SCRIPTURE OR TRADITION?

By Ryan Hicks

It is a well known fact that Roman Catholicism puts tradition on the same level as the Scriptures. It is generally assumed by the Catholics that you can use both Scripture and tradition for your source of authority. Yet, this view is tainted and distorts the massive differences between the word of the Living God and man's traditions.

When one exalts tradition equal to Scripture they will no doubt eventually exalt it over the Scripture. Here is what Jesus said about it:

Mark 7:9
9   And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

This Scripture can not be any more clear. You are either going to keep your tradition by rejecting God's word, or you will keep His word and reject your tradition! You cannot have them both. They are mutually exclusive.

The Lord spoke of people like the Catholics when He said, "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mk. 7:6-7).

You must decide to keep either the word of God that is truth (Jn. 17:17), and is given for ALL doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, or the very tradition that just makes it void in your life (Mk. 7:13). If you are having doubts please read the above paragraph again!