We just celebrated Labor Day, and I hope many of you were able to enjoy a long weekend. The holiday holds different significance for most of us today than it did when it became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894. I don't want to debate the challenges of today's workforce with workers in the late 1800s, but the holiday has definitely evolved over the years. What does it mean for you today?

I am a Southern woman to the core, so one thing Labor Day has always signaled for me is the end of wearing white until Memorial Day. Last year, a friend laughed hysterically at that and dared me to wear white pants after Labor Day. I took the dare and wore them out to eat a week or so later, and I felt like a rebel! Those who know me know I am a rule follower to the nth degree, but it felt good to break from doing something just because it has always been that way. I am still a rule follower, but I always want to check myself to be sure the rule is legitimate. 

The same is true for our spiritual life. Legalism is something we need to be very careful to avoid. We can easily get caught up in judging a person's adherence to rules and what we believe is acceptable behaviour, and forget to show grace and mercy, sharing the Truth of God's Word in love. Paul speaks to this in Colossians 2:20-23 when he says, "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

 

As Christians, we are called to follow God's law without question. At the same time, it is also important that we do not confuse tradition, personal preference, or personal conviction with God's law. That can easily happen if we do not consistently and intentionally study God's Word. We never want the words of Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) to be true for us—"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.'" 

Please don't misunderstand, I am not saying all traditions are bad. Traditions can bring stability, a sense of belonging, and a way of sharing values across generations. Family traditions and church traditions are wonderful as long as we recognize the difference between tradition and God's Word.  

I would love for you to share your thoughts.