Traditions

 Dearest Friends,

Traditions are 'the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way."

We all have traditions, we love our traditions especially family traditions. 

I remember as a child my sister and I would always get new Easter dresses every year and every Easter morning my siblings and I would hunt for our Easter Basket from the Easter Bunny but we were never allowed to touch it until after church. I loved our family get together's for Sunday brunch and Easter egg hunts.

Priceless childhood memories. 

So why do I now not celebrate Easter with my own kids the way I was taught as a child to do? I loved getting an Easter basket and the egg hunts were always so much fun! Why wouldn't I want my kids to experience the same fun family traditions as I did?

What if the traditions that are being passed down are wrong? What if these traditions are not of God nor approved by HIM? Would you still continue to celebrate them knowing that these traditions weren't glorifying God?

Now you're proabably thinking that there is no harm in celebrating and telling our kids about the Easter Bunny, perhaps even advising them that the Easter Bunny works for God. Perhaps you're thinking hunting for eggs filled with candy isn't hurting anyone and since churches host egg hunts it's all fine and dandy because you're still celebrating the Lord too. 

My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6

" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

We are NOT to lean unto our own understanding of things but rather trust in the Lord's understanding of things by acknowledging HIM and asking HIM for guidance, clarification and wisdom. When we do HE'LL direct our paths.

Remember that old saying ," Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't make it right."  

Let's take a look at what the Bible says...

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2 

How are we to do this if we're leaning unto our own understanding of things? How do you know that it's God's will that you celebrate Easter with bunnies and egg hunts? Where in the Bible did God say celebrate JESUS'S death and resurrection by giving Easter baskets and going on egg hunts? If you were there the day HE prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane and witnessed how HE prayed so hard HIS body under a great amount of stress that HE sweat blood as HE was asking for God to remove the cup of unfathomable suffering from HIM and ended the prayer with "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" would you still celebrate the Easter Bunny, Easter baskets and egg hunts? If you had witnessed JESUS being whipped with a Roman Flagrum which was designed to remove the flesh from the body of the victim and in horror watched as the flesh was torn from HIS body would you still celebrate with Easter bunnies, baskets and egg hunts? If you were there to see the nails hammered into JESUS'S wrists the only spot where the two bones of the wrist come together to support the weight of a man hanging on the cross would still take away the Lord's glory by celebrating things that have nothing to do with HIM?

When JESUS defeated death and rose again did they celebrate with baskets of goodies and egg hunts or did JESUS appear unto HIS disciples to prepare them?

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" - Matthew 28:19

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."- Matthew 28:20

JESUS'S death and resurrection has nothing to do with Easter bunnies, baskets or eggs just like HIS birth has nothing to do with Santa Claus.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

We need to be careful following the traditions of men. Churches are becoming more and more about pleasing people then they are of pleasing God. 

Colossians 2:8 - "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Do you know that God is a jealous God?

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." - Exodus 34:14

Do you know that God refuses to share HIS glory and praise with another?

"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." - Isaiah 42:8

By claiming the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus works on behalf of JESUS you are not only making GOD jealous, but you're also taking away the glory and praise that is due HIM. God wants ALL the glory and praise and not just half or some of it. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Colossiand 3:17 -"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Colossians 3:23 -"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"

"Whatsoever ye do..." meaning EVERYTHING you do should not only glorify God but God should be getting ALL the glory and praise.

God doesn't share. HE made us. We are HIS. 

Romans 11:36 - "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen"

You can NOT follow things, traditions of this world and still follow the Lord. It's either or. You can NOT live for the world and live for HIM. It's either or. God does NOT share! 

Matthew 6:24 -"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

If you follow the world in the things you do, in the things you listen to, in the things you watch, in the things you celebrate then you're not serving and following the Lord. You cannot serve and do the things of this world and serve God too. 

Remember God doesn't share!

Matthew 7:7-9 -"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

The washing of pots and cups was an arrogant exclusive tradition kept in which a ceremonial purity was performed if their things or themselves came in contact with a Gentile.

Be careful the traditions you keep. 

Psalms 29:1,2 - "Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

God wants us to celebrate and remember what HE has done for us, what Jesus has done and is still doing for us. HE wants us to remember and tell our children about all HE has done for us. 

I'm learning, growing and maturing in my faith as well and let me tell you although I never celebrated the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus with my kiddos I stumbled over the Tooth Fairy. I had no idea what to do or how to handle the loss of my kiddos teeth so thought the Tooth Fairy would be okay and harmless. I should have prayed and asked God for guidance before starting the Tooth Fairy as when most of my kiddos were younger they questioned the realness of the Tooth Fairy and had come to the conclusion it was me. Sadly my oldest at the time still fully believed and when he asked me directly if the tooth fairy existed I asked him what he thought and asked a few more questions that would allow him to make the connections and come to the truth himself and when he asked for confirmation I gave it. In giving him that final confirmation I didn't realize he was still hanging onto hope that the Tooth Fairy was real and it broke my heart to see the tears fall from his eyes. 

It was my sin that caused this, that caused my sons tears and heartache. I leaned unto my own understanding instead of seeking God in prayer and because I did not only did I take away the glory of God as it's God that is allowing my kids to grow, losing teeth doesn't need to be ceremonial, it's a sign of growth but I also took away HIS praise as instead of my son thanking the Lord for growing he was thanking the Tooth Fairy for his tooth money. 

The sin may seem harmless but it was still a sin. My sin had consequences as all sin does. Sin is what separates us from God and I don't want to be separated especially with the way this world is going. 

1 Samuel 12:24 -"Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you."

Always Your Sister in Christ,

Erica