Les Feldick teaches that tradition is dangerous because Scripture condemns it as a basis for belief, and he warns it will doom more people than almost any other single thing except pride.
Tradition is not wrong because it is old, but because people accept it from their fathers or grandfathers without ever checking it against the Word of God (Clip 5). Paul's own history proves the point: being 'more exceedingly zealous of the traditions' did not make him right — it made him persecute the church (Clip 6). The only safeguard, Les says, is to get into the Book and rest on what Scripture actually says rather than on the words of any human teacher (Clip 1).
1 Peter 1:18-19 — Peter calls the way of life received by tradition from fathers 'vain' and contrasts it with redemption by the blood of Christ — the most direct scriptural answer to why tradition is dangerous.
Galatians 1:13-14 — Paul testifies that being exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers led him to persecute the church of God.
Acts 4:11-12 — Les cites these verses to show that salvation is only in Christ, making any religious tradition that teaches another way dangerous.
For the redeemed, the believer's vain conversation received by tradition from the fathers is set in direct contrast to redemption by the precious blood of Christ: 'Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot' (1 Peter 1:18-19). This is the only place in the New Testament that explicitly links the word 'tradition' to the way of life from which believers are redeemed. Paul's own biography shows the fruit of devotion to tradition: 'For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers' (Galatians 1:13-14). Scripture further declares there is no salvation anywhere else: 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved' (Acts 4:12). And from the Psalms, Israel was warned that the chief corner stone would be rejected: 'The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner' (Psalm 118:22).
Les Feldick teaches that tradition is so dangerous that it is the one word Scripture condemns. He says, 'if there's any word in the Scripture that is condemned, it's tradition,' and warns that many believers have been 'hidebound by tradition' and locked into beliefs that are not in line with the Scriptures (Clip 5). Tradition, he says, 'is going to doom more people than any other one thing you can think of, except maybe the word pride' (Clip 6). Paul is Les's primary example. Paul was in the hierarchy of the Jews' religion, profited in it, and was 'more exceedingly zealous of the traditions' — and that enthusiasm made him persecute the church of God (Clip 6). Les emphasizes that Christianity is not a religion, and that Paul uses the word 'religion' to describe the Jews' religion that he later abandoned (Clip 0). Les applies this to today: people in Christendom are 'steeped in the tradition of the fathers' just as the Jews were, and they think they are going to make it, but 'tradition isn't going to make anybody make it.' Redemption comes only by the precious blood of Christ (Clip 2). The safeguard is to return to the Book: 'don't go by what I say, don't go by what the next man says, but take what I say to whet your appetite to get into the Book. Because that's where it's at' (Clip 1). Sometimes believers must break traditions in order to come to the truth of Scripture (Clip 2).
Before his conversion, Paul was in the hierarchy of the Jews' religion, probably on a big salary, profiting above his equals in his own nation and being 'more exceedingly zealous of the traditions' (Clip 6). His manner of living in the Jews' religion included persecuting and wasting the church of God beyond measure (Clips 0, 6). Les uses this to show that religious commitment, political standing, and even financial success do not prove someone is right — Paul had all of those while fighting against the Messiah.
No. Les says 'tradition isn't going to make anybody make it' (Clip 2). Even though people are steeped in the tradition of their fathers and think they will make it, Peter's words apply: believers were not redeemed by silver and gold or by the vain conversation received from tradition, but by the precious blood of Christ (Clip 2; 1 Peter 1:18-19). This connects to Les's warning that any belief that people can be saved outside faith in the Gospel of Christ is dangerous (Clip 7; Acts 4:11-12).
Les's consistent answer is to get into the Book. He tells people, 'don't go by what I say, don't go by what the next man says, but take what I say to whet your appetite to get into the Book. Because that's where it's at' (Clip 1). He also says his informal Bible study exists not to twist people's arms out of one way of thinking into his, but to open the Scriptures and help people see what they really say (Clip 5). Sometimes breaking tradition is required in order to come to the truth of Scripture (Clip 2).
Paul's Manner of Living in the Jews' Religion
Les explains that Paul's former life was wrapped up in the Jews' religion, where he was living under the law and persecuting the church, and that Christianity is not a religion.
Steeped in the Tradition of the Fathers
Les warns that people in Christendom today are just as steeped in inherited tradition as Paul was, and the answer is to get into the Book, not to trust any man's word.
Tradition Cannot Redeem
Les teaches that tradition will not help anyone 'make it' — redemption is only through the precious blood of Christ, so some traditions must be broken to reach the truth.
What Are the Signs of the End Times? Matthew 24 Explained
And so the false teaching has been a ball work against Christianity from day one. And so even here in these tribulation days as all the calamities are falling, and people will be grasping for just something, the false teachers are going to have a heyday. Verse 12. And because iniquity shall abound. Now think about it for a moment.
Paul's Vision of Heaven & the Jerusalem Council Explained
And these Gentile believers could not just fly in the face of all that, because it would be destroying their testimony. It's no different today. You know what the biggest detriment to true Christianity today? Careless Christians. No wonder the world says they're a bunch of hypocrites.
Tradition Is the Condemned Word
Les says Scripture condemns tradition and warns against being hidebound by traditions that are not in line with what the Bible actually says.
Tradition Dooms More People Than Almost Anything
Using Paul's example, Les shows that zeal for the traditions of the fathers led him to persecute the church, and that tradition will doom millions.
No Salvation Outside Christ
Les warns that it is dangerous to depart from the truth that salvation is only through faith in the Gospel of Christ, which undercuts any reliance on religious tradition.
1 Peter 1:18-19: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Peter directly calls the way of life received from tradition 'vain' and sets against it redemption by the precious blood of Christ — the key verse Les uses.
Galatians 1:13-14: For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Paul testifies that his intense zeal for the traditions of his fathers drove him to persecute the church.
Galatians 1:15: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul's commission came from God's eternal purpose, not from his religious background or the traditions he had followed.
Acts 4:11-12: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Salvation is only in Christ, which is why any tradition or group that teaches another way is dangerous.
Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Les notes Israel was warned from the Psalms that their chief corner stone would be rejected — pointing to Christ.
Les Feldick says that if there is any word in Scripture that is condemned, it is tradition (Clip 5). The danger is being 'hidebound' by tradition and locked into practices that are not in line with the Scriptures. His concern is not with harmless customs but with inherited religious beliefs that replace the Word of God.
Les says tradition 'is going to doom more people than any other one thing you can think of, except maybe the word pride' (Clip 6). People trust the religion they inherited from their fathers and think they will 'make it,' but tradition is never the basis of redemption — the precious blood of Christ is (Clip 2).
Les's advice is to get into the Book: 'don't go by what I say, don't go by what the next man says, but take what I say to whet your appetite to get into the Book' (Clip 1). He also says some traditions must be broken in order to come to the truth of Scripture (Clip 2).
No. Paul tells us he was 'more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers' (Galatians 1:14), yet that zeal led him to persecute the church. His religious background did not make him right — God separated him and called him by grace (Galatians 1:15).
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