Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
In the modern Church, many believers find themselves grappling with the difference between tradition and truth—and the stakes are high. Jesus warned about the danger of holding on to traditions that make the Word of God “of no effect.” Many believers cling to comfortable traditions, yet these traditions are often void of the supernatural power of God, reducing Faith to nothing more than ritualistic intellectualism and salvation and right standing and acceptance with God based on performance or good works and behavior.
Jesus Himself warned us of this danger, saying, “You nullify the Word of God by your tradition” (Mark 7:13). But what exactly is this tradition doing? It’s stripping the gospel of its power and shifting the focus from the miraculous life Jesus promised to a powerless religion of human effort and man-inspired intellectualism.
This study will challenge traditional beliefs that dismiss the supernatural, reduce the Holy Spirit's power to an ancient event, and make believers settle for mediocrity rather than the abundant life of Faith, healing, prosperity, and grace that God’s Word clearly offers.
Tradition: Faith in Human Experience, Not the Holy Spirit
Religious tradition thrives on the comfort of predictability. It dismisses the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit as either an ancient phenomenon or something only for “certain times” or “special people.” In this mindset, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit—healing, prophecy, miracles—are not for the average believer but are neatly packaged away as part of church history. This intellectualized version of Christianity tells believers that God works more through natural means than by supernatural power today.
However, this directly contradicts the New Testament. The early Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down through miracles, healings, and signs. Why would these manifestations cease if the Holy Spirit hasn’t changed (Hebrews 13:8)? The truth is, the Holy Spirit’s power is just as available now as it was then.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NLT
The traditional mindset, however, is rooted in unbelief, not Scripture. Rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to move, many prefer a religion they can control and explain. It’s easier to intellectualize the faith, relying on tradition and human effort, rather than yielding to the supernatural power of God.
Religious tradition often presents a comfortable version of Christianity. It’s familiar, non-confrontational, and safe. But this safety comes at a cost. Tradition frequently dismisses or explains away the supernatural aspects of God’s Word—healing, prosperity, and miraculous provision—as “outdated” or no longer relevant.
One reason for this is intellectualism: the tendency to rationalize everything through human understanding and experience. For instance, many Christians look at sickness, poverty, or suffering in their own lives (or the lives of others) and assume that these experiences reflect God’s will. After all, if God is sovereign, He must be allowing these hardships, right? But that’s a dangerous leap, one that directly conflicts with the character of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Healing and Prosperity: Not Fringe but Foundational Truths
One of the most contested topics in traditional Christianity is the concept of healing and prosperity. Traditional Christians argue, “If healing and prosperity are part of God’s promises, why are there sick Christians? Why are there poor Christians around the world?”
The issue isn’t whether believers experience sickness or poverty, but whether these conditions align with God’s will. The Bible is clear—healing and prosperity are part of the promises given to us through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is the One who brings those promises into reality.
Healing: Always God’s Will
The traditional argument that "sometimes God wills sickness" or "God is using this for His glory" directly opposes the truth of Scripture. Sickness is part of the curse, and Jesus redeemed us from the curse (Galatians 3:13). Healing is not something God occasionally doles out—Jesus already paid for it.
- Isaiah 53:5: "By His stripes, we are healed."
- Psalm 103:2-3: "Praise the Lord, O my soul... who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."
Sickness never came from God—it was never part of His original design for humanity. Jesus healed all who came to Him, not a selective few. Why would His will change today? Healing is a Bible truth, not a fringe doctrine.
A core issue with tradition is that it allows experience to override Scripture. When believers don’t see the promises of healing, prosperity, or the Gifts of the Spirit manifesting in their lives or in church gatherings, tradition is quick to offer an explanation: “Maybe it’s not God’s will for you.” However, this perspective puts the focus on human experience rather than what God’s Word declares.
Jesus never taught that sickness was from God, or that poverty was a sign of spiritual growth. In fact, He healed all who came to Him, provided miraculously, and demonstrated God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.
- John 10:10: Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
- Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” If Jesus healed, provided, and performed miracles in the past, He still does today.
Tradition says, “We don’t see these things happening, so they must have ceased.” Truth says, “God’s Word declares these things; our experience needs to rise to the level of His promises.”
Prosperity: More Than Enough to Fulfill God's Purpose
Tradition often scoffs at the concept of prosperity, dismissing it as a doctrine of excess.They say If God promises health and provision, why are believers around the world still struggling? Yet, Biblical prosperity is not about becoming a millionaire; it’s about having more than enough to fulfill God’s purpose in your life. God’s promise of prosperity is about sufficiency in all things. The focus is on abundant provision for every good work, not luxury for selfish gain.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
- Philippians 4:19: "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Traditionalists point to impoverished nations or struggling Christians and claim, “Prosperity isn’t for everyone.” Again, prosperity isn’t about a specific lifestyle; it’s about having the resources you need to carry out God’s will in your life. Whether you live in a wealthy nation or a poor one, God’s provision is real, and it is supernatural. God is God over all the Earth not just first world nations.
Tradition Prefers Works Over Grace
A key marker of tradition is the constant emphasis on works over grace. Despite the overwhelming evidence in Scripture that we are saved and blessed by grace through faith, tradition insists on adding works-based requirements to maintain favor with God. The Holy Spirit, however, is a Spirit of grace, leading believers into the rest of God (Hebrews 4:3). Jesus has finished the work—our job is to believe it.
- Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
- Galatians 3:3: "Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?"
Many traditional teachings place heavy burdens on believers to perform certain acts to gain God’s approval. Yet the truth of the gospel is this: Jesus has already accomplished it all. Our part is to believe and receive by faith.
Challenging Tradition: The Need for a Renewed Mind
Breaking free from tradition requires a renewed mind. Many believers are trapped in tradition because they have never experienced the truth of the Word in its fullness. Romans 12:2 urges believers to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation is key to moving from intellectual Christianity—rooted in traditions of men—into the dynamic, supernatural life of faith empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Tradition keeps believers in a safe but spiritually stagnant place. It resists the supernatural, explains away the promises of God, and denies the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s work today. But the truth is clear—God’s power is still available, His promises are still “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20), and the Holy Spirit is the very life-force of the Church.
The Word of God and the Holy Spirit are the final authority—not tradition, not human intellect, and not our experiences. As believers, we must be willing to challenge the traditions that have held us back from experiencing the fullness of the supernatural, Holy Spirit-empowered life Jesus promised.Truth will always triumph over tradition, and the Holy Spirit is ready to demonstrate God’s power in your life—if you’re willing to believe.
Image by BAO YI WONG from Pixabay