Traditions

Traditions are central to our human experience. They infuse important milestones with special meaning. They represent lessons that have been learned, and celebrate people who have made significant contributions to our heritage.

Yet Jesus saw how some people paid more attention to traditions than to God Himself. They had even made traditions the focal point of their religious thought and activity. In Matthew 15:1-6 Jesus urged them to understand that traditions had to be kept in place.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught” (v. 15) concerning all that they knew about the Gospel.

Paul knew how easily the believers could go off course. The best way to avoid these traps is to follow the traditions he provided. These teachings represented the core of the Gospel.

Paul reinforced these principles as he warned about people who do not live “according to the tradition which you received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

These are important principles for us to remember. We can easily be like the religious leaders of Jesus time and focus on rules that have been handed down to us. It is certainly important to honor special people and events, but we must always remember that there are misleading doctrines aimed at deceiving us.

Stay balanced by focusing on God and His Word. Stand firm and hold “to the traditions which you were taught.”