The Christian Tradition

A conversation I shared with a brother from church started me thinking about the impact of tradition in our expressions of faith and obedience.  Traditions in themselves are not necessarily good or bad but because of our bent towards formula, routine, and self-righteousness they can divorced from the original purpose or reasoning behind them.  We can adopt a legalistic view of what should be done when and how things must be to be done right--typically with our own experience setting the gold standard.

Take water baptism for example:  depending on your culture and Christian denomination beyond the theology there is great variety in the view of baptism, who is qualified to perform a baptism, how it is practically done, and the reasons behind it.  It may be we rely upon our own experience (which was likely impacted by tradition to some extent) rather than the scripture to form our ideas of why baptism in water is important.  Some imagine a person cannot be saved without it, and others downplay it altogether because it is not a "salvation issue."  The Bible is clear salvation occurs by faith in Jesus before baptism in water and not dependent on it (Acts 8:37, Acts 16:30-31) but was practiced in obedience to Christ (Matt. 28:18-20) and identification with Him (Acts 10:44-48).

One of the buildings our church moved into had a baptismal on the stage I believe we only utilised once:  our "tradition" was to go to the beach for a picnic.  We made a day of it and headed down to a nice spot in Mission Bay.  After lunch people made their way to the beach with guitars and sang worship songs.  A pastor addressed the people who gathered from the church and curious onlookers to explain we were having a baptism and why.  People stepped forward to be baptised and queued up to be baptised by a pastor or elder who prayed with them before immersing them in water and lifting them up to applause from the crowd.  I realise this experience would be considered strange or even bizarre by some because their traditions are different.  It is important I do not look back upon my experiences as free from tradition because the ceremony was relaxed and did not involve donning white robes.

No matter what church you attend, it is likely (to some degree) tradition has impacted what things are done and how.  It is the scripture--not tradition--which is to dictate why things are done and we can hold to God's unchanging truth with freedom to honour Him as He directs.  If the reason for us doing something are not supported in scripture, we are under no obligation to continue in it.  Growing up we often held a "sunrise service" early on Easter morning, yet there is no biblical mandate for this.  There is certainly nothing amiss with rising before dawn on Easter to remember with awe and praise our risen Saviour Jesus Christ.  One might say if Mary was willing to go to the tomb before it was day out of reverence for Jesus who she expected to find dead, how much earlier should we rise in honour of our risen King!  Tradition can be justified and staunchly defended as better and right, but that does not make those who keep it spiritually superior over anyone else.

Let us have our traditions but in identifying them as such let us not attach any moral or spiritual obligation to keep them beyond the scripture.  Doing things causes tradition to become an obstacle that hinders people from following Jesus in truth.  The Pharisees were masters of this, straining at gnats but swallowing camels.  Let us follow the scripture in step with the Body of Christ according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, giving grace to others whether they hold to a tradition or not.  Our call is to be convinced in our own minds and not give place to the devil through self-righteous judgments of others.  The Christian tradition Jesus established is one of freedom to worship and honour God according to the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit, not to follow tradition as the end in itself.

Greener Pastures

Many people traverse through life like grazing animals seeking greener pastures.  The undertones of the phrase "seeking greener pastures" are dissatisfaction and restlessness, something we humans can all identify with to some degree.  It seems we only need to be at the supposed greener pasture for a little while--that new job, relationship, suburb, or church--until we realise it isn't quite as green as we would like.  Our experiences seem to line up with the Erma Bombeck book title from the 70's:  The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank.  The grass is greener, but do you want to know why the grass is greener?  Are you sure you want to eat that grass?

We don't need to be like King Solomon who had everything a person could want and piled on exponentially more to know our expectations are rarely met.  It doesn't take much for a dream holiday to turn into an unforgettable nightmare.  The most exceptional circumstances often leave something to be desired because we are insatiable.  Like greedy dogs whose god is their belly, we are always looking for something to hit the spot.  And when we aren't even hungry we open our stocked fridge or pantry to see what might appeal to us because it is lunchtime and are disappointed.  We scroll through the news or a social media feed to look for something new because our eyes aren't tired of seeing.

Undoubtedly the lure of greener pastures has led unsuspecting sheep to their deaths by hidden dangers they concealed.  Predatory beasts lay in the tall grass with the wind in their face, eyes wide and muscles tense as they crept toward their prey.  You see, it isn't the alluring greenness of a pasture which makes it good for sheep of Christ's fold but the Good Shepherd we follow.  David wrote in Psalm 23:1-2, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."  Could there be greener pastures than those where Jesus has led you?  Maybe, but who cares?  Better to be casting our cares on the One who cares for us than to walk by sight.  Because the LORD is my Shepherd I shall not want, for He will see all my needs abundantly supplied in His time and way.

Predators target animals that are isolated from a herd or flock.  How important it is therefore we would not scatter from our Saviour Jesus!  David concluded his thoughts in Psalm 23:5-6:  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  On this planet we are in enemy territory under the sway of Satan, yet believers find rest and peace through faith in our Saviour regardless of circumstances.  He provides, guides, and protects us even when the enemies draw close with evil intent.  With Jesus leading us goodness and mercy will follow us all our days regardless of drought, famine, fire or flood.  What enduring contentment there is in our LORD Jesus Christ who is ours, and we are His forever.

Stay Loyal to God

My family and I have been reading through the book of 2 Chronicles and the life of king Asa presents a strong case of our need to keep seeking and trusting God all our days.  Our good God does not change, but we do and not always for the better.  The finest wines can turn to vinegar in poor conditions, and when our hearts drift from reliance in the LORD the wisest can become fools.  King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, yet in his latter days he was a hollow shell of his former self who more resembled king Saul than king David his father.  This teaches us men, regardless of their divinely inspired wisdom, all have their flaws:  none is good like God, not one.

Because king Asa trusted in the LORD God gave him astonishing victories in battle.  He took courage at the exhortation of godly prophets to put away idols from the land and even removed his mother from being queen because of idolatry.  People throughout Israel flocked to him because he set his heart to seek the LORD.  Asa had been king 36 years in Jerusalem when Basha king of Israel came against him.  Instead of relying upon the LORD as on previous occasions, king Asa sent a present to Benhadad king of Syria to make an alliance with him and help him.  Benhadad agreed to the arrangement which ended the threat of Basha and all seemed to be well--that is, until a prophet of God came to Asa with a sobering message.

2 Chronicles 16:7-9 tells us, "And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."  When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and Urijah the Hittite he publicly confessed and repented.  Sadly, king Asa responded in a very different way because he was filled with rage.  He was angry with the messenger and did not receive God's gracious message.  It proved to be the beginning of his end.

2 Chronicles 16:10-13 says, "Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. ¹¹ Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. ¹³ So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign."  Instead of humbling himself in repentance before God, Asa became angry; he put Hanani the prophet in prison and oppressed God's people.  And when he was stricken with a disease he relied on the doctors rather than  seeking God who had the power to help and make him whole.  Before the LORD all the motives and intent of our hearts is laid bare, and God continues to look to show Himself strong on behalf of people whose hearts are loyal to Him.  This loyalty to God ought to continue even when we are rightly (or even wrongly!) rebuked for our foolishness.

How we receive correction and handle depressing news says something about us:  do we seek the LORD or lash out?  Are we filled with rage or allow our hearts to be broken in repentance?  Do we rely on assistance or help from men or return to the LORD in faith, relying upon Him?  King Asa's days as king are spent, but there is hope for us in God.  Praise the LORD we don't need to be kings or queens to learn and personally apply timeless truth from the lessons God has provided through him.  Let us call to mind Psalm 46:1 in times of peace or when we are overwhelmed:  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

The Willing Offering

"These are their numbers, according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor; ¹⁵ and next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand; ¹⁶ and next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the LORD, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor."

2 Chronicles 17:14-16

The Bible is filled with choice wisdom which can be discovered in listings of genealogies and notable people.  Our initial response when we see longs names and numbers might be to skip or skim, but there are insights for hungry seekers even there.  One such person is mentioned is Amasiah in verse 16, a man "who willingly offered himself to the LORD."

God loves a cheerful giver of themselves into His service, and Amasiah is one of many who offered themselves as a living sacrifice for His glory.  Hannah dedicated her son Samuel before his birth into the service of the tabernacle and later he said to God, "Speak LORD, for your servant hears."  Amasiah was no prophet but a faithful man of God nevertheless, a man God made captain in the army of Judah.  The Hebrew word translated "offered willingly" is defined in the Strong's Concordance as:  "to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously; offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing."  The people willingly gave of their goods to build the tabernacle, but greater still is a man who gives himself willingly unto the LORD.  God's eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal and committed to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).

Many people loyal to the God of Israel flocked to King Jehoshaphat who feared and honoured God from all the tribes.  Having willingly offered themselves to God like Amasiah such were pleased to serve the LORD's anointed in Jerusalem.  As a Christian, this made me think of the call for believers to present themselves as living sacrifices to Jesus Christ who died in the place of sinners.  Then it hit me:  if today Jesus literally was sitting on a throne in Jerusalem, would I make it my primary aim to present myself before Him, to willingly offer myself into His service and do whatever He said?  Of course, right?  We would be willing to leave a country, job or career, and all our possessions at great cost just to see in person the Messiah and our KING, to lay our eyes on the One who atoned for our sins on Calvary, to touch the risen and living Son of God.  Like Simeon who held Jesus as an infant we would say upon the conclusion of that meeting, "LORD, I am ready to depart in peace because my eyes have seen your salvation."

Where this illustration falls short is we do not need to wait until Jesus is physically seated on a throne in Jerusalem to willingly offer ourselves to Him, for even now He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  He lives to make intercession on our behalf, ready to grant mercy and grace to help in time of need.  It is attractive for us to willingly offer ourselves in person because of what role He might appoint us to or what we stand to gain in the future, but our daily service unto Him should be based upon Who He is and all He has already done.  Willingly offering ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice is more than a pledge or a commitment but is actually doing the thing, freely giving ourselves into His service.  A son in a parable committed to work for his father but "I go sir!" proved to be empty words.  Christian, we must determine if we are all talk and bluster or are willingly offering ourselves to the LORD, not just bowing our knees or heads in prayer but taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus in joyful obedience.