I seldom see or hear that God's ways and thoughts are in sync with that of man's. They just contradicts each other.
Do you know why?
That's because of the fleshly, natural tendency of man and he will always want to satisfy it. Scripture reveals, "For the flesh lust against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are CONTRARY to each other..." (Galatians 5:17).
Man's ways and God's ways are just different because the heart of man is desperately wicked and out of its abundance the mouth speaks. That's another prove.
This is only an exception to those who are recreated in their spirit man and has allowed their entire being to be influenced by the Holy Spirit including their heart, will and emotions. That's the only individuals that can have the same mind with Christ.
Why am I saying this?
I came across an interesting scripture that birthed this article's title.
Let's see it together!
59] "So it was on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.
60] His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John".
But they said to her, there's no one among your relatives who is called by this name.
Zacharias and Elizabeth was given a child after long years of waiting. Prior to the child's arrival, instructions and a specific name was given by an angel of God. The child however, was born and it was time to name him.
Their neighbors and friends were present for the naming ceremony and suggested they name the child Zacharias, the name of his father.
Upon hearing this, Elizabeth immediately disapproved the name because it wasn't the instruction. She quickly said, "His name is John". But their relatives said there wasn't anyone amongst their relatives who beared that name.
They found it strange that an unfamiliar name was proposed by the wife. Well, the father of every child should give his suggestion as it is with his say they can decide. So, they had to meet Zacharias who was dumb at the time, for the final say and he wrote the same thing—John!(See Luke 1:59-64).
Now, what's my point here?
Many times, we're been forced to follow the norms because we feel "that's how its done". The relatives of Elizabeth and Zacharias wanted to impose something that wasn't meant to be on the child even while it contradicted God's instructions.
Can you simply tell why that occurred?
That's because the relatives didn't hear God. I don't think there was any relationship the relatives had with God as much as Zacharias had with God. The instruction came to a man who was connected to God.
A person who doesn't know Christ and isn't connected to Him will always want to follow "the way it's done" rather than the way "it's supposed to be" because he doesn't have the mind of Christ.
A man who isn't recreated in his spirit will always go contrary to God's pattern and if opportunity or position be given, he'll establish a tradition, norm, or set of rules that will definitely oppose God's patterns.
That's why the world is full of ridiculous traditions and systems.
Please, understand that tradition isn't limited to just tribes and cultures, it's a societal thing. Tradition is simply a commonly held system.
Example of a statement made by someone who is held by traditions and systems is;
"This is the way it is done so we go by it."
"This is how our people do it so we accept is as the standard."
And more often than not, these standards are passed down to generations if not broken by a change in the system by a system much more better than the previous. That's critically what the Word of God does and mearnt to do in our dying society filled with outrageous beliefs and systems.
One thing I've noticed is folks who are so engrossed with their traditions and patterns aren't subject nor open to change and they teach it to the younger generation.
Do you even know that traditions can limit a person?
Scripture has a lot of big things said about those who recieves Jesus and becomes part of the family of Christ but unfortunately, many, even the christians are limited by what society and the world tells them.
God has said and is still saying great things about us; our rights in Christ, our freedom, our inheritance, our possession, etc yet many are still dying when all benefits in Christ are laid bare in God's Word.
"In this native, people don't easily make it. You'll have to pass through a goddess/spirit/ritualist to make it in life."
Question: is it what God's word says?
I've even heard someone say premarital sex is not a sin, so long you maintain one sexual partner.
What nonsense!
And people will still follow it because it's accepted as a norm in the society.
Please child of God, throw all those trash away and have nothing to do with it.
Don't give in to trends and societal norms when they're in opposition to God's standards.
In the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias, the people wanted to impose a different name (their own will) on the child because it was a norm to give familiar names to their children (names that can be related to them) when God wanted something different which looked strange to them.
See, God's instructions will always be strange to the world and its wisdom.
Atleast, they tried giving the name of the baby's father to the baby to respect the man of God else they would have given a name of one of their ancestors or that of another relative.
For the fact something looks good in itself doesn't mean it's accepted by God. And please tell me, whose say matters, man's or God's?
There's a reason Romans 12:2 says we shouldn't be conformed to this world. That's because its ways and wisdom is corrupt and unacceptable to God. And friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4)
So please, "beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deciet, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. [Colossians 2:8]
All those traditions and superstitious beliefs that has demonism and fetishism written all over it should never be believed or put into consideration.
Even those traditions that are looking okay in itself should be weighed with God's word. If it's not in sync with God's word, then there's no need believing it or living it
God's word remains our standard as His children. His instructions remains our template for living our lives. His Word remains our means of transformation and His wisdom, though foolish to the world, is the best we'll ever find.
Therefore, embrace it!
RELATED ARTICLE: THE CULTURE OF 'HEAVENIANS'
God bless you!
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