The traditions of Man

When my husband and I were just married, I knew very little about preparing meals.  But I was very eager to learn.  My husband grew up eating mostly homemade ethnic food, so he would often request that I attempt those type of meals.  A Russian beet soup called Borsht was on his wish list for some time.  When I finally looked up the recipe, I realized there was very little to it.  

However, when I set out to make the soup, I got super ambitious.  I started adding ingredients I assumed would only enhance the flavor of the soup.  The classic recipe was too simple, I thought.  

When we finally sat down to have our meal, I noticed the disappointment on my husband’s face.  “This isn’t so bad” he said, “But this definitely isn't Borsht!”.  

Obviously, I thought I knew more about making Borsht than the experienced chef that penned the recipe.  

As people, we have this tendency of overcomplicating things that were meant to be simple and easy.  

Thus, unintentionally canceling  the original instructions.

Jesus often tried to get this message across to the religious group of that time.  They added their own religious rules to God’s original laws.  

Jesus called them the traditions or commandments of man.

Doing so, they canceled out God’s initial intentions.  

And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition...(Mark 7:13 NLT)

You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain your tradition! (Mark 7:9 HCSB)

At that time, Jesus was referring to their rituals such as washing their hands and ceremonial pots.  In today’s age it looks slightly different.  

Over time, we as a church complicated things that God made simple.  Doing so, we unintentionally cancel and take away from God’s initial instructions.  

 Take the ceremony of Baptism, for example.  

With good intentions some groups have put strict age requirements on the sacrament.  Thus, with time it has become a common tradition to get baptized at that specific age.  Not because it’s a decision of the heart, but because it’s become the traditional age norm and culture of the church. 

While others have baptism as a requirement for marriage.  Causing individuals that want to get married obligated to get baptized. 

Again, doing so, they do it with the wrong intentions.  Canceling out what God intended for the sacrament to be: a response of the individual's heart.  

Of course, we can’t assume this makes all traditions and church ordinances bad.

Just as I had good intentions to enhance the flavors of my Borsht, most of these rules were established out of good motives.  

But we should be very cautious about adding and enforcing manmade rules and traditions over God’s initial commands.  

We need to trust God made certain spiritual instructions simple and accessible for a reason.  

Supporting Text 

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (Tit. 1:14 KJV)

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition. (Mark 7:8)

It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans. (Mark 7:7)

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.  (Col. 2:23)