Review: Error is not as good as truth Loyalty to men & partial view Why Men Obey Error #2 Review: Error is not as good as truth Loyalty to men & partial view

If Do Not Know, Cannot Obey Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

Why Are Some Ignorant? Do not understand God’s word and power, Mt. 22:29-32 Lack of opportunity – Lk. 12:47,48 Failure to use opportunity – Acts 3:12-18 Failure to grow, Heb. 5:12-14

How Do We Escape Ignorance? Love the truth, 2 Thess. 2:10-12 Study God’s word, Jn. 8:32; 2 Tim. 2:15 Honestly apply it, 1 Jn. 2:3-6 A slave obeyed because he had to An employee obeys because he needs to A Christian obeys because he wants to (Jn. 14:15,21,23)

Traditions of Men Not a new problem (Mk. 7:1-13; Mt. 15:1-9) Corban – an offering, or gift dedicated to the temple…may remain in possession of the vow maker Used to circumvent God’s word (Ex. 20:12) Not talking about sanitary purpose, but a ceremonial religious cleansing

Tradition – of God or Men? “A handing down or to hand over; deliver.” 1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15 “Now the scriptures do not contain all the truths which a Christian is bound to believe, nor do they explicitly enjoin all the duties which he is obligated to practice” (“Faith of Our Fathers,” by Gibbons).

Time, Sincerity, Numbers Time - Mohammad, 600 A.D., Sincerity – Mormons, Numbers – Moslems – 513 million, Hindu – 515 million, Buddhists – 165 million (World Book, 1976). Mt. 7:13,14; Jn. 14:6

Tradition – Holy Days “Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by Christian churches. It begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays, and ends on Easter Sunday…Lent is part of the regular church year in the Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic churches, and…the Anglican Communion…Many other churches hold religious services…” (World Book).

History? “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament or in the writings of the apostolic fathers. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians” (Encyclopedia Britannica). What about Acts 12:4? “There never was a more absurd or unhappy translation than this. The original is simply ‘after the Passover’” (Barnes).

“Holy Days” (preceded by Shrove/Pancake Tuesday/Mardi Gras) Ash Wednesday – begins 40 days fast; named from putting ashes on foreheads from palms burned previous Palm Sunday Palm Sunday – Sunday before Easter; commemorates triumphal entry of Jesus Maundy Thursday – before Easter…last supper and washing of disciples feet Good Friday – before Easter…anniversary of the crucifixion.

Easter “A Christian festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important holy day of the Christian religion. People attend churches and take part in religious ceremonies…Most Christians observe Easter on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Members of Eastern Orthodox Churches sometimes celebrate it later than other churches do” (World Book).

What Does the Bible Say? Christ arose on Sunday (Mk. 16:1-6) The church was established on Sunday (Lev. 23:15-17; Acts 2) The church at Troas observed the Lord’s supper on Sunday (Acts 20:7) Churches were told to take a collection on Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1,2)

Conclusion “Protestant” Churches have followed Roman Catholic traditions: sprinkling, infant baptism, instrumental music and special Holy Days. Warning: Brethren can be traditionalists by following others or by contending for their own traditions as the word of God (Mt. 15:9).