Tradition Over Truth: The Hidden Dangers
Robert Wurtz II
This article discusses the concept of Truth Over Tradition
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them (Acts 5:29-33).
Behold the religious leaders concocting justifications for their disobedience to God, demanding that the Apostles bow to their self-serving precepts. What a unique brand of hubris this is, echoing the arrogance of Satan himself. They erected their little kingdom within the kingdom of God, adorned with their own peculiar edicts, expecting the Apostles to comply, even when their decrees stood in direct opposition to God’s commandments.
We should not be surprised that the religious leaders contradicted the Apostles’ prophetic mandates from God. The scribes and Pharisees presented themselves as dedicated guardians and interpreters of God’s word, tasked with teaching the Torah and preserving its integrity. Yet, they were utterly blind to their own contradictions. As Jesus stated, “They made the word of God of none effect by their traditions” (Mark 7:13). The “word of God” He referred to was the Ten Commandments. The traditions of the elders were oral customs passed down and built upon over time. Astonishingly, some would dare elevate these traditions above the scriptures that are eternally settled in Heaven (Psalm 119:89).
The Human Vs. the Divine
Traditions and policies are human-generated and lack the authority of scripture. Unfortunately, they often conflict with God’s word, either directly violating its principles or undermining His character. The Pharisees had established their own entrenched policies and practices, so deeply rooted that when Jesus appeared, they refused to abandon them in favor of His teachings. They rejected God’s counsel against them (Luke 7:30) because it threatened the framework that elevated them above their fellow Israelites, granting them status in society (Luke 20:46-47).
The Apostles set the example for the saints and the churches of God when they declared unapologetically and with great conviction, “We must obey God rather than men.” It should be the guiding principle of all believers to this very day, but unfortunately, it’s not. History has demonstrated a pattern of people using God’s word or human-made policies and traditions, whichever benefited them most at the time, to accomplish their aims. It’s the outlook of the Scribes and Pharisees, only modernized.
The Kingdom of God
When Jesus entered the world, He came to instruct humanity in the ways of Heaven. His perspective is encapsulated in His quotation of Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). This is the essence of being a Christian. However, while we may champion theological concepts such as the inspiration and infallibility of scripture, or declare it as “the final authority in matters of practice and doctrine,” these assertions become mere lip service when our policies and traditions conflict with it. We must confront the critical choice of whether we truly wish to be Christians: to believe and obey the entirety of New Testament scripture or to disregard it altogether.
The Basis of the Judgment
The Apostles did not adopt the cavalier attitude toward God’s word that is prevalent today; they understood they were accountable before God in the Judgment. As stated in John 12:48, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” This verse underscores that God’s word will serve as the definitive standard during judgment. When an individual professes to be a Christian yet rejects or ignores His word in favor of their own policies and standards, they place themselves in grave jeopardy of judgment.
When the Scribes and Pharisees ignored God’s word or rendered it ineffective, a chorus of evangelical preachers condemned their actions from every pulpit, often failing to recognize that they engage in the same behavior. Furthermore, we live in a generation that equates truth with mere assertions. Many claim to be Christians not because they strive to obey every word that comes from God, but simply because they declare themselves as such. This is a profound deception.
Truth That Authenticates
1 John 2:3-4 states, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
This strongly worded passage from John the Revelatory establishes a clear and uncompromising standard for assessing our authenticity as believers. Our attitude toward God’s word—prioritizing it above all other standards, traditions, laws, or policies—reveals our true allegiance. Obedience to God’s commandments is not an optional aspect of faith; it is the definitive litmus test of our relationship with Him.
In a world rife with empty claims and superficial experiences, the Apostle John cuts through the noise: it is not enough to profess empty belief (James 2:20) or recount moments of spiritual or emotional encounters; our obedience to His word evidences true knowledge of God. When we assert that we know Him yet disregard His commands, we are, in fact, deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). Our faith must manifest in obedience, for it is through our adherence to His word that we demonstrate our genuine transformation and relationship with Him. Our loyalty lies in the policies we choose to follow, whether human-made or rooted in God’s word, regardless of our professions. Show me what you obey, and I will reveal who your true god is.
An Ancient Reminder
Moreover, anger or principle is no excuse for disobeying God, as demonstrated by Moses’ grave error when he struck the rock in frustration instead of speaking to it as commanded. This act of disobedience, fueled by his anger toward the Israelites, cost him the opportunity to enter the Promised Land. Moses’ story serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating that even the most revered leaders are not exempt from the consequences of violating God’s commands. Our emotions and convictions, no matter how justified they may seem, cannot supersede divine instruction; to do so is to risk serious repercussions in our relationship with God. In this light, let us heed the lesson: unwavering obedience to God’s word must take precedence over our anger or personal principles.
Just as the Israelites observed Moses’ disobedience, today’s saints are closely watching their leaders. When leaders fail to uphold God’s commands, they send a dangerous message: that disobedience is permissible under certain conditions. Moses’ failure to sanctify God as worthy of absolute obedience not only cost him dearly but also left a troubling impression among the people—that one can choose to disobey when faced with difficult circumstances. This mindset is fundamentally false and invites divine judgment. Leaders must understand that their actions carry profound implications, shaping the faith and behavior of those they guide. We must strive to embody a commitment to obedience, demonstrating that God’s word is unyielding, regardless of our circumstances or emotions.
Self-Reflection
We are no better than the religious leaders whom Jesus and the Apostles confronted and corrected. We are not God’s privileged characters who can pick and choose what to obey. Like everyone else, we are marching toward judgment, and we deceive ourselves when we make self-serving excuses that elevate human authority above God’s. This stark reality demands self-examination: are we merely speaking of the Christian life, or are we living it out in obedience? Is God’s word truly our final authority, or do we have a separate policy apparatus, like the Scribes and Pharisees, that renders the word of God ineffective? Our obedience reflects our love for God and validates our standing before Him.
Let us not be swayed by the allure of empty rhetoric or fleeting experiences. Our allegiance must be to God’s word alone. When challenged, may we respond unashamedly, like David before his wife Michal, saying, “I will be more vile than this!” (2 Samuel 6:22). Let our lives be marked by a steadfast commitment to obeying His commandments, for it is in this obedience that we find the authenticity of our faith. As Peter boldly stated, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Additional Articles and Videos:
