biblical or man made traditions?

“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him (Jesus Christ), Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He (Jesus Christ) answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, 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. 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.” Mark 7:5-9

Borrowing some historical data garnered from the work of Frank Viola and George Barna and their book, “Pagan Christianity”, I began to think about all the other traditions Christians hold as sacred but are NOT found anywhere in the scriptures:

• THE CHURCH BUILDING – First constructed under Constantine around 327 A.D. The earliest “church buildings” were patterned after the Roman basilicas, which were modeled after Greek temples.
• THE CHURCH STEEPLE – Rooted in ancient Babylonian and Egyptian architecture and philosophy, the steeple was a medieval invention that was popularized and modernized by Sir Christopher Wren in London, England around 1666 A.D.
• STAINED GLASS WINDOWS – First introduced by Gregory of Tours and brought to perfection by Suger from 1081 – 1151 A.D.
• PULPIT CENTRALITY – The reformer and monk, Martin Luther in 1523 A.D.
• GUILT FOR MISSING A SUNDAY SERVICE – New England Puritans around 1650 A.D.
• THE ALTAR CALL – Instituted by the Methodist and popularized by Charles Finney around 1840 A.D.
• THE CONTEMPORARY SERMON -  Borrowed from the Greek sophists, who were masters at oratory and rhetoric. John Chrysostom and Augustine popularized the Greco-Roman homily (sermon) and made it a central part of religious practice – popularized around 400 A.D.
• SINGLE BISHOP OR SOLARA PASTORA (PASTOR) – Ignatius Antioch suggestion in letters around 98 – 117 A.D. Ignatius’s model of “one Bishop or one Pastor” rule was not embraced until the later part of the third century!
• THE TITLE “PASTOR” & ORDINATION – The idea of an “ordained” minister as a “holy man of God” can be traced to Augustine, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. Centuries later, Catholic priest who became “protestant ministers began to be called, “Pastors” by the Lutheran Pietists around 1650 A.D.
• THE “COVERING” DOCTRINE – Cyprian of Carthage, a former pagan orator. Revived under Juan Carlos Ortiz from Argentina and the “Fort Lauderdale Five” from the United State, creating the so-called “Shepherding-Discipleship Movement” from 1970 – 1978 A.D.
• THE CHURCH CHOIR AND WORSHIP TEAMS – Provoked by Constantine’s desire to mimic the professional music used in Roman imperialistic ceremonies – it took a more formal shape based on choirs used in Greek dramas and Greek temples.  Modern Worship teams are patterned after the secular rock concert, its origins founded by the Calvary Chapel Movement from around 1970 A.D.
• THE TITHE – Did not become a widespread practice until around 750 A.D. The tithe was taken from the ten percent rent charge used in the Roman Empire several centuries before and later justified by the willful misapplication of Old Testament scripture.
• CLERGY SALARIES & NON-PROFIT STATUS – Each was instituted by Constantine around 313 – 323 A.D. This Roman Emperor gave “clergy” tax-exempt status first and then, ten years later, their “churches” – as a privilege to be enjoyed along with their pagan priest brethren!
• THE “SINNER’S PRAYER” – Originated with D. L. Moody and made popular around 1952 A.D. through Billy Graham’s “Peace with God” tract and later with Campus Crusade for Christ’s “Four Spiritual Laws.”
• USE OF PHRASE “PERSONAL SAVIOR” – Spawned around the mid 1800’s by frontier revivalist and popularized by Charles Fuller from 1887 – 1968 A.D.
• THE YOUTH PASTOR – Developed in urban gatherings as a result of seeking to meet the needs of a new sociological class called “teenagers” around 1936 – 1950 A.D.
• THE CATHOLIC SEMINARY – The first seminary began as a result of the Council of Trent from 1545 – 1563 A.D. The curriculum was based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, which was a blending of Aristotle’s philosophy, Neoplatonic philosophy, and Christian doctrine.
• THE PROTESTANT SEMINARY – Its curriculum too, was based on the teachings of the Catholic teachings of Thomas Aquinas with its beginnings in Andover, Massachusetts in 1808 A.D.
• THE SUNDAY SCHOOL – Created by Robert Raikes from England in 1780 A.D. Raikes nevertheless, did not intend “Sunday School” as religious instruction. He founded it to teach poor children the basics of education!

Long Ago, in the Book of I Samuel, Israel was no longer satisfied in following after the Invisible God but opted for someone they could see with their own eyes! Their prophet, Samuel, brought their request before the Lord and this is what the Lord said to him:

“And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.” I Samuel 8:7-8

The Lord went on to warn all of the congregation of Israel through His prophet Samuel – that the man they chose would take their daughters, sons, tenth of their sheep and seed and give it to those who have not labored for it. What was their response:

“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” I Samuel 8:19-20

Within a short time after the Apostle John’s death – paganism and humanism began creeping into the body of Christ; supplanting simple worship, fellowship, teaching and exhortation with a more formalized “clergy versus laity” church liturgy.

Our society’s modern idea of “church’ resembles the pagan practices of early Roman Catholicism, philosophy and secular humanism (I have a right to be loved) centered around singular pastoral authority and keeping of laws and traditions of men. Why? I believe the answer is found in Israel’s desire for a king – they wanted one the could visibly put their faith in. They got what they wanted.

Consider what Jesus said to our beloved brother and Apostle Thomas:

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29

We would do well to remember the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to the true church of Jesus Christ – of which we are:

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:1-5

Additional Resources: Pagan Christianity