Traditions against scripture

Some traditions are good. An example is 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Therefore
brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle. (Good kind) "Traditions" means
"handed-down."

Congregations have an "invitation song" after the sermon. This is a good
tradition. It gives seekers a convenient focused opportunity to repent and obey.

However many are the warnings, that not all things "handed down" are right.
Mark 7:9 > And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of
God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Matthew 15:7-9 > Ye hypocrites,
well did Esaias (Isaiah) prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh
unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart
is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.

In what Jesus said, that word "vain" (Greek μάτην, matēn, pronounced mat'-
ane) means empty, without purpose, worthless. It means their teaching and
their worship were not accepted by God. It did not matter that they fastidiously
tended to their daily rituals (Matthew 15:1-6; Mark 7:1-5). Jesus told them that
by their tradition (bad kind), they were making the commandment of God "of
none effect." They were causing people to be part of the "broad" problem
instead of the"narrow" solution (Matthew 7:13-14).

People of the world see no problem with the place of worship becoming an
entertainment center. But there is a big problem (read John 2:13-17). It is such
switching of purpose, without scripture authority, that opens the floodgates for
the so-called "social gospel" (see Link BT at Links page, then "Social Gospel"
link). Then comes all-out secularization of religion, family life centers,
gymnasiums, theatres, soccer fields, food buffets, and like gang busters "ain't
no stopping us now."

The individual and family and community all have their place in life in this
world, including with church members (1 Corinthians 11:24,25). However,
there is no divine authority for church spending the Lord's money to take the
place of individuals, the home, and families. (See 1 Timothy 5:3-16 on how
God limits the role of the church, from a family matter involving members.)
Jesus died on the cross to save souls for heaven, not for bingo night in a
restaurant club. Compared to man's groups, the church is different from
everything else. The church began in the mind of God for a special spiritual
purpose (Ephesians 3:4-21). That purpose is "made void" or "of none effect"
by obsession with many belly-pleasing traditions of the world of men.

When America was founded and established, tax laws were designed for
religion as tax exempt. Founders knew that when the church is about saving
souls, it is not about entertainment and empire-building, and therefore not a
taxable venture. The true church of Christ is about saving souls one by one
from the inside out. Therefore it is not a threat for scrutiny by any reasonable
national government. However, secularized religions who imitate world
entities and build empires, are ever expanding into the radar of governments
and taxations.