TRADITIONS
Each church has certain traditions or customs that relate to the teaching or practice of that church. These are fine as long as they do not contradict scriptural teachings and practices. Jesus condemned the customs and traditions that were kept in place of the scriptural teachings. Matthew 15:3: “But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Mark 7:7–8: “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Unfortunately, many of these unscriptural customs and traditions are related to worship and thus grossly violate God’s command in Exodus 20:4–5: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (see also Deuteronomy 5:7–10).
Of these I mention: The veneration of icons and statues, either representing the crucified Christ or representing the Virgin Mary or any of the saints, either apostles or those who lived after the first century and were canonized. These icons and statues that are set in places of worship and are used for worship of God flagrantly violate the commandment “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.” We do not need any object from any material or any appearance of any of the above-mentioned characters to pray or worship God. 1 John 2:1: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Some religions have certain days and holidays dedicated to “saints.” There are over 125 saints and holidays dedicated to them. The apostle Paul said in Acts 14:15, “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” What can certainly be said is that each of these saints were only men. And the Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. But neither the apostle Paul (Acts 14:8–15) nor the apostle Peter (Acts 10:25–26) nor any of the other apostles allowed people to worship them because they would have encouraged the violation of God’s command. And none of these religious days and holidays to saints are found in the Holy Scripture.
Worship of human bones or relics. During the year there are different pilgrimages to relics or certain saints, attended by thousands of people, sincere in their hearts, but without realizing that these pilgrimages and the fact that they kiss and worship before those relics does not help. Deuteronomy 32:21: “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities.” No deceased person can in any way help the survivors in their lives, which is clearly noted in the parable of Luke 16:19–31, in which the Lord Jesus tells about the rich man in hell trying to intercede for his five remaining brothers in life, but without any success.
To honor the dead by remembering their courage and good deeds is honorable, but this cannot provide a means of forgiveness and rest of the dead person’s soul. Psalm 49:7–8 says, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever).” Parentheses were added by translators, but the words were not added. The words in the parentheses are in the original manuscript and are from God.
Commemorations
As a deceased person can no longer help those who are still alive, so neither can the living do anything for the dead. In reading the Scripture, we find no place where dead men have been helped because of the deeds of the living. The Bible is clear about intercession. 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” In regard to the forgiveness of sins, the salvation of the soul, and eternal rest, only Jesus Christ can provide this. Not by the poems or other things that can be done in the name of the dead by loved ones who are alive. 1 John 5:11–12: “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” The eternity of a soul depends on whether or not he has accepted during his life the free gift of God which is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
TRIBULATION (see END TIMES
Each church has certain traditions or customs that relate to the teaching or practice of that church. These are fine as long as they do not contradict scriptural teachings and practices. Jesus condemned the customs and traditions that were kept in place of the scriptural teachings. Matthew 15:3: “But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Mark 7:7–8: “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Unfortunately, many of these unscriptural customs and traditions are related to worship and thus grossly violate God’s command in Exodus 20:4–5: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (see also Deuteronomy 5:7–10).
Of these I mention: The veneration of icons and statues, either representing the crucified Christ or representing the Virgin Mary or any of the saints, either apostles or those who lived after the first century and were canonized. These icons and statues that are set in places of worship and are used for worship of God flagrantly violate the commandment “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.” We do not need any object from any material or any appearance of any of the above-mentioned characters to pray or worship God. 1 John 2:1: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Some religions have certain days and holidays dedicated to “saints.” There are over 125 saints and holidays dedicated to them. The apostle Paul said in Acts 14:15, “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” What can certainly be said is that each of these saints were only men. And the Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. But neither the apostle Paul (Acts 14:8–15) nor the apostle Peter (Acts 10:25–26) nor any of the other apostles allowed people to worship them because they would have encouraged the violation of God’s command. And none of these religious days and holidays to saints are found in the Holy Scripture.
Worship of human bones or relics. During the year there are different pilgrimages to relics or certain saints, attended by thousands of people, sincere in their hearts, but without realizing that these pilgrimages and the fact that they kiss and worship before those relics does not help. Deuteronomy 32:21: “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities.” No deceased person can in any way help the survivors in their lives, which is clearly noted in the parable of Luke 16:19–31, in which the Lord Jesus tells about the rich man in hell trying to intercede for his five remaining brothers in life, but without any success.
To honor the dead by remembering their courage and good deeds is honorable, but this cannot provide a means of forgiveness and rest of the dead person’s soul. Psalm 49:7–8 says, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever).” Parentheses were added by translators, but the words were not added. The words in the parentheses are in the original manuscript and are from God.
Commemorations
As a deceased person can no longer help those who are still alive, so neither can the living do anything for the dead. In reading the Scripture, we find no place where dead men have been helped because of the deeds of the living. The Bible is clear about intercession. 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” In regard to the forgiveness of sins, the salvation of the soul, and eternal rest, only Jesus Christ can provide this. Not by the poems or other things that can be done in the name of the dead by loved ones who are alive. 1 John 5:11–12: “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” The eternity of a soul depends on whether or not he has accepted during his life the free gift of God which is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
TRIBULATION (see END TIMES
