The Teachings of Men

May 19, 2004

Personal Narrations

Joel Akin

Calgary, Alberta

Tradition. What is tradition? It is the teachings of men. Those traditions, though not necessarily 'laws' are more like unwritten laws which we willingly follow. In some cases they are so ingrained in us that we don't even know it. They become like walls and in some case like walls that hold us from seeing or understanding either the truth or a new level of truth. Christ loved pointing out the traditions of men especially from the priesthood from that time. But this is also the crux of what I am now dealing with. How do you overcome traditions you didn't know you had until God pointed them out to you? Traditions so strong that not even the devil or sin were stronger. Is such a thing possible? According to God it is. Now he's been warning me of this from the beginning in different ways. The main one was that men still had a strong hold on me. I didn't understand Him but I am beginning to now. All my life I've always had someone that I could turn to for spiritual advice and insight. Usually my father or a good Christian friend. I didn't always get too deep but I did have a lot of questions. And I was taught that there is always a man that you can turn to for spiritual advice. In fact I think about it and I've always felt that you should NEVER get so close to God that you could not be brought down to earth by a group of spiritual advisors who's job was to weigh what God said and deem it worthy. I know that sounds terrible but its true. And basically what this was saying is no man (or woman) is smart enough, strong enough to go solo with God.

Now I don't see myself as smart or strong and maybe thats why I am struggling with this issue right now. God is saying He wants to take me to the next level and that level is cutting myself off from the approval of men. I know what He is saying. There are very few humans who do not have some human contact somewhere. In my case I am surrounded by about six people on a regular basis .

God is saying that I have to stop seeking the approval of others. In other words all the teaching I've had from God has 'fit' into areas I am comfortable with. Things that can still fit into a 'traditional ministry' albeit a little different. But by fitting myself into a traditional ministry I'm doing so for the approval of men and not the approval of God. Now God is saying that He wants to lead me even higher and to do so I have to stop turning to men for approval because they may not understand this next level. And that is why I am struggling because its easy when everything fits. For months I've been bragging I took God out of the box. And in a way I did. But now God showed me there was another box called "Tradition" and He has expanded to fill it to overflowing and I have to make a choice. Will I let God break down this last?(hopefully) box or will I keep God bound within Tradition.

Sounds easy for those who don't know but God may ask you to start doing things that break tradition and even make a mockery of it. It takes courage and strength and so I pray about it and seek understanding.