hear God speak because they speak as the oracles of the Lord. Listen we need know what we are believing in. Don't be lazy and not research your traditions, because you're doing it for the sake of understanding what you're really believing in and why, and most importantly, if what you believe is parallel to the commandments and instructions of God.

I want to close with these words from the Apostle Paul as he warns the congregation of believers in Colassae against error:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

We are warned not give heed to the commandments of men that turn us from the truth. Anything-belief, tradition, ethics, law, morals-that does not align with the doctrines that are taught from the word of God should be disbanded. Don't let people "spoil" you or cause you to ruin because you've listened to and accepted what was perceived as "tradition". Its not a synonym for ignorance. Reason out why you believe what you believe and if those beliefs are instructed by God's Holy Word.

 Remember: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."-Hosea 4:6 Ignorance kills. Get in the know.