What do you base your religion on?

What is your response to this question? Think long and hard on this important query. When this question is posed, you should answer honestly in your heart of hearts. What really drives your faith? What is the rule or set of rules that guide your daily life? As we ponder these things together, please maintain an open mind.

Traditions of men

When I think of tradition, I think of things like gathering around a fire on Christmas Eve, or eating chicken and dressing at my grandmother's home on Thanksgiving afternoon. These are events that hold a dear place in my heart. These are traditions that I will forever cherish. It is easy then, to understand why so many people take their traditions in religion and make them as binding as the word of God.

See, tradition is comfortable. Tradition is easy. Tradition is convenient. When you live by tradition, you do not have to think very much. However, when tradition takes precedence over Scripture, there is a deep problem. Jesus said, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men" (Mark 7:6-8).

Tradition, though, is not in and of itself bad. Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth and Thessalonica to "hold to" and "maintain" that he had passed on to them (cf. 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15). The issue comes in, though, when our traditions transgresses the flawless and perfect word of God. Tradition is not a good substitute for God's will. First, tradition did not originate with the Spirit (John 16:13). Second, we will not be judged by our traditions when we die (John 12:48). Third, tradition is not a firm foundation to build faith on (Romans 10:17; 1 Cor. 3:11). May we never "leave the commandments" in order to pursue that which is not from God.

False knowledge

Some have had said in their own ignorance, "I may not know much Bible, but I know a lot about my Jesus!" First of all, one must know the Scriptures in order to become "wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15). Second, God has revealed who Jesus is through the written word. Third, we must know what the written word says about Jesus in order to live like Him.

If our knowledge is based somewhat upon what the word of God teaches, we have an unreliable and easily-tossed faith (Ephesians 4:13-15). Our foundation of knowledge must be built in the unshakable and indestructible word of the living God (Hebrews 4:12; James 1:21-22). There is no source outside of the perfect word truth that can inform us on how to make heaven our eternal destination.

A knowledge that is not based upon the Bible is not really any knowledge at all. Paul commanded Timothy to, "Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called 'knowledge' " (1 Timothy 6:20). God wants us to all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, in its purity and accurateness (1 Timothy 2:4). May we commit our lives to and base our faith on true knowledge.

Perfect word of truth

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to talk with representatives of a certain religious group. They are of the conviction that God's word is indeed perfect, but the Bible is not the only book that reveals that perfect word of God. How is consistent with what the Scriptures teach? You tell me!

Throughout the Scriptures, we read of its divine origins. David said, "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken" (2 Samuel 23:2-3a). Jesus called the word of God "truth" (John 17:17). James called it the "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). Peter called it the word that "remains forever" (1 Peter 1:25). Paul called the Scripture that which makes us, "competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17).

The word of God is practical, preachable, sagacious, liveable, all-sufficient, and unaltered. It should ever be our source of faith and practice. Why would we seek to look anywhere else for guidance? Listen to Peter's great question that he posed to the great answer-Giver, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). His words ring true nearly two thousand years later! May God's word always be our words to live by!