Truth or tradition

Oh another thing I forgot to mention. God is not a respector of persons. You can find that scripture in Romans 2:11. So don't worry about what your family has to say. If you are doing the will of God all shall fall in place for you. Just do as God pleases you to do.

I agree with you about having a relationship with God and not a religion. I believe it was man that made religion. I just have one question for you treasre, can you tell me where in the Bible that it says that Jesus came to free us from the laws of the old testament?

There are some things that will continue to be mysteries and we will by no means understand everything about the Bible. We should not partake in traditions if we are not comfortable doing so. Spritual traditions should be doctrinally sound. I don't want to go along with everybody else in my denomination just because it's always been done that way (there might be logically a better way of doing something). It is important for me to THINK, with God's help, on my own....religion is sort of ritualistic in a way, but a relationship with God is something I have that can't be measured by reading a certain amount of the Bible per day, contributing a certain amount of money to the church, attending three church services per week, not eating certain foods, lighting candles, dressing in a certain way, and on and on the list goes. Nothing wrong with any of that and certainly nothing wrong with certain convictions, but you can really wear yourself out trying to keep that list up. Jesus came to free us from the law of the Old Testament and we now live in the age of grace... In being a Christian it is important for me anyway, to live it by my actions and in addition to going to church, praying and reading my Bible, (but if I don't read it one day it doesn't mean I am going to be cut off from God). I think that trying to help others is an excellent way of exercising your faith. Sometimes we try so hard to be perfect in the way we act, in the way we analyze Scripture--the only thing I can say for myself anyway, is I am not perfect, perfection belongs to God himself, not me...if I were already perfect I would have no need of him in my life. Blessings!!! We should try to learn more about God by reading and studying His word, but for me it is a relationship and not a religion.

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. John 16 states that "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (13th verse) The "god of this world" you refer to must be from 2 Corinthians 4:4? "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. This is referring to Satan, the "god" of the world, not to God Himself. Satan blinds us when we follow worldly desires - but it's of our own will. He cannot blind us if we trust in God to lead us - at least for any length of time.

How would you judge these two statements: but trust God to reveal to you what you need, They're blinded by the God of this earth? try reading John 16. and see what was your messiah here for, and ask why it hasn't been declared to you yet?

You sure helped me I looked for that scripture in 2nd Cor. and got frustrated because I knew it was there but couldn't even get it out of my concordance, as for John 16 you got to read the whole chapter what Jesus came to do and declare then check the 2 I give you to look at and see if you get what I'm trying to show let me know. thanks for the response and verse LOL.

Now where getting into what I'm asking when we do as you've said through prayer and asking for the truth we start receiving and seeing that truth, and that truth would shake the foundations of traditional teachings thats been handed down, a person could be awful lonely out there, but the whole scripture from front to back is based on truth do we not have a choice but to hold to it?

I try to read what your saying and I'm sure you mean well but Jer.10:1-5 brings this tree business out pretty plain and even history verifies what it's saying. Should we follow the tradition which is of men even as it says of heathens or the law and this is part of the law according to the scripture. Now take into count the scriptures tell us not to follow after the traditions of men according to Col.2:8 and Mat. 15:3 expresses that it's transgressing the Law to do, so if we really can't follow both according to the word then should we grab the truth even if it goes against the traditions we been taught?

From my understanding, and I am not christian, that the christmas tree is a pagen symbol. Not a symbol of christ. So that is why I refer to as a tradition. There is nothing wrong with traditions. Life is full of them. You need to do what you feel is right. And that is the best course for you.

I believe that it all depends on how the person is looking at it. (christmas tree) I remember somebody asking me if we decorate the christmas tree, are we not worshipping it? I told them if our intentions are to decorate the tree and then pray asking for something from it, then we are worshipping the tree. But if we decorate the tree because we want to, not even taking it as a source of image worshipping, then I feel it's okay. But again, it all depends on how the person looks at it.

From this statement we could all take the advice just straight and clear and I believe truth, thank you for your response Shalom