Jesus versus tradition.

A few weeks ago, on my way back from work, I was listening to BBC 4 on the radio. The topic of the program was the emergence of spiritual groups that weren't associated with any mainline religious organisation. A representative of the Baptist Church and a Bishop from the Anglican Church were defending the value of long and established traditions, being the best guard against these 'cults'.
Interestingly, the presenter pointed out to the Baptist minister that their organisation started as a much persecuted group. They were refered to as a cult simply because they did not fit into the Anglican structure of their day. It took decades before they were accepted. (And the reason that they were eventually accepted is because they compromised enough to become just as lifeless as the structure they originally came out off.)
I immediately started thinking about what Jesus said about tradition. Before we look at His words, let me give you the summary of the argument put forward by the Anglican Bishop and the Baptist Pastor:
Basically people are evil and deceptive and therefore you should never be too trusting, and maintain a healthy level of suspision. No one person can therefore have an accurate interpretation of the scriptures. We need many people over many years improving the interpretations of the previous generations. The long esthablished christian traditions were refined and build up over decades and so we can have great trust that they are sound and those who deviate from them are deceived.
The Angican representative ended off by saying he places no value on any spiritual experience. Only religious traditions are worth any attention.
The presenter ended off by remarking that although they were convinced that they had the exclusive rights to the truth, millions were voting with their feet and leaving these religious organisations.
I always find it astonishing that religions that claim to be based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, would ignore what He had to say. Jesus was confronted on a number of occasions about his apparent lack of respect for tradition. He made no secret of His attitude toward tradition but boldly declared that tradition was the very reason that they ignored God. Let's look at one of these occasions:
"Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of 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?" Mat 15:1-3
Instead of praising the value of tradition, like the people on the BBC interview, He said that tradition can often be the cause of transgressing the Word of God!
I'm so glad that we don't have to rely on our own interpretation of the scriptures to know God. My confidence is not in my own ability to accurately interpret scriptures, or in anyones else's ability to hear Him. My confidence is in His ability to reveal Himself. God's self disclosure was far, far too important to entrust it to human organisations, or leave it at the mercy of our own interpretations. God took this responsibility upon Himself – to make sure that He reveals Himself to all.
It is such a precious experience when God opens ours eyes to a specific truth. Such an experience will often lead to a transformation in our lives – our conduct changes as a result of revealed truth. This is the way God transforms our lives – the transformation is the natural result of beholding Him. Religion is so deceptive because it pretends to do the same thing, but instead of transforming lives throught the revelation of truth, it tries to adjust behaviour. Even what started as a revelation of truth can easily end up as a religious tradition ... if we forget the original truth, and replace it with behaviour management.
Tradition is like an empty tortuise shell – it has the same form as the actual aminal, but there is no life. Never allow the life-giving revelations from the Father to become dull memories. Always return to the ultimate authority and live-giver – your Father, creator of all things.
By Andre Rabe
Http://eclesia.blogspot.com/