Traditions

Most families have created traditions to celebrate the different holidays. They display different decorations; some of which have become heirlooms, passed down to their children. Certain foods are served to honor memories of childhood celebrations. At the beginning of the year, some traditions serve sauerkraut and pork. Others serve black-eyed peas, collard greens, and salted pork. Easter celebrations may share colored eggs, chocolate rabbits, or braided breads. Thanksgiving a turkey with bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pies topped with whipped cream may grace the table. My wife Cindy would serve spaghetti carbonara and deep-fried smelt on Christmas Eve, while my mom, Sybil Miner Beck would bake deep-dish French toast for brunch on Christmas day.

Most traditions are harmless. They help pass the joyous celebrations of holidays to our children. Many times they’re links to memories and do not affect reality. At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of the Magi at the Manger. The Bible doesn’t record that there were three Wise men, nor did the Kings arrive to worship the Christ Child in the manger. That tradition strays from the truth. Many believe that Eve ate an apple in the Garden of Eden, but not so. The Word of God only records that it was fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. All are minor variations, but even that can cause folk to think there are lies in the Bible.

When traditions conflict with biblical, the traditions are wrong and become harmful, and when tradition is promoted above the truth in the Word of God, it should be cast aside. When books are added to the Bible or an entire religion is based on “New Revelations” from God, avoid them like the plague. Galatians 1:8-9 reads, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

In the Revelation, the Bible warns, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Celebrate family traditions, but don’t let them contradict with the truth of the Bible.