Tradition? There is nothing inherently wrong with tradition..........tradition is not intrinsically evil or wrong as it comes from human judgments (judgements can be good or bad). However I find much fault with tradition when it contradicts the word of God......when it takes the place of LAW that is recorded in scripture. No one has the authority to change one word found in the Holy Scriptures. There is a curse placed upon those who do. They will no longer find their names recorded in the Book of Life. (Rev. 22:19)
Example of accepting tradition for reasons other than found in the Holy Scriptures. Take Christmas and Easter, or any other "traditional" American Holiday. July 4th, Halloween....etc. I have no problem following these traditions because they are American Traditions and I would never think of depriving anyone of these Traditional Holiday activities.......especially the children.
But when Easter and Christmas are promoted as Law by some universal church......where there is never any mention of command to observe such Pegan Sabbaths........I refuse to tolerate this tradition as a religious service, because its a man made tradition. The RCC began these sabbaths (special religious services) by combining Jewish Tradition and Pagan Tradition found in the Roman Empire together........and it (the RCC) did so not by Lawful commands found in the scriptures but by Church Decree.
Why Not Search Tradition? Ask Jesus Christ what He thought of the church hierarchy promoting man made tradition over the actual content of the Holy Scriptures?
(Matthew 15:3-9) Jesus was intolerant of anyone that set aside the Law of God (the word of God) found in scripture in order to follow human tradition. If its not in scripture we are commanded to not go beyond or to "think" beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6)
What did Jesus actually say to those who followed tradition over scripture? "Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? .......................thus, you have made the commandments of God of no effect by your tradition.........HYPOCRITES!"
Because TRADITION perverts the straight ways of the Lord. Scriptural examples. Stephen called the Jews he was addressing "Stiffnecked and Uncircumcised in their hearts because they were promoting the tradition of Jewish circumcision upon those who were never of the Jewish faith......he also stated, they were murderers and betrayers of the truth of the prophets because of tradition when they did not even comprehend the scriptures concerning the coming of the Messiah as they rejected Christianity (Acts 7:51-52). Paul called them perverters of the straight path found in scripture (Acts 13:10)
I know you don't want me to litanize all clinton's sins
or byedims?
we'd be here all day...
maybe you need to re-adjust your focus a little
just a thought
Not a POPE? Neither was Peter........the first record of the PAPAL OFFICE did not occur in history until centuries after the church of Christ was established. 606 AD to be exact. One does not require a POPE, or any other church officer to stand between our prayers and heaven. A Christian prays to no MAN......including the puffed up peacocks calling themselves priests of a self professed universal church. The POPE is not Christ's representative on earth......all members of the church, lay person and clergy alike are members of a royal priesthood that asks our sins be forgiven THROUTH CHRIST our High Priest.
What happens when you deny the actual content in the Holy Scriptures and promote TRADITION made up by man? You deny your priests any sexual outlet........and cause them to rape young children. You form your own nation and request monies from all nations on earth. God loves you but send your money to my address..........the Vatican. You make up reasons to field armies and seek treasures in other lands.....such as the Crusades......then accuse anyone that disagree with any Papal decree of being heretics and torture them on the rack or burn them at the stake....etc., The Spanish Inquisitions.
A Pope is not required nor addressed in the Holy Scriptures. Christ is the head of the Chruch not the Pope.
Jesus is our one an only HIGH PRIEST and we require not go between to approach His throne.
"You too, (the church members) are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." -- 1 Peter 2:5
"You, however are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people He claims for His own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from the darkness into His marvelous light." -- 1 Peter 2:9
Revelation 1:6, written by John proclaims, ".........Who has made us a royal nation of priests in the service of His God and Father."
Though One Sacrifice, on the cross, Jesus became the sole mediator through which men have access to God (1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 7:26-27, Eph. 2:18). He Jesus is the only author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9)
When you do not follow His word? You get the corruption known as the RCC with its child rapists, its enactments of war and torture.......and its mafia type collections of tributes.
