| Holiday Traditions and The Word
By Joseph Prescia (Revised 2005) At this time of the year you hear people say, “People need to remember what this season is all about,” or “They need to get into the spirit of things.” While these are great reminders of where our general focus should be, these reminders by themselves are shallow compared to the depth of what the Scriptures really say. If you don’t give Christmas presents they think that you are weird, or they call you “a Scrooge.” There’s nothing wrong with gift giving and traditions but shouldn’t we be thinking and doing what the Word of God says we should be doing and not forsake that? Jesus was criticized for going against tradition. He pointed out something that was far more important than tradition. He said that an individual should obey the commandments of God, the Word of God, God’s heart, God’s will. Food drives for the holidays, toys for tots, Santa ringing his bell at Walmart, are the same type of outward shows of piety that Jesus corrected the religious leaders of his day on. He told them that they needed to go after weightier matters like justice, mercy and faith. In other words, Christ said that the heart is where the focus should be with God. God looks on the heart. Retaining the Word of God in our heart will yield the correct works based upon the will of God. If a person does not know the Word of God they could be doing something that has very little meaning to God. Christ didn’t talk about “social issues,” like some people do. He didn’t promote social injustices. Christ did speak about mankind’s need for a savior, emphasis upon the Word of God, reliance upon God rather than man, the need for holy spirit and it’s communication between God and man, loving God with your whole heart, loving your neighbor as yourself and Christ as the way, the truth and the life. Jesus taught to trust God. He said to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these concerns like food, clothing, and shelter shall be added unto you. Fearful people that trust in their own way talk of “social reform,” but the one who relies upon God to meet every need has a different vocabulary based upon truths from the Word of God. If someone wants to get into the spirit of things this holiday season we can share the new birth with them, getting holy spirit and walking with God’s power. Matthew Henry said, “...so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of religion are dead and worthless.” Human perfection can never enter into the spiritual realm. Only until a person realizes that they need God’s help will they make Jesus Christ lord and receive a life-giving spirit. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63 (NKJV) Return to main page © Copyright 2004-2005 |