2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Church Traditions are the hard pathways, well worn over the centuries from the religious traveler in their quest for God.  Sadly, most seem to travel these paths to know about, rather than to know God personally.  Christian trekkers eagerly navigate these byways as if laid down by the hand of God himself.

Respected elders point out their familiar lanes for the younger to follow.  Centuries of navigation have made the ground along the way hard and unreceptive to the Truth.

Luke 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.  6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

Millennia of cherished custom have trampled God’s word under the tradition of man.  Along these hard pathways, God’s seed struggles to germinate.  It is an unyielding ground.  Old church-tradition tramples the seed as soon as it is disbursed.  Birds eat it before it can take root.  Much needed rain will not penetrate the hardened surface.

The soil must be made fallow.  It must be harrowed to receive the seed and rain, and allow the word to take root and grow.  Tradition stands as the venerable guardian, preventing God’s word from being received in full – in power, in truth.

These Old Traditions are the counterfeit beliefs robbing the Church of God’s intended power.  Many emerge like trails to God’s fullness, appearing scriptural until examined carefully in the light of God’s word.

“There’s something about tradition that makes us feel secure, connected, and grounded. But, there is a dark side to our traditions, even good traditions of our faith, a dark side so powerful that it can destroy the very thing it meant to preserve.  Satan’s agenda is to separate truth from the tradition so deceptively that even sincere people would hold to a form of godliness and deny its power.” – Chip Ingram

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“One of these days somebody is going to come along and pick up a Bible and believe it – and put the rest of us to shame”. – Rolfe Barnard, 20th Century American Evangelist, 1940-1950s