In 1903, the Russian czar noticed a sentry posted for no apparent reason on the Kremlin grounds. He began to do some research to figure out why this sentry had been guarding that spot for years and years. After doing a tremendous amount of study, he discovered that the placing of a sentry in that spot dated back to 1776.
In that year, Catherine the Great found the first flower of spring. She was so excited that she gave the command, "Post a sentry here so that no one tramples that flower under foot!" So, 127 years later a sentry still guarded the spot, but he had no earthly idea why.
That story teaches us something about tradition and what a dangerous thing it can be. It's dangerous because it can cause us to stop thinking, to stop asking questions. We end up believing our practices and doctrines with all sincerity, but no thought is given to the question "Why?" There is no real focus other than "this is the way we have always done this; this is what we have always believed."
Traditions aren't necessarily wrong. We all get used to doing certain things in the same way. The problem develops when we are more adamant about holding onto our traditions than we are about keeping God's Word. It's a mistake made by the Pharisees in the time of Jesus.
"[Jesus] answered them, 'Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions? .... Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word" Matthew 15:3,6.
Be very careful. If the only reason you practice what you do is because "this is the way we've always done it," you may need to re-evaluate what you're doing in light of scripture.
-alan smith
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