By Dan Maines

Family Tradition

After studying every possible religion I could. I have concluded that we Christians do not pay attention to the words of Jesus and His Apostles but rather listen to human minds and what's in their hearts. We ignore what Jesus says and take the word from a loved one as the truth. I'm calling this "Family Tradition".

"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:14-15)

What is so hard to believe about what Jesus is saying here?

Isn't Jesus saying the time is complete and His Kingdom is within reach? We should repent and believe in the gospel.

How many times have your heard someone say "Don't take my word for it, read and study it for yourselves?" It's pretty rare that a person leaves church and re-reads the scripture even though they were told "Don't take my word for it" Why is that? The truth is, they trust the faith of their teacher. That same faith has been in the family for hundreds for years. Without really knowing it, they trust their family before trusting Jesus.

Take for example In Luke 21:28-32

Jesus told His disciples His Kingdom was near and that He would come a second time during THEIR GENERATION. For some, He would redeem them and make Salvation complete. And for others His enemies, He would put them under His feet. All of this happened in that generation.

It's family tradition that makes the same mistake as the scribes an Pharisees. Some wanting to continue living in the Old Covenant, while Jesus opposed it. Some wanted a physical Kingdom. Some today, even make words mean something that Jesus did not intend them to mean. To some, "Soon, at hand, quickly, generation", all mean 2,000 years.

Really!? I mean really? Come on people you have to study your bible to know what Jesus is saying. You cannot put your trust in man made tradition. I'm sorry to say it but family tradition teaches like the scribes an Pharisees.

Acts 13:46 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 46 But Paul and Barnabas spoke very boldly. They said, "We had to tell God's message to you Jews first, but you refuse to listen. You have made it clear that you are not worthy of having eternal life. So we will now go to those who are not Jews.

It was the unbelieving Jews that judged themselves unworthy. They were no different than today's family tradition, they didn't want other people hearing the truth. Today's church just wants your attendance. Have you ever heard that if you do not attend or give money to the church you will go to hell? This is part of family tradition. The bible says no such thing. It's man that has threatened you with hell. The bible teaches no such place of a fiery torment of hell. Most do not believe this because of their family tradition telling them what to do.

If you do nothing in your Christian walk are you really in His Kingdom? Jesus tells us if we sow nothing He will take everything away. He even calls those enemies, the people who did not want Him to reign over them. (Luke 19:26-27)

At one point in my life, I thought I was in His Kingdom, He had to take everything away. I was a half hearted Christian. Today I'm very grateful He turned it upside down to save it. Ever since then, I never trust man's opinion but only seek out His truth.

There's nothing wrong in applying the true meaning of scripture in our daily lives but when family tradition puts the main meaning not happening until 2,000 years into the future there's a problem. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes about the Jews of his generation not to the generation we live in. Family tradition uses 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 to say we killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets. No we did not! Paul knew that Jesus had said they were the crooked generation in those last days. They were the unbelieving Jews who crucified the Lord and persecuted His messengers.

Jesus said what would be the signs of His wrath upon the impenitence of the Scribes and Pharisees. Not the signs for the family tradition, guessing at a Third coming.

20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; Luke 21:20-23 (NASB)

The wrath would come upon that impenitent nation of that generation and every written prophecy would be fulfilled.

Those events happened then, all the events, not just a few. These events will not happen 2,000 years latter. Jesus said it would all happen in His generation. What is so hard to believe about that? Don't we trust Jesus? Isn't He our savior? Then why do we trust family tradition?

I'll tell you why. To keep you in church and keep taking your money. They want to be in control of you. Some of them even want to be your government. Don't get me wrong there a lot of good caring loving Christians but they have to stay in the guidelines of church tradition and doctrine. I personally believe the Church is worried if their members knew the truth, they would stop coming.

Today's church will provide a great uplifting inspiring sermon. They say Praise God He loves you so much." Which He does, but at the same time their asking you to put a little more money in the basket than you did last week. Family tradition teaches, you must tithe. But the Old Covenant tithing is NOT mandated anywhere in the New Testament.

In our day, tithing is giving without the Law. Christian stewardship is more than just giving money. It includes giving yourself, your time, and your talent in service to the Lord. The apostle Paul admonished that "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). With Spirit led giving, the Christian no longer needs the laws of Moses to finance the Great Commission.

So, don't let anyone tell you "If you don't give 10 percent, you're robbing God" They tell you to read Malachi 3:8

Let's get back to the generation Jesus was speaking in.

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.' Luke 11:51 (NASB) Jesus was saying that the generation He was in, would take the fall for killing the prophets. Not you and I in the 21st century.

so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:35 (NASB)

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Matthew 23:37 (NASB)

Jesus clearly said Jerusalem would be charged in His generation NOT 2,000 year later in the 21st century.

Do you know that Jesus told His disciples that some of them would not die until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Bet your family tradition didn't teach you that.

27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28 "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Matthew 16:27-28 (NASB)

Some of them would be alive when He returned. How can you deny that. Even Paul said it. Paul, just like, Christ Jesus prophetically declared by the Holy Spirit that on the day the resurrection and the rapture of the Church would happen, some of the Apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ would be alive. Read it. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 verse 15 tells us, some of them would be alive at the coming of the Lord.

Do you know that there are churches that teach Jesus and Paul were wrong in regard to the timing of His Second Coming. Isn't that blasphemous? Let's see what Luke has to say about this. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. Luke 21:31-32 (NASB)

Jesus sent the twelve Apostles to the Jews only, in their generation, to tell the lost sheep that the Kingdom was very near. He was giving them one last chance to repent before His return.

He loved them so much that He wanted to deliver all the Jews from the kingdom of darkness, the "ministry of death" The Old Covenant! (2 Corinthians 3:7) The law functioned by the Legal and Pharisee system. Kinda like "Family Tradition" of today. God wanted every true child of Abraham (none of them alive today) to repent so that they did not see his wrath that was about to happen in their generation. 5 Jesus sent the twelve men out with these instructions: "Don't go to the non-Jewish people. And don't go into any town where the Samaritans live. 6 But go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that are lost. 7 When you go, tell them this: 'God's kingdom is now very near.' Matthew 10:5-7 (ERV)

But Jesus knew many would continue rejecting Him. He told His disciples:

"When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Mat. 10:23)

Why is this so hard for "Family Tradition" to understand this? Jesus is telling us when He would return. Jesus said some of them would "persecute you" He's telling His Apostles this NOT YOU. That is why He tells the unbelieving Jews that they are those that will be killed for all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechariah. He told them they were the generation who would go through this. (Matthew 23:34-36)

Now! were you in that generation? How can this apply to 2,000 years later? Jesus clearly told His Apostles they would not have the time to go to every town, where a synagogue existed, because the Son of Man would come. Remember, some of these Apostles would not taste death until they saw Christ's Spiritual Return.

Here Again, we see that "Family Tradition" has twisted every meaning in the bible to point to another future coming of the Lord. Some of them from "Family Tradition" like to close off all discussion by saying "You know there was physical Israel and there was Spiritual Israel" as though it it makes them right in their view. Well let's quickly put an end to this right now. First of all, Jesus came to overcome spiritual death not physical death. Then Jesus tells us that physical Israel would be cut off forever. Jesus said "Let there be no more fruit from you forever." According to Jesus physical Israel will never again, produce fruit as God's chosen nation. Jesus used a fig tree to illustrate physical Israel. Matthew 21:19. God's nation is Christ's Kingdom that we live in now the New Jerusalem. All physical Jews can become part of His Nation, as well as all other nationalities, but physical Israel will never be.

So, is your hope in a future generation? Do we really want to follow "Family Tradition" (human minds and hearts) or the truth coming from Jesus and His Apostles. The table of the "marriage of the Lamb" has been set since the day Christ Jesus was resurrected, and fully consummated in 70AD. Most of the Jewish people refused this invitation. Is "Family Tradition" doing the same thing? I think so. The marriage of the Lamb is tied to the second coming of Christ (Matthew 25: 1-13). The old earthly Jerusalem, which turned harlot was destroyed. (Revelation 11:8; 16:19; 18:21) The New Jerusalem is the habitation of God. The city above and the church below are made one, God inhabiting both. "Family Tradition" has rejected this as did the Jewish people refused this invitation. The second coming was the point at which the Lord came to dwell with his bride. (Revelation 21:2-3) That's where we're at right now in His kingdom, the Body of Christ the New Jerusalem.

The Kingdom of God was taken from the Jews and Jesus became the Kingdom. The Lord of the Vineyard came with His armies in 70AD and judged the earthly Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:40-45 (ERV)

40 "So what will the owner of the vineyard do to these farmers when he comes?"

41 The Jewish priests and leaders said, "He will surely kill those evil men. Then he will lease the land to other farmers, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

42 Jesus said to them, "Surely you have read this in the Scriptures:

'The stone that the builders refused to accept

became the cornerstone.

The Lord did this,

and it is wonderful to us.'

43 "So I tell you that God's kingdom will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who do what God wants in his kingdom. 44 Whoever falls on this stone will be broken. And it will crush anyone it falls on."

45 When the leading priests and the Pharisees heard these stories, they knew that Jesus was talking about them.

If the Pharisees knew this was them in the first century, why does "Family Tradition" put this story out in the future? Jesus said to them, ("Family Tradition") "Have you never read in the Scriptures"

It's very clear the Second Coming happened in the Pharisees day, when the Lord of the Vineyard came. Do you see any Pharisees today? No. Do you know why that is? They were no longer alive after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD. For a future coming to happen the Pharisees would have to be alive.

God came in judgment on the Jews in 70 A.D. He destroyed their town and the temple, "The Earthly Jerusalem." At the same time He came to redeem His persecuted Church.

God's Kingdom has been established and He reigns for ever and ever. In this life, enjoy the many blessing of fulfilled prophecy in His Kingdom and one day you will find the door to the other side of the Kingdom, when you walk on in to Heaven. God Bless You!