

                           TRADITION


Almost every Sunday School class will at one time or another play 
a little game to show the dangers of gossip.  ÿThey will get ÿthe 
members in a circle and then tell one person a certain fact, then 
that ÿperson tells the one next to him, ÿand so forth on it ÿgoes 
around the circle.  ÿOf course by the time the fact or story gets 
"back ÿaround" ÿÿto the originator it usually is quite ÿdifferent 
than what was originally stated.  ÿOf course that is the inherent 
danger ÿin ÿgossip, ÿbut it also could illustrate the ÿdanger ÿof 
traditions. 

Tradition ÿis ÿdefined as the passing down of elements ÿfrom ÿone 
generation to another, especially by oral communication.  ÿIn the 
Church, traditions are a body of unwritten religious precepts.  I 
would ÿadd ÿthat ÿmost ÿof ÿthe ÿtraditions ÿof ÿthe ÿChurch ÿare 
unwritten, ÿÿat least at first, ÿbut given enough time ÿthey ÿare 
often ÿadopted ÿand written into the Church Constitution and ÿBy-
Laws.  

Traditions ÿcan ÿbe ÿeither ÿgood or bad for ÿthe ÿChurch.  ÿÿFor 
example, the traditional Church picnic is good for the fellowship 
of the saints.  ÿThe traditional "caroling" of Christmas songs in 
the community is another welcomed tradition.  But there are times 
when ÿtraditions can be destructive to the mission of the Church.  
This was true for God's people of the Old Testament, who by their 
traditions had "nullified the Word of God." (Mark 7:13).  Satan's 
number ÿone ÿtarget is the Church because it ÿis ÿGod's ÿselected 
vehicle ÿfor the reaching of the lost.  ÿHe is always ÿtrying ÿto 
"nullify" God's Word.  For example, in the Garden of Eden, man is 
given his first command from God, ÿ"do not eat from the tree. ÿÿ. 
.or ÿyou will surely die."  ÿSoon after God spoke the command ÿwe 
find ÿthe serpent with his lie that sought to negate God's ÿWord, 
"Did God say. . .you will not surely die. . ÿyou will become like 
God." (Genesis 3:1-5). 

God's people have always come under attack by the evil spirits to 
rob them of the power of God in their lives and ministries.  ÿThe 
Church has continued to be affected by the neutralizing effect of 
man's false traditions.  ÿAs one travels across this nation there 
is ÿan ÿalarming ÿfact discovered in most ÿevangelical ÿChurches, 
which ÿis that the majority of them seem to be without power ÿand 
influence ÿin their communities.  ÿMany fundamental churches ÿare 
having ÿproblems ÿwith ÿunity, ÿÿfinances, ÿÿattendance ÿand ÿthe 
"winning" of the lost.  The Church presented in the New Testament 
started ÿout ÿvery ÿpowerful ÿwith a ÿtremendous ÿimpact ÿon ÿthe 
surrounding ÿpeoples.  ÿÿBut ÿin ÿtime ÿthe ÿprocess ÿbegins ÿÿof 
nullifying God's Word through man's traditions. 

I did not "grow up" ÿin the fundamental church, rather I was in a 
false ÿreligion for the first 34 ÿyears of my life.  ÿÿTherefore, 
after my salvation I had only the Bible to refer to as the source 
for ÿthe doctrines and practices of the Church.  ÿI ÿbegan to see 
some ÿconflicts between what the Bible declared and some ÿof ÿthe 
accepted church practices, ÿbut decided that my "newness" ÿto the 
faith ÿmight have caused a lack of understanding.  ÿAbout a ÿyear 
after ÿsalvation, ÿI ÿfound myself in a theological seminary ÿand 
again faced with some church practices that seemed to ÿcontradict 
the ÿWord ÿof God. ÿThis time I had the opportunity to ÿstudy ÿin 
detail the problem areas.  ÿIt was obvious that in many areas the 
Scriptures ÿdeclared ÿone ÿthing and many ÿchurches ÿwere ÿsaying 
something else that nullified the intent of Scripture.  ÿNote the 
following observations: 

#1 OBSERVATION:      

GOD'S ÿTRUTH - If someone is sick, ÿhe should call the Elders ÿof 
the ÿChurch to pray over them and anoint with oil in the Name ÿof 
the Lord. (James 5:14). 

GOD'S INTENT -  To increase the faith of the Church, to heal some 
of the sick people, and to ultimately bring Glory upon Himself. 

MAN'S TRADITION - Do not anoint with oil, nor bring the Elders to 
him, ÿÿrather ÿhave the Church pray for the ÿsick ÿperson ÿduring 
"prayer meetings." 

MAN'S INTENT - To avoid any semblance of rituals.  ÿTo keep ÿfrom 
having "little bottles" of oil that might be considered "holy."  

RESULT - Faith is not increased, for man does not do it God's way 
and therefore many are sick who could have been healed if it ÿwas 
done in the manner God prescribed.  ÿElders do not go to the sick 
and ÿhave the opportunity to discover what may be the reason ÿGod 
has allowed the illness, ÿ(i.e., sin problem, ÿmeans of "bringing 
the person home," ÿto reveal the Glory of God when He heals them, 
etc). 

#2 OBSERVATION:  

GOD'S ÿTRUTH -  New Testament practice of celebrating the ÿLord's 
Supper ÿon ÿa ÿregular ÿbasis, ÿat least once ÿper ÿweek. ÿÿ(Acts 
2:42,46;20:7). 

GOD'S INTENT - To remind His Church of the death and resurrection 
of ÿJesus ÿChrist on a continuing basis.  ÿIt also ÿprovides ÿfor 
serious ÿconfession ÿof ÿsin on a regular basis ÿbecause ÿof ÿthe 
admonition ÿof ÿ"examination" ÿprior to taking the supper ÿin ÿan 
unworthy manner. 

MAN'S TRADITION - Celebrate the Lord's Supper once per month.  In 
some churches they do it only once per quarter. 

MAN'S INTENT - To keep the Lord's Supper "special."  If it occurs 
as often as once per week then it will become "old hat" ÿand lose 
it's "specialness."  

RESULT - The remembrance of the Lord's death, ÿresurrection, ÿand 
Second ÿComing ÿare ÿnot accomplished on a regular ÿbasis.  ÿÿThe 
calling ÿfor serious examination of heart with ÿits ÿaccompanying 
consequences ÿis ÿalso not available.  ÿOften ÿtimes ÿpeople ÿare 
unable ÿto attend the monthly service (usually Sunday night) ÿÿto 
receive ÿthe Lord's Supper.  ÿFor example, ÿthose who are in ÿthe 
military, ÿÿor ÿwork ÿservice industry ÿjobs ÿ(nurses, ÿÿfireman, 
policemen, ÿetc) ÿare called upon to work weekends or nights on a 
routine ÿbasis.  ÿÿIf they happen to have to work ÿon ÿ"Communion 
Night" ÿthen they must wait another month before celebrating ÿthe 
Supper.  

#3 OBSERVATION:

GOD'S TRUTH - Have man "count the cost" ÿprior to accepting Jesus 
as their Savior and Lord.  ÿIn other words, ÿpreach a "Repent and 
be Baptized" gospel message. (Acts 2:38;Luke 14:28). 

GOD'S ÿINTENT ÿ- To insure that man makes a ÿtrue ÿprofession ÿof 
faith, ÿand not be deceived into believing that he is a Christian 
when he is not.  ÿA ÿcommitment to Christ without a known cost to 
the ÿseeker is easily a false commitment.  ÿIt also ensures ÿthat 
the ÿnew ÿbeliever is taken into a local church due to ÿthe ÿfact 
that he must be Baptized in a Church.  This is especially true in 
a ÿwitnessing ÿsituation ÿto a person who ÿdoes ÿnot ÿattend ÿany 
church. 

MAN'S TRADITION - Not to emphasize the "costs" of following Jesus 
to the perspective believer.  ÿIn fact often times, ÿthere is ÿno 
mention of the "cost of following Jesus" ÿin the preaching of the 
Gospel.  It appears that only the "benefits" of being a Christian 
is presented.  ÿThe words "be Baptized" are often never spoken in 
the ÿsame context with the gospel, ÿeven though Peter proclaimed, 
"Repent and be Baptized." 

MAN'S INTENT - To keep people from thinking that the ÿrequirement 
for Baptism somehow saves them.  Also ensures that only the truly 
saved are baptized, ÿin that they will not be Baptized until they 
have ÿdemonstrated ÿa ÿchanged life and been to ÿthe ÿ"Newcomer's 
Class." 

RESULT ÿ- Allows people to make professions of faith ÿthat ÿwould 
have ÿnever done so if they knew that there were costs ÿinvolved.  
Keeps the "seeker" ÿfrom really examining his own heart.  ÿAllows 
many to think that they are Christians when in fact they are not.  

#4 OBSERVATION:

GOD'S ÿTRUTH - To have the Word of God available to all people in 
the language of the people.  God desires that all people hear the 
gospel ÿin ÿtheir ÿown tongues. ÿ(Acts 2:6-11 ÿÿplus ÿan ÿobvious 
conclusion ÿas one realizes that throughout the Bible God ÿspeaks 
to man in the "common language" of the people.) 

GOD'S ÿINTENT ÿ- To remove any stumbling block from the ÿpath ÿof 
those ÿwho are lost in their sins.  ÿGod wants His ÿword ÿclearly 
presented to the unsaved and the saved in simple clear terms.  In 
that ÿway ÿall can be edified and strengthened ÿas ÿthey ÿclearly 
delineate the commands of God. 

MAN'S TRADITION - To venerate a "translation" ÿof the Bible ÿthat 
is ÿno ÿlonger in the language of the people.  ÿÿThe ÿKing ÿJames 
Version ÿof the Bible was written 375 ÿyears ago in a dialect ÿof 
the ÿEnglish ÿlanguage ÿwhich ÿis no longer ÿspoken ÿtoday.  ÿÿIn 
addition ÿdiscoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls have produced ÿmore 
accurate ÿtranslations.  ÿYet many churches claim that the KJV is 
somehow more holy than the newer translations, and therefore used 
it ÿin ÿtheir ÿworship services and teach ÿtheir ÿchildren ÿBible 
verses from it. 

RESULT ÿ- The letters on the printed page and the book itself ÿis 
venerated ÿrather ÿthan ÿthe ÿtruths that ÿwere ÿintended ÿto ÿbe 
presented.  ÿÿMany are held back in their ÿunderstanding ÿbecause 
they "stumble" over words that are archaic and without meaning in 
our ÿsociety.  ÿÿOverall ÿthe Word of God is ÿnot ÿbeing ÿclearly 
presented, and rather becomes a "religious language" in a society 
without God, ÿrather than being the "Word of Hope" ÿin their ÿown 
language. 

#5 OBSERVATION:

GOD'S ÿTRUTH - The Church is to discipline her sinning members in 
order to keep herself a pure chaste virgin to Christ.  Also, ÿthe 
discipline is to be part of the discipling process to help erring 
Christians to become more Christlike. (Matthew 18:15-20). 

GOD'S ÿINTENT - To continually bring all His children in a ÿclose 
walk ÿwith Him.  ÿHe is a perfect Father who disciplines a ÿchild 
when that child gets caught up in a pattern of disobedience.  ÿHe 
desires ÿthat ÿthose ÿwho ÿare ÿdisciplined ÿwill ÿrespond ÿÿwith 
confession ÿand restoration by the Church.  ÿAlso for ÿthose ÿwho 
have ÿbecome members of a Church but have never been truly saved, 
when ÿtheir ÿobvious ÿunholy lifestyle becomes known, ÿÿthen ÿthe 
discipline of the Church will hopefully cause the deceived person 
to realize that he is not a child of God. 

MAN'S TRADITION - Avoid Discipline in the Church.  Pray about the 
sinning ÿmembers ÿand ÿif ÿnecessary ÿpreach ÿsermons ÿthat ÿÿare 
addressed to the problems of the erring Christians in the Church.  
Avoid ÿany public confrontation with the persons who are in ÿneed 
of discipline, as it would appear unloving and judgmental. 

MAN'S ÿINTENT ÿ- To avoid any direct ÿconfrontation ÿwith ÿanyone 
inside or out of the Church.  Man does not want to correct anyone 
but ÿto ÿappear ÿloving ÿto all, ÿeven at the ÿexpense ÿof ÿGod's 
commands.  ÿMan intends not to "get involved" ÿin another's life, 
rather ÿlet each one do their own thing.  ÿAvoid any issues ÿthat 
might become controversial. 

RESULT -  A Church without power and impact in the community.  It 
becomes ÿa ÿ"family" ÿÿwithout ÿdiscipline ÿwith ÿthe ÿÿresulting 
misbehavior.  ÿIn my own home church there are some who have ÿnot 
spoken ÿto ÿeach others for years due to some past ÿdisagreement.  
The ÿpastoral ÿstaff keeps preaching sermons on ÿforgiveness ÿand 
love ÿbut has not taken any action against the ÿsinning ÿbrothers 
and sisters involved.  ÿTo hold grudges is just as much a sin ÿas 
committing adultery, fornication or any other open sins. 

#6 OBSERVATION:

GOD'S ÿTRUTH ÿ- ÿThat when a person is ÿ"saved" ÿÿhe ÿis ÿtotally 
forgiven with no stain of sin left.  ÿAll his sins are removed to 
the person of Jesus Christ who lived an earthly life without sin, 
yet ÿbears our sins.  ÿThe saved person is not charged ÿwith ÿhis 
sins, ÿrather Jesus is held accountable.  ÿThe sins are no longer 
the ÿsinners ÿbut rather they have totally become ÿJesus' ÿÿsins. 
(Romans 4:8, ÿ1Corinthians 6:9-11, Hebrews 8:12;9:14, ÿRevelation 
1:5). 

GOD'S ÿINTENT ÿ- ÿTo ÿdemonstrate His love ÿfor ÿman ÿby ÿtotally 
forgiving ÿhis ÿsins ÿand truly creating a ÿnew ÿperson.  ÿÿGod's 
forgiveness ÿserves ÿas an example for Christians in the type ÿof 
forgiveness ÿthey ÿare ÿto ÿhave for one ÿanother.  ÿÿThis ÿtotal 
forgiveness ÿstands ÿas ÿan example for ÿthe ÿentire ÿunbelieving 
world, ÿÿin that, ÿregardless of the type or the amount of sin ÿa 
person has committed that they can receive total forgiveness ÿand 
be ÿused ÿin ÿthe ÿministry of the Church as if ÿthey ÿhad ÿnever 
committed one sin! 

MAN'S TRADITION - To preach a Gospel of total forgiveness but ÿdo 
not ÿallow ÿall ÿChristians to be treated equally in ÿregards ÿto 
availability of Church ministry.  For example, in most Churches a 
divorced ÿperson ÿ(prior to salvation) ÿis not allowed ÿthe ÿsame 
opportunities ÿto ÿminister as does a believer who had ÿnot ÿbeen 
divorced in their lives prior to salvation. 

MAN'S ÿINTENT - To maintain a very pure Church by ÿkeeping ÿthose 
who ÿhad ÿcommitted ÿany ÿmajor sins ÿin ÿtheir ÿlives ÿ(divorce, 
abortion, ÿmurder, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc) ÿfrom holding 
any ÿposition ÿof prominence or leadership thereby maintaining ÿa 
very pure example to the flock. 

RESULT ÿ- ÿThe unbelieving world is confused.  ÿOn one hand ÿthey 
hear a gospel of total forgiveness yet in actual practice certain 
Christians ÿare treated in a restrictive manner due to some "past 
sin."  ÿÿThey see God's forgiveness being somewhat limited ÿsince 
the Church remembers the sins of some believers.  ÿChristians are 
likewise confused and held back from the blessings that accompany 
the use of their spiritual gifts.  ÿThe Church is robbed of ÿmuch 
Power ÿdue to a large number of Spiritual Gifts not being allowed 
to be used for the Body.  Many Christians are made to feel second 
classed as they see others who have unrestricted ministry because 
their sins were not so public as divorce. 

#7 OBSERVATION:

GOD'S ÿTRUTH ÿ- That the Church Leadership is to be ÿmade ÿup ÿof 
"redeemed ÿsinners," ÿto include a variety of backgrounds ÿ(i.e., 
public sins and non-public ones!).  (Moses, David, Paul, Stephen, 
Timothy, 1Timothy 5:21). 

GOD'S ÿINTENT ÿ- To demonstrate His glory to all in that ÿHe ÿcan 
take ÿsinful man and use him for His glory.  ÿHe can take a ÿmass 
murderer like Saul of Tarsus and sovereignly change his life ÿand 
use him as the Greatest Apostle of the New Testament.  ÿGod ÿalso 
intends that the Church be a testimony of the saving power of God 
in ÿthat even some of it's very leaders were once evildoers, ÿbut 
who have been washed by the Blood of Jesus! 

MAN'S TRADITION - The leadership of the Church should not only be 
holy ÿand godly men in the present life but also should come from 
a "pure background."  Ideally they will have become Christians at 
an ÿearly ÿage (5yrs of age ideal!) ÿand have ÿattended ÿall ÿthe 
"right" ÿÿChristian schools and never have committed ÿany ÿ"gross 
public ÿÿsin" ÿÿ(i.e., ÿÿmurder, ÿÿabortion, ÿÿdivorce, ÿÿÿtheft, 
homosexuality, ÿadultery, ÿdrunkenness, ÿetc.).  ÿGiven a ÿchoice 
between ÿtwo equally qualified applicants for Church ÿLeadership, 
then chose the one who has the "purer background" to include pre-
salvation life, even if both are spiritually qualified. 

MAN'S INTENT - To mandate a pure leadership, ÿeven making it more 
restrictive ÿthan ÿGod has declared.  ÿHaving holy ÿpure ÿmen ÿin 
leadership ÿthat ÿcan serve as examples both to the saved and ÿto 
the unsaved as to what a Christian should be. 

RESULT ÿ- A Church that is unable to select the man that God ÿhas 
"picked" ÿÿÿfor ÿÿleadership ÿpositions.  ÿÿÿBy ÿÿremoving ÿÿfrom 
consideration ÿall those who had wicked pasts, ÿthen God ÿcan ÿno 
longer ÿprovide the Church a "Paul" ÿ(former mass murderer) ÿor a 
"Moses" ÿÿ(committed ÿmurder ÿafter ÿsalvation), ÿÿor ÿa ÿ"David" 
(committed adultery and murder as a believer).  ÿThe ÿunbelievers 
see ÿa Church ruled by those who have little or no ÿunderstanding 
of ÿtheir sin or lifestyle.  ÿThe "lost" ÿalso see a very limited 
Gospel message that says, ÿ"if you give your life to Jesus, ÿthen 
He will wash away all your sins, ÿexcept for the gross ones which 
will ÿbe ÿremembered ÿand ÿcause ÿdisqualification ÿto ÿChristian 
Service." 

My ÿdear friends, ÿthe above listing was only a brief summary ÿof 
the areas in the Church that need to be revamped.  ÿIt was a very 
slow ÿprocess changing from the Truths of the Scriptures ÿto ÿthe 
Traditions ÿof Man.  ÿSatan was there deceiving the ÿChurch ÿinto 
believing that God did "not go far enough" and that man could add 
to God's commands by making up some of their own.  

I ÿhave ÿhad ÿthe privilege of "seeing" ÿChurches that ÿwere ÿnot 
"steeped" ÿÿinto man's traditions and can say that they were very 
powerful ÿÿchurch ÿÿbodies ÿwith ÿa ÿdynamic ÿimpact ÿÿin ÿÿtheir 
communities.  Nothing burdens my heart more than to see Christian 
Churches that are weak and powerless in their communities.  ÿÿThe 
answer to most is to return to the Power of the Word of God, ÿÿby 
heeding the words of Jesus Christ, ÿ"You nullify the Word of ÿGod 
for the sake of your tradition." 

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 115
Galveston, IN 46932
Modem (317) 452-1535
January 8, 1987