Jesus said, "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 ... making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye!" (Mark 7:7-8, 13)
Apostle Paul continually warned against grievous wolves and false teachers who would enter in -- not sparing the flock, and as the scripture states, "from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." (Acts 20:29-30)
When speaking to the saints and churches in Galatia, Paul further clarifies, writing, "But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that 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." (Galatians 1:8-9)
Notice how important preaching the truth was to the Lord Jesus? And similarly, to the apostles?
Therefore, if we believe the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God, if we believe the risen Jesus through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles He had chosen, if we believe the scriptures are wholly sufficient instruction for understanding the greatest love story every told, and likewise, the foundational doctrines as outlined in Hebrews 6:1-2, our heart desire should be to quickly cast aside any and all traditions of men, the creeds, the religious decrees and proclamations that do not align scripturally -- in favour of the doctrines clearly stated in the scriptures. In other words, the Holy Bible -- as it is written, does not need to be supplemented with voluminous writings by those who refer to themselves as church fathers.
Doesn't the Lord say that He will lead and guide us into all truth? That He would write the laws in our hearts?
Thus, we should understand that the Spirit and the Word must agree. That any doctrine or teaching that does not align is false, and that those who continue to teach/preach heresies that are not scriptural (as Paul wrote) -- let him be accursed.
Why? Because God is not the author of confusion. His instructions should lead us to search the scriptures for His truth, re-examining traditions of men when the latter fails to align accurately with the scriptures. It is also important to recognize that "developing traditions" is not equal to scripture.
As Jesus shared in His parable, our heart desire should be to build our foundations on the Rock. The same Rock which was Christ who followed the Israelites through the Red Sea. (I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Stand in the offering plate.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
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