I am a Jesus Pusher! The Pharisees developed their “oral traditions,” which became more important than the Scriptures. I see this truth consistently needing an application to my perspective. I know the influence of the traditions and cultures in which I was raised. We developed our “oral traditions” that became more important than the Scriptures. What we heard weekly from the pulpit was not the Scriptures but our traditions. People were condemned to eternal hell by a God delighted to send them there for wearing red ties, earrings, wedding rings, and makeup. We developed the Sabbath day rules as binding as those of the Jews. You could not go to the store, play ball, or take a newspaper on Sunday (not even the Sabbath day). These things became more important to us than the Scriptures.
But there is a danger! Those days are gone; we are free. The tendency is to establish the identical pattern to the other extreme. We develop “oral traditions” that frees us to do anything we desire. If there are no absolutes, we can embrace sexual impurities like homosexuality and adultery as acceptable. We can focus on materialism and use the Gospel to obtain it. Where are the Scriptures? How am I going to know the truth? We find the answer in Jesus! The answer is not just Jesus in His presence but Jesus in the Scriptures. I must know the living presence of the indwelling Spirit of Jesus, but I must know His presence as He speaks through His word. He did not come to demolish the Scriptures; He came to fulfill them in every way. The Scriptures become complete and arrive at a new level in Jesus. I must experience the mind of Christ, thinking as He does, have His perspective, and develop His pattern. I can do this only through the Scriptures as He fulfills them in me! I am a Jesus Pusher!