YBible Thoughts Y October 11, 1998
While the Lord was upon the earth, he desired that men would understand the words he spoke, the promises he made and the prophecies he revealed. It is no different in the present. The words that Jesus left in the New Testament are understandable for men and women who seek the truth. He did not hide his teachings in a complicated series of deceptions, but in openness of truth and revelation. When a person desires to learn what God has required of humans, the gospel of Christ is simple enough for those who seek to learn what is God's will for the present.
Jesus had been speaking to the Pharisees and scribes on how they bound human traditions upon people of that day. They were very meticulous in making sure they kept the "traditions of the elders" in regard to washing hands. Jesus plainly told them, "Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men"(Mark 7:8) In fact, they were so tied to their traditions that Christ told them, "Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your traditions"(Mark 7:9).
The application of the human traditions of the Jews in the Lord's day allowed them to escape(at least in their minds) the commands given by Moses. Certain of them, in an effort to evade caring for their parents, would say that it was "Corban" or "given to God"(Mark 7:11). They literally made "void" the word of God due to their traditions.
Jesus proceeded, after rebuking them for their negligence and observing of human traditions, to teach them to understand the source of a person's actions. It was "out of the heart" that sins, iniquities, negligence, and all other defilements arose(Mark 7:23). The Lord mentioned a number of defiling sins, from "evil thoughts" to "foolishness." When one understands the origins of these and all others sins in one's life, it is time to begin a heart operation. By cutting away all evil thoughts and defilements, one is prepared to live a life that will please the God of Heaven. They could understand the proper route to holiness by listening and understanding what Christ taught them.
It is no different in our day. Men have made void the word of God by their traditions. Modern traditions are not like the ones of the Lord's day, but they exist. At any point when one teaches something that is not in the word of God or goes beyond the word of God or is less than the word of God, the path away from God is paved within that false teaching. It does not matter whether it is approved and practiced by those whom we call brethren or among the sectarian world, if one cannot show by book, chapter, and verse the authority for what is taught and/or practiced, it is mere human traditions. Such traditions originate within the fertile mind of men, not in the word of God.
Let us remember that Jesus said, "Hear me all of you, and understand"(Mark 7:14). All men are responsible for hearing what Jesus has left for mankind in the New Testament. Not only does the Lord say we are to hear--he said we are to understand. Just listening to the Bible read or the scriptures taught is not enough--we are to be aware of what the Lord is teaching. And--humanity can understand the will of Christ for this generation. It would be an insult to the Lord to say that we cannot understand the word of God.
We can understand the process for one to become a Christian. The Bible clearly teaches one to hear, believe, repent, confess Christ, be baptized and be faithful in order to go to heaven. There is not a false teacher, through his traditions, that can prove otherwise. To stop short of these requirements of God or to minimize them makes one no better than the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus day. They set aside the word of God as do so many of the present.
We can understand the process by which one is to live the life of a Christian. This life involves dedication to righteousness, adherence to the Lord's requirements for disciples, and seeking "first" the kingdom of God. The books written by the apostles, as well as the teachings Christ left for us, guide Christians in a path that leads to eternal salvation. It is not impossible to understand and live the life of a Christian when one's faith is focused on "things that are above."
We can understand the nature of Christ's kingdom through the revealed word of God. Jesus established a spiritual kingdom, with spiritual responsibilities. He did not organize a political group or an underground movement or a party group. Jesus built a spiritual institution whose focus was on saving men's souls. The many functions that have been assumed by some churches of Christ(without Bible authority) fit into the same category as the traditions of the elders of the Lord's day. They lack Bible authority and constitute a source of division among those who claim to follow the Lord. If it cannot be proven with book, chapter and verse, it is not right to do it! Is that so difficult to understand?
Men can understand the word of God. Christians can understand the path of righteousness. Churches can understand their spiritual nature and work. We can all understand what is right and what is wrong. However, we must all want to understand the word of God and reject man's traditions, whether originating in denominationalism or among brethren. Need we say more?