Is Tradition the Enemy of Truth?

First, let's establish the fact that we are not talking about church tradition. We are talking about every-day actions, that cumulatively form a tradition of how people behave.


There are two examples of this that readily come to mind in the scriptures. One deals directly in this area of peace.


In the Sermon on the Mount, where I am taking most of Jesus' sayings (Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7), Jesus said something like this (to paraphrase), "You know that most people are saying Eye for and Eye, and Tooth for Tooth; but, I am telling you, do not resist an evil person." Jesus then talks about: turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, and loving one's enemies.


Now when Moses gave the command Eye-for-Eye, and Tooth-for-Tooth, it was in the context of the administration of justice - i.e., that in court, the punishment should fit the crime. Moses, as God's spokesperson, was saying that it was wrong to chop off someone's hand for petty theft. Moses would also say it was wrong to slap a man's wrist, as often happens today, for beating up his wife.


But this rule, that applied to judicial situations, was being applied in personal situations. Jesus was addressing the tradition, or practice, of using this biblical quotation to justify paying people back for everyday wrongs. Someone told me once, "I don't get even, I get ahead!" And that's the attitude Jesus was addressing.

Jesus also addressed another tradition of dedicating money "to God" that one would otherwise use to help his or her elderly parents. Jesus said that their traditions were being put before the commandment of God, notably, one of the Ten Commandments, to honor their father and mother. They were in effect, nullifying God's command to follow their own tradition.

So that is one reason we need to get a FRESH LOOK at Jesus' sayings, because they have in many cases been nullified or minimized by centuries of tradition. That fresh look is the goal of this blog.

Look at it this way: If Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, then his followers should be making a big impact on this country in the way of bringing about peace within our families and on our streets. (And many Christians are impacting their communities in this way.) Perhaps we need to dust off these sayings and see how we can really apply them. What do you think?