Traditions of God and of Men

TRADITIONS

by Dr. Charles McHatton

Let us consider briefly the TRADITIONS OF MEN in contrast to the TRADITION OF GOD. The word tradition may have both a good and a bad meaning, depending on the particular context in which it is used. The word itself means a giving over or a handling down, and it generally relates to a teaching that is transmitted either by word of mouth or with writing. The word is used thirteen times in the New Testament. There is, on the one hand, tradition which is God’s own truth to which the children of God are to be obedient. On the other hand, there is the tradition which is the product of human reasoning, speculation, and interpretation which often cancels out the effectiveness of the true tradition of the Word of God. Of this we read in Matthew 15, "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were at Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" Then in verse 6 we read, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition." Verse 8, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

A close and careful study and a firm and faithful adherence to the Word of God will enable us to keep free from these traditions of men which cancel out the effectiveness of God’s Word and power in our daily lives. How many there are today who are canceling out the effectiveness of great portions of the Word of God by the traditions of men. Not only are they canceling out the effectiveness in their own lives, but they are at times in strong opposition to those who are obedient to the tradition of God – the holy commandments of the Lord laid down in the New Testament. We read in Galatians 1:13 these words: "For ye have heard of my conversation (or my manner of life, my behavior) in times past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: and profited in the Jews’ religion above many of my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood." We just learned from Matthew 15 that the traditions of men will often cancel out the effectiveness and the workings of the true traditions of God, the commandments of the Word of the Lord. Here we learn in Galatians 1 that when an individual is devoted to the traditions of men, he will often be guilty of persecuting (one way or another) those who are moving in the vitality and glory of the things of god. It is true that Ishmael always persecuted Isaac. There are some who simply do not understand how an individual can experience such joy and blessing. They do not realize that they are canceling out the truth of God by reason of their own vain traditions.

We learn also in Colossians 2 that there is danger that individuals will be spoiled through vain philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men. So tradition can be the truth of God through the Word, or it can be man-made ideas. If a man-made idea is handed down, it can cancel out the effectiveness of the Word of God in the life of the individual. Many people have been robbed of the truth of divine healing because of the tradition of men who say that the day of miracles has passed and that God is not a healing God today. He used to be a healing God, but somehow God has changed in His divine method and operation today. They say that there is no such thing as divine healing, and yet from the book of Genesis through Revelation we see that God is a healing God. He always has been a healing God. There are some that say that God does not change, but His METHODS change. We do not need healing today, they say, because this was something that the Lord gave to the early church since it did not have the complete canon of Scripture. Also, they say, because there were so many awful forces opposing the people of God, they had to have the manifestation of God’s healing power in order to establish the Church. BUT THIS IS THE TRADITION OF MEN. There is absolutely NOTHING in the Word of God anywhere that teaches this. The only way an individual can arrive at such beliefs is by taking certain Scripture verses, twisting their meaning, and lifting them from their context. The basic thing that an individual must keep in mind is the fact that God heals, not to prove His miracle working power, but He heals because He is a God of compassion. He is still a God of compassion today, and His great heart is moved for those who are in desperate physical need even in this hour.

Paul had received an abundance of revelations. Because there was a danger of spiritual pride creeping in, God gave to him a thorn in the flesh which is referred to as a messenger of Satan to buffet him. (II Corinthians 12:7) Let it be known that there is absolutely no place where the Scripture conclusively states that this was sickness. This word that is translated infirmity is the Greek word asthenia rendered weakness. It is even related to the weakness of God. Certainly God is not sick, and yet the Bible says that the weakness of God is stronger than men. The asthenia of God is stronger than the best that man can produce. Here he is saying that the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified in weakness, and on the basis of this weakness, He has torn apart all of the kingdoms of hell and darkness, and has undone all of the works of the devil. This is not sickness; this is asthenia. It simply means weakness. Yet the traditions of men will come along and tell us that God does not heal today, that the individual who is endeavoring to receive healing for his body is outside of the will of God – rather, one should just be content with illness. However, these same people who teach this, will go to doctors and hospitals and will take all kinds of pills in order to get away from this which God has given them. Consistency is a rare jewel indeed.

The traditions of men will actually cancel out the effectiveness of the truth of God, and the philosophies and traditions of men will spoil and individual, robbing him of the good things of God. Individuals who have accepted these lies of the enemy will often persecute and oppress those who are moving in the vitality and glory of the manifested presence and power of the Lord. Those who seek to order their lives in keeping, not with the traditions of men, but with the tradition of God are oppressed by men who do not understand God’s ways and God’s Word. In I Corinthians 11:2 we read: " Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." The word here translated ordinances is the same Greek word rendered tradition. So here we see the tradition and the truth of God. You remember that the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 15, "Through the traditions of the elders, you transgress the commandment of God and make the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition." The word tradition can refer to that which is good, right and proper, or it can refer to that which is contrary to the revealed Word of the Lord.

Something else which relates to the traditions of men is the matter of reverence. Some people say that the only way that one can be reverent in the house of the Lord is that he be very silent. The Word of the God does not teach this at all. As one turns the pages of the Bible, he finds that God is an enthusiastic God. He finds that there is a place for holy and wonderful, heavenly abandon to the praises of the Lord as the Spirit of the Lord sweeps the strings of the inner life. The traditions of men have made void the Word of God. The Lord tells us that we are to clap our hands, that we are to rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. The Bible says that we are to shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Now this is the word of the Lord. (cf Psalm 47:1) There are many other Bible references which say to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands:, and "come before His presence with singing." The Bible says also that we are to magnify the name of the Lord to render psalms of praise unto God, and to sing a new song unto the Lord. But the traditions of men step in and cancel out the effectiveness of this truth in the lives of many of God’s people. Thus, because of the traditions of the elders, that which has been handed down from one denominational leader to the next, is canceling out the effectiveness and is robbing individuals of the vitality and the victories of God that otherwise would be there.

We must rethink out thoughts concerning the fact that God is a miracle working God today and we must rethink our thoughts and teachings with relation to reverence in the house of the Lord. I have cited but two examples in relation to the traditions of men as they conflict with the truth of God. God is a miracle working God. He heals because he is a God of compassion, He does not heal just to prove His miracle working power. Jesus did not heal just to prove that He was the Son of God. The Bible says that He was moved with compassion upon the multitude and He healed their sick. He is moved with compassion for the sick and afflicted today, and His great heart of compassion does not change. Even though the methods of the Lord do change in relation to the dispensations, there are certain things that are basic in God, and one of these is His heart of love and compassion. He has always been a healing God. The other thing about God that does not change is the fact that He is an enthusiastic God. He wants His people to be enthusiastic. He wants them to have joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. He wants them to serve Him with gladness and to come before His presence with singing and thanksgiving in their hearts. The traditions of men are robbing people of these tremendous blessings in these days, but more than that, they are actually robbing God of that which He otherwise would be receiving by way of praise, worship and adoration in the midst of His people.