TRADITION AND CUSTOMS

Mark 7:6-8, “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do”. Colossians 2:8-9, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”.

Why do people believe in false doctrine and teaching? The reason seems to be that these false doctrines and teaching have been a part of culture that is passed down from person to person, generation to generation and family to family. These doctrines and teaching have been accepted as the truth without checking their truthfulness. Jesus said in John 5:38-40, “And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”. Just as the Jews were embedded in their traditions so are many Churches embedded in the doctrine of the Church of Rome.

I have been asked by many people about the religious holidays, baptism and the trinity. If these events and doctrines are true or just made up as commandments of men. From Sabbath Day, Christmas, Passover, Good Friday, Easter. All these holidays are dates that were created and were established by the Church of Rome. December 25th is not the day that Jesus was born on. The Gentile Passover or Maundy Thursday is not Passover, Good Friday is not the day that Jesus was crucified on. The true Sabbath Day starts at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. The Doctrine of the Trinity is a created doctrine. Changing the name of Jesus Christ in baptism to Father, Son and Holy Ghost is a created doctrine to support the Doctrine of the Trinity. This leaves a very big question and that is “How can a man or a religious organization change the Commandments of God and the teaching of the Apostles?” No one can.

However, there were great anti-Jewish feelings against those who were accused of putting Jesus to death. The early Churches were mainly Jewish and some Gentiles. The Jewish Sabbath was their day of worship. But when the Gentile began to grow within the Church and after the Temple and Jerusalem and then the Nation of Judah was destroyed the Church became a Gentile Church. Some of the early Western Churches change their day of worship to the first day of the week or on Sunday but other Eastern Churches refuse to honor Sunday as the Sabbath.

Constantine the Great is the one who made these changes and these dates and changes were created and established by the Church of Rome. Many Churches will question and condemn these holidays and doctrines, but they still hold on to the customs and traditions of the Church of Rome or the Roman Catholic Church. A person told me that the Pope is the Antichrist. I replied and said, “If you believe that the Pope is the Antichrist, then why are you and your Church still obeying the doctrines, traditions and customs of the Roman Catholic Church, if the Pope is the Antichrist”. Too many Christians will believe without searching the scriptures. No One, not even the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church nor anyone who is the leader of a Protestant Religious Organization can change the doctrine and the teaching of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. If they do, then they have become a false Church.

Even during the 2nd century the Church of Rome wanted to change the date of the Jewish Passover. In the New Testament we can read where Jesus and his apostles kept the Passover and where the early Christians also kept the Passover but with time came a dispute over the Passover date and the changing of the date for Passover did not come without resistance. Two religious leaders of the mid-second century, Polycarp the bishop of Smyrna and Anicetus bishop of Rome, debated this very point. Anicetus argued for Easter while Polycarp defended the Christian Passover, on the 14th of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical calendar, regardless of the day of the week. Polycarp taught observance of the Passover as the early Church had observed it, because this was the way he had always observed it with John the disciple of our Lord, and the teaching of the apostles, with whom he associated. These Christians of the second century were still following the example of Jesus Christ and the apostles in observing the Passover. Polycarp refused to agree with the Bishop of Rome in changing the Passover date.

Several decades later another leader of the Eastern Churches called Polycrates, argued with Victor, bishop of Rome, over the same issue. After receiving a threat from the Victor, Polycrates wrote the following letter and some of the things that he said, “The churches of all Asia ought to keep the fourteenth day of the moon for the festival of the Saviour’s passover”. ‘We, therefore, observe the genuine day; neither adding thereto nor taking therefrom.” “Moreover, John, who rested upon the bosom of our Lord; … also Polycarp of Smyrna, both bishop and martyr Thraseas, Sagaris, Papirius; and Melito all these observed the fourteenth day of the Passover according to the gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith.” “I, therefore, brethren, am now sixty-five years in the Lord, who having conferred with the brethren throughout the world, and having studied the whole of the sacred Scriptures, am not at all alarmed at those things with which I am threatened, to intimidate me. For they who are greater than I, have said, ‘we ought to obey God rather than men'” (Ref: Encyclopedia Britannica 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. VIII, p. 94, “Polycarp”. Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History). But later the Gentile Passover became law in the year 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea by Constantine the Great.

Another example of this was the dispute over the nature of Christ that led the Roman emperor Constantine the Great to convene the Council of Nicaea (in modern-day western Turkey) in A.D. 325 and the debate was ended some 60 years later with the Doctrine of the Trinity. This doctrine created “Three Persons in the Godhead” called: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. To justify this new doctrine, they also banned and changed the name used in baptism from Jesus Christ to Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Constantine, although held by many to be the first “Christian” Roman Emperor, was a sun-worshiper who was only baptized on his deathbed. During his reign he had his eldest son and his wife murdered. He was also vehemently anti-Semitic, referring in one of his edicts to “the detestable Jewish crowd” and “the customs of these most wicked men”. Constantine wanted to change customs and teaching that were in fact rooted in the Bible and practiced by Jesus and the apostles. At this Council of Nicaea was the beginning of these false doctrines and false teaching. And over 1600 years they have passed from generation to generation and these holidays and the Trinity Doctrine and the removal of Jesus Christ name from baptism has become established “custom and tradition” within the ranks of the majority of Protestants Churches. Too many people assume that everything that bears the label “Christian” must have originated with Jesus Christ and His early followers. But this is definitely not the case. All we have to do is look at the words of Jesus Christ and His Apostles to see that this is clearly not true.

The historical record shows that, just as Jesus and the New Testament writers foretold, various heretical ideas and teachers rose up from within the early Church and infiltrated it from without. Christ Himself warned His followers in Matthew 24:4-5, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many”. Acts 20:29-31, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears”. 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works”. 2nd Peter 2:1-2, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of .” Evil spoken of, its true that if you do not believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity and believe in baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) then you are a heretic belonging to an occult. Why, will they say this? Its because you do not accept the doctrines and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church that the majority of Protestant Churches believe in. You can read many similar warnings in other passages (such as And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. American King James Version×; 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. American King James Version×13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. American King James Version×2 Timothy 4:2-2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. American King James Version×;1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. American King James Version× 1 John 2:18-18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you. American King James Version×; 1 John 4:1-1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. American King James Version×).

Barely two decades after Christ’s death and resurrection, the apostle Paul wrote that many believers were already “turning away . . . to a different gospel” (Galatians 1: I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel: American King James Version×). He wrote that he was forced to contend with “false apostles, deceitful workers” who were fraudulently “transforming themselves into apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. American King James Version×). One of the major problems he had to deal with was “false brethren” (2 Corinthians 11: In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; American King James Version×). By late in the first century, as we see from 3rd John 9-10, conditions had grown so dire that false ministers openly refused to receive representatives of the apostle John and were excommunicating true Christians from the Church.

4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. American King James Version×

It wasn’t long before true servants of God became a marginalized and scattered minority among those calling themselves Christians. A very different religion, now compromised with many concepts and practices rooted in ancient paganism and the mixing of religious beliefs being known as syncretism, (Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief.” This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Paganism and syncretism were common in the Roman Empire at the time and took hold and transformed the faith founded by Jesus Christ into a false doctrine. A very different church was growing and would soon take over the mighty Roman Empire.

By the second century, faithful members of the Church, Christ’s “little flock” Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. American King James Version×, had largely been scattered by waves of deadly persecution. They held firmly to the biblical truth about Jesus Christ and God. They were persecuted by the Roman authorities as well as the Church of Rome who professed Christianity but were teaching “another Jesus” and a “different gospel”.

This was the setting in which the doctrine of the Trinity emerged. In those early decades after Jesus Christ’s ministry, death and resurrection, and spanning the next few centuries, various ideas sprang up as to His exact nature. Was He man? Was He God? Was He God appearing as a man? Was He an illusion? Was He a mere man who became God? Was He created by God the Father, or did He exist eternally with the Father? All of these ideas had their proponents. The unity of belief of the original Church was lost as new beliefs, many borrowed or adapted from pagan religions, replaced the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

This dispute over the nature of Christ led to the Roman emperor Constantine the Great to convene the Council of Nicaea. As emperor in a period of great tumult within the Roman Empire, Constantine was challenged with keeping the empire unified. He recognized the value of religion in uniting his empire. This was, in fact, one of his primary motivations in accepting and sanctioning the “Christian” religion. But by this time, Christianity had drifted far from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles and was Christian in name only.

Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in the year 325 as much for political reasons, as for unity in the empire and for religious ones. The primary issue at that time came to be known as the Arian controversy. In the hope of securing for his throne the support of the growing body of Christians he had shown them considerable favor and it was to his interest to have the church vigorous and united. The Arian controversy was threatening its unity and menacing its strength. He therefore undertook to put an end to the trouble. It was suggested to him, perhaps by the Spanish bishop Hosius, who was influential at court, that if a synod were to meet representing the whole church both east and west, it might be possible to restore harmony. Constantine himself of course neither knew nor cared anything about the matter in dispute but he was eager to bring the controversy to a close.

Arius, a priest from Alexandria, Egypt, taught that Christ, because He was the Son of God, must have had a beginning and therefore was a special creation of God. Further, if Jesus was the Son, the Father of necessity must be older. Opposing the teachings of Arius was Athanasius, a deacon also from Alexandria. His view was an early form of Trinitarianism wherein the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were one but at the same time distinct from each other.

The decision as to which view the church council would accept was to a large extent arbitrary. When the bishops gathered at Nicaea on May 20, 325, to resolve the crisis, very few would have shared Athanasius’s view of Christ. Most held a position midway between Athanasius and Arius”. As emperor, Constantine was in the unusual position of deciding church doctrine even though he was not really a Christian. Constantine, like his father, worshipped the Unconquered Sun.

With the emperor’s approval, the Council rejected the minority view of Arius and, having nothing definitive with which to replace it, approved the view of Athanasius. The church was left in the odd position of officially supporting, from that point forward, the decision made at Nicaea to endorse a belief held by only a minority of those attending. The groundwork for official acceptance of the Trinity was now laid, but it took more than three centuries after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for this unbiblical teaching to emerge.

Disagreements soon centered around another issue, the nature of the Holy Spirit. In the second half of the fourth century, three theologians from the province of Cappadocia in eastern Asia Minor [today central Turkey] gave definitive shape to the doctrine of the Trinity. They proposed an idea that was a step beyond Athanasius’ view. They proclaim that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit were coequal and together in one being, yet also distinct from one another. These men, Basil, bishop of Caesarea, his brother Gregory, bishop of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus were all “trained in Greek philosophy” which no doubt affected their outlook and beliefs. In their view the Trinity only made sense as a mystical or spiritual experience.

In the year 381, 44 years after Constantine’s death, Emperor Theodosius the Great convened the Council of Constantinople (today Istanbul, Turkey) to resolve these disputes. Gregory of Nazianzus, recently appointed as archbishop of Constantinople, presided over the council and urged the adoption of his view of the Holy Spirit. Gregory soon became ill and had to withdraw from the council. Nectarius, an elderly city senator who had been a popular prefect in the city as a result of his patronage of the games, but who was still not a baptized Christian, was selected.

The Doctrine of the Trinity becomes official doctrine. The teaching of the three Cappadocian theologians made it possible for the Council of Constantinople (381) to affirm the divinity of the Holy Spirit, which up to that point had nowhere been clearly stated. With this declaration in 381, which would become known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the Trinity as generally understood today became the official belief and teaching concerning the nature of God. Which is that the Father is a person, the Son is a person and the Holy Ghost is a person and all three are co-equal.

Now that a decision had been reached, Theodosius would tolerate no dissenting views. He issued his own edict that read: “We now order that all churches are to be handed over to the bishops who profess Father, Son and Holy Spirit of a single majesty, of the same glory, of one splendor, who establish no difference by sacrilegious separation, but (who affirm) the order of the Trinity by recognizing the Persons and uniting the Godhead” Another edict from Theodosius went further in demanding adherence to the new teaching: “Let us believe the one deity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in equal majesty and in a holy Trinity. We authorize the followers of this law to assume the title of Catholic Christians; but as for the others, since, in our judgement, they are foolish madmen, we decree that they shall be branded with the ignominious name of heretics and shall not presume to give their conventicles [assemblies] the name of churches”. “They will suffer in the first place the chastisement of the divine condemnation, and the second the punishment which our authority, in accordance with the will of Heaven, shall decide to inflict”. A teaching that was foreign to Jesus Christ, never taught by the apostles and unknown to the other biblical writers, was locked into place and the true biblical revelation about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit was locked out. Any who disagreed were, in accordance with the edicts of the emperor and church authorities, branded heretics and dealt with accordingly, even death.

Why believe a teaching that isn’t biblical and that wasn’t formalized until three centuries after the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles. But if you refused to accept it then you are branded as heretics or unbelievers. We should instead look to the Word of God and not to ideas of men. In Matthew 22:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God”. Mark 12:28-30, “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment”. Jesus said that the Lord our God is one, but the Church of Rome said, “Hear, O Gentiles; the Lord our God is three”.

Salvation is only in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. Acts 2:37-39, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call”. What do you believe? The teaching of Jesus and His apostles or the teaching of the Church of Rome which is the Roman Catholic Church.

References: A History of Christian Thought, A History of God, The Story of the Christian Church, Greek Philosophy’s Influence on the Trinity Doctrine, HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, “God,”