Commands Over Traditions

Scripture: He went on, "Well, good for you. You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions!" Mark 7:9

Observation: This is how Jesus responds to the Pharisees' question about why his disciples do not ceremonially wash before meals. He delineates the difference between God's commands, and the religious practices that have been created. In fact, what he really says is that they are in conflict and thus the religious people have completely discarded the actual commands and teachings and instructions of precepts of the Lord, because they would interfere with the religious-sounding practices and activities they wish to pursue instead.

Application: At its core, this is how I feel about my in-laws. They are faithful believers in Jesus, but they also give my wife grief over her job as a pastor, and the activities of our church. They question it because they think church requires ... old wood pews, hymnals, organ music, and a printed order of service with some activities labeled with Latin. They have their religious practices, and don't like it when the work of the Great Commission (for example) would interfere with those practices.

I am sure I have issues and blind spots in this area, too. I certainly have things I 'like' about certain church activities, and others I don't like, and carry those opinions regardless of what the Lord may instruct about which may or may not align to his commands. This is likely part of being human, and part of the trap of original sin, which is falling into a pattern of preferring our own decisions instead of relying completely on the Lord for instruction and decisions. I am not above that, and should not judge others. However, I can be aware of it, especially in myself.

The great point I think is that this is not about preferences, but about obedience and faith. Again, our behavior should align to the Lord's commands, and not to human-made standards, practices, and rituals, even when those elements were initially intended as a tool to assist with obedience (and especially when they were created to simply serve the church and not the Lord).

Prayer: Lord, may by behavior not be based on ritual, nor upon my preferences for what I like to do. Instead, may I simply follow your instructions and directions for living. Amen.