Sermonette: Traditions of Men, Continued
#1827s
Craig Sablich
Given 12-Jul-25; 19 minutes
description: After researching and determining from God's perspective upon which meats are acceptable to eat, as opposed to determining "what is right in our own eyes" (Judges 21), we are asked to expand from distinguishing acceptable and unacceptable meats to distinguishing between clean and unclean in all areas of our life. Few individuals make decisions to see things from God's perspective, which is exclusively developed by using His holy spirit and understanding His whole plan revealed in scripture. Without the ability to make wise decisions, people, not having God's spirit, jump to alternative false perspectives such as Legalism and Gnosticism and twist scripture to justify these beliefs. We are to tolerate our brethren's food choices as long it follows God's laws, such as being a meat eater or a vegetarian. The gospel of cheap grace has dominated the American and English perspective as well as other false perspectives in the world; they change the Romans 14 scriptures to allow any meat, even outside of the bounds God set. We must always select the perspective through which God wishes us to view the Bible and not the man-made systems and interpretations.
transcript:
I think most of you are aware, as Ryan just mentioned, that I live in South Louisiana, about 40 miles north of New Orleans. This area has a pretty unique culture with a rich history that sets it apart from the rest of the country. Since the late 1600s, this region has been influenced by France, Spain, and England, each leaving a significant mark on the local culture. Being a major trading port that attracts people from around the world, New Orleans has become a cultural melting pot. Living here exposes people to diverse cultures and beliefs from places like Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe, along with the Cajun communities and of course, the Southern culture. This blending makes it hard to trace the origins of certain practices as they are all just woven into the local culture.
Of course, religion plays a big role in the diversity of the area. The Catholic influences from Spain and France mixed with various Protestant groups, voodoo from the Caribbean along with some African beliefs, have created a unique cultural gumbo from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to the bayous of South Louisiana. Most people know of the famous reputation the area enjoys for having a great diversity in cuisine. Mr. Armstrong once said that humans behave like toddlers, shoving anything they see into their mouths, and this is certainly true of the Gulf Coast. There seems to be an unspoken rule down here that if it crawls, walks, swims, or flies, someone has a recipe for it. As God's people determined to live His way of life, we might find it strange to see these types of dining habits.
It can make us wonder if they ever consider what's right and good from God's perspective regarding health and longevity for mankind. Well, the answer is no. No, they do not. People often believe they have the God-given authority and freedom to choose these things for themselves. In Romans chapter 1 verse 24, Paul describes this belief as people changing God's truth for the lie. This lie dates back to the garden when the serpent told Eve, you will not surely die.
But there is a second part of the original lie that has captivated man's minds and hearts from the very beginning. Genesis chapter 3 verse 5 says, for God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So Satan plants the idea that by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man gains the freedom to determine for themselves what is good and evil, no longer needing to rely on God for guidance. The truth is, all of mankind has accepted and incorporated this lie into every culture on earth. This attitude was evident among the Israelites when they settled in Canaan as stated in the final verse of the book of Judges. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Although God was their true king, the Israelites forgot the one who brought them into the land, so they chose to follow the example of Adam and Eve and reject God's instruction. This Satan-influenced attitude develops in every person from childhood. Resulting in an attitude of defiance of all authority, lusting for the power to do as they please. Mankind traditionally desires the freedom to choose right from wrong while pushing God aside. They might still claim to love and worship God, but they insist on choosing their own way, rejecting the method of worship God desires and commands to be used. The history of Christianity reveals many of Paul's teachings have been twisted to fit these traditional ideas.
Making them seem to contradict the teachings of Jesus. Peter acknowledges that Paul's writings can be tough to understand, noting that untaught and unstable people twist them to their own destruction as they do the rest of the scripture. But why are so many led down such a dangerous path of misunderstanding, developing such distorted views of Paul's teachings? Well, scripture shows their difficulty in developing a clear understanding results from mankind's rejection of God's true knowledge. Without this knowledge, they are unable to see God's complete plan for humanity. So they fill in the gaps from their own imaginations.
Paul describes God's response in Romans chapter 1 verse 17 through 32. They are unable to see reality from God's perspective. So they develop their own unique perspectives, saying things like, well, the way I see it, or I think what God is saying is. We can see clear examples of this in the great diversity of gospels that have been created from the minds of men within modern Christianity. Over the centuries, these distorted gospels have continued to evolve, adding new modern thoughts, claiming to be inspired. Today they are taught as biblical truths but can easily be proven to be nothing more than the traditions of men.
While working my way through a study of the book of Romans, there was a major concept that caught my attention. In order to understand Paul's teachings, they must be viewed from the perspective of the truth. The one true gospel message Christ delivered of the kingdom of God contains the whole truth of the plan of God. This truth must be used as the standard. The error made is in using Paul's writings as the standard, forcing the gospel message to conform to it. Resulting in a twisted perspective of truth.
Let me explain what I mean. The New Testament writers warned that false teachers were appearing just as Christ predicted. In Galatians, Paul expresses his amazement at how quickly the congregation accepted a different gospel, describing those teachers as perverting the gospel of Christ. These false gospels deviate from the truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God given to the apostles. A few examples can include the teachings of legalism, Gnosticism, and a gospel centered on the person of Jesus Christ or the gospel of grace. What's referred to as legalism resulted from the teachings that developed into Judaism at the time of Christ.
The Jews began mixing their oral traditions with the teachings of Moses, resulting in a corrupted way of life. This perspective taught that Abraham was justified by his works. So the teaching became that if they sacrificed enough, God would have to forgive their sins. They created some 600 physical do's and do nots regulating actions. But these rules were incapable of regulating thought, missing the true spiritual intent of God's lifestyle. Gnosticism synchronized aspects of Greek philosophy with truths from scripture, resulting in a blend of pagan thought and truth.
This is one of the primary gospels that emerged after the death of the original apostles. The men revered as the church fathers adopted many ideas from Greek culture, eventually bringing the destructive perspective of this gospel into the Church of Rome in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Constantine, a pagan emperor, used this gospel as the foundational doctrine while building his universal Catholic Church. Then there is the gospel of grace, which has become the dominant message among many Christian groups since the 1500s. This perspective suggests that Christ's message frees mankind from God's law, allowing them to live as they choose under the blood of Christ. They argue that since God set aside the law, its penalty of death for not living by the law is removed, and no one any longer needs to worry about living contrary to God.
All of these gospels and many others come, coming from the imaginations of man, incorporate Satan's lie to one degree or another as major components of their foundational doctrine. A few weeks ago, I received a text from an acquaintance that just contained the words Mark 7:18. So I looked it up and it states, whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him. Because it does not enter his heart but his stomach and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods. I was a bit confused until I remembered I had shared a post on Facebook called Insects of the Sea, featuring a shrimp and a cockroach. So I asked, are you sure you understand that passage?
Mark 7:18 Whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him. Because it does not enter his heart but his stomach and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods.
Have you compared it to Peter's vision of the sheet of animals where he stated he had never eaten anything unclean? Her response was, why would I need to compare anything to what came out of Jesus's mouth? He's the ultimate authority. I believe what Jesus said, and she quickly shut down the conversation. So because of her traditional teachings, she could not accept that the phrase thus purifying all foods is not in the original text but was added by translators. Not to mention this phrase contradicts many other passages regarding clean and unclean meats. This traditional idea of the gospel of grace has influenced people for centuries, so much so that even the translators were affected by that perspective.
There are times when individuals locked into their traditions can be defensive about acknowledging other perspectives, refusing to have a teachable attitude of proving all things. Let's turn to Romans chapter 14, where we can see a clear example of this. In this part of his letter, a primary concept Paul wants the Roman congregation to accept is that not, not all who are converted understand everything at the same level. Some are strong in faith in certain topics, but weak in others, so they shouldn't judge others based on their level of faith. As his first analogy in addressing this issue, Paul uses an example of eating to provide understanding. In Romans chapter 14 verse 2, Paul begins, for one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Here Paul contrasts someone who enjoys various foods with someone who chooses to be a vegetarian. It seems straightforward, just personal choices, yeah. He doesn't indicate any sinful attitude, just differing preferences. Then Paul makes his point, teaching in verse 3. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received him. For generations, those who have accepted the perspectives of these other gospels have disregarded the context in Paul's letter and instead cherry-pick certain passages.
Romans 14:3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has received him.
So they use this passage, twisting Paul's intent and suggest he nullifies God's food laws. These preconceived beliefs lead them to follow illogical reasoning. The context shows that these passages have no connection to God's food laws at all. The impact of these diverse gospel perspectives is evident in the Western cultures of places like New Orleans where God's food laws hold no authority, allowing everyone to do what is right in their own eyes. Paul speaks about brotherly love and varying levels of growth in knowledge and understanding. He addresses Jews who refuse to eat certain meats, fearing they might have been offered to idols, a belief taken from the perspective of Judaism.
Paul dismisses this as nonsense, stating that such offerings have no power to contaminate or make food unclean. Paul remains focused on the importance of refraining from judgment on personal choices. Choosing to be a vegetarian or a meat eater is neither wrong nor sinful. To further illustrate his point, Paul uses a different analogy. So continuing in verse 5, he says, one person esteems one day above another. Another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Romans 14:5 One person esteems one day above another. Another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
This is another straightforward passage, but many Christians have adopted the perspective of a false gospel that rejects God's food laws and the seventh day Sabbath. They misuse this passage, taking it out of context to justify their beliefs. This passage is a perfect example of being on guard not to read into what is not there. Paul speaks of individuals who esteem or judge one day above another. In God's word, judging something to be holy is never defined as a matter of personal opinion or choice. This truth shows Paul is not speaking about holiness.
Continuing in verse 6. He who observes the day observes it to the Lord, and he who does not observe the day to the Lord, he does not observe it. He who eats eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat to the Lord, he does not eat and gives God thanks. Notice he combines the two analogies and forms a conclusion for personal choices of eating and observing one day over another. So the thread of conversation suggests that this discussion is not about the Sabbath or other holy day observances. It's about one person feasting on a chosen day and another fasting on that same day. In the Jewish culture of Paul's day, people often chose specific days for fasting for spiritual reasons, while others might feast on those same days.
Romans 14:6 He who observes the day observes it to the Lord, and he who does not observe the day to the Lord, he does not observe it. He who eats eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat to the Lord, he does not eat and gives God thanks.
The diversity of practice within the early Christian community highlights the importance of honoring the Lord in whatever choice is made. So Paul emphasizes that the intent behind the action matters most. His message is clear. Whether a person chooses to feast or fast on certain days, their focus should always be on love, unity, and building each other up in faith. It's easy to see how someone with a wrong perspective might automatically conclude Paul is speaking about clean and unclean meat. But knowing that God has set the standard for what He has declared clean and unclean, these two thoughts seem to contradict each other.
So skipping down to verse 14. It reads, I know, and I am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Paul is speaking of an individual, a person deciding for themselves if something is clean or unclean. There is not one place in all of Scripture where it is left up to a man and his human nature to determine whether something is clean or unclean. Man would always choose, for selfish reasons, by sight or taste, just as they do in New Orleans. The bottom line here, brethren, is throughout chapter 14, Paul is focused on showing respect and a genuine expression of love and concern and not judging others.
Romans 14:14 I know, and I am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Let's close by turning to Proverbs chapter 3, please. Brethren, God's gospel is clear. There is only one perspective of what is good and what is evil that matters. Solomon tells us how to focus on the only perspective that leads to truth in Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
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