09/07/13

The making of traditions

Judges 11:11 - Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.


Many of the Catholic customs root into the customs of the Jews. The Jews were accused of having a law which they called the laws of Moses (not of the Lord) and these were nothing but the customs they started in the name of God.

In Judges 11:11 onwards we read about Jephthah, about how the Lord delivers the children of Ammon into his hands. But to receive this he had made a vow before the Lord that he would sacrifice (dedicate) the first person who walks through his door on his return from victory. To his disappointment his only daughter whom he loved most walks through the door to welcome him on his victory.

With a heavy heart Jephthah dedicates his daughter to the Lord (remain chastised - virgin - not knowing any man) but before that his daughter along with her maids goes up the mountains for 2 months and mourns her dedication. We read then that all the women of Israel also go for 4 days every year up the mountain to mourn the dedication of the daughter of Jephthah and this becomes a custom (enforced tradition).

We read in today's message Jephthah spoke before the Lord. It does not say Jephthah spoke to the Lord but says he spoke before the Lord. In other words it means Jephthah spoke his own mind and his own understanding and his feelings to the Lord not knowing the Lord or having a relationship with the Lord. He had knowledge of the deeds of the Lord but yet he did know the Lord. He did not have to make such a great vow before the Lord, he could have trusted the Lord and yet have victory. Since he spoke big before God, God did test him and had his most loved daughter walk through the door on his return. Jephtah dedicated his daughter not only, not with a glad heart and also made a great show to fulfil the vow made unto the Lord.

We see the people of Israel had no hand in the vow or anything to do with Jephtah and his daughter's dedication, yet to show solitude to their leader Jephtah (judge) they too go to the mountains 4 days in a year and this was repeated every year during the life of Jephtah and continued after that and becomes a custom.

We see Catholic priests and nuns commit a life of chastity unto the Lord. It is an oath to remain virgin and this they claim they do so as to live a holy life (nuns claim to be married to Jesus).

If we look at Church history many of the Apostles (leaving for Paul) were married (including Peter). Even the first Church fathers and also Popes of the Catholic Church were married and had families. Were these people unholy because they did not live a life of chastity?

We find the tradition of chastity in the Catholic Church started when one of the Popes shamed them beyond imagination in 1400AD. There were other Popes before who also shamed the institute with not only ex marital affairs but had incest relationships, but Pope Alexandra VI shamed the Church during the Renaissance period with things that are unspeakable.

Today we see Catholic priests claim chastity but yet we read since ages they have indulge in sexual relationship behind close door. Since few years we have nuns bringing out of the dark things happening behind closed doors of this Church. We also have priests abusing children under the hood of living a life of chastity.

Through my childhood and being close to Catholic priest I could see their sexual frustrations some could not control it and this frustration affected their relationship with people. Many would drink alcohol to escape it, other who could not control perused relationships with people from the congregation.

Paul did recommend one to be fully dedicated unto the purpose of God but also said unless one had the grace to be chastity the person should not remain single and sin great, but get married.

In today's message we find Israel spoke great before the Lord and then under the fact of pleasing the leader started a tradition, on the other hand we find this Church under the cover of hiding the shame of its leaders it starts a tradition and today speaks great before God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, we pray for people who are deceived by traditions which are manmade and imposed taking your name. These people speak great before You and put yokes on your people. They do not fear You nor your wrath. Lord we pray your sheep who are under the yokes of the deceiver, be set free and their yokes be broken in the Name of Jesus...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Judges 11

Matthew 15:3 - And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Mark 7:13 - making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.

Galatians 1:14 - and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


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