A TRADIÇÃO DOS HOMENS (2) - MARCOS 7.8: APLICAÇÕES CONTEMPORÂNEAS.

This is the second article in a series of two. The first one was published in Fides Reformata, Vol. XXVII, No. 1 (2022), and presented an analysis of Mark 7:1-13, focusing attention on the term contained in the eighth verse - "the tradition of men" - and seeking to discern what is this "tradition" that receives such severe condemnation from Jesus. Departing from this analysis, and considering the systematic and progressive teaching of Jesus, the author presented six characteristics of the condemned tradition: (1) It is part of a generally accepted religious view (even if still limited to a certain community or region); (2) It lacks a real authoritative basis; (3) It is proclaimed as the only acceptable behavioral path; (4) It is utterly devoid of true spiritual meaning; (5) It deviates from God's commandments; and (6) It contradicts God's commandments. The current article continues the treatment of this theme and presents contemporary applications. The author argues that we can derive them from the text in Mark, which was intended not only to bring light to the teachings and peculiarities of the Pharisees, or to expound proto-Gnostic mystical ideas (Paul's usage of the term), but also to establish principles by which one can and should discern current directives that purport to be principles of justice or expressions of piety, but that run counter to the teaching of Scripture. He concludes by indicating that history records the pressures that the church of Christ suffers due to various sets of human traditions proceeding from different sources. At the same time, they reveal themselves as a New Humanism, reflecting the worldview of a universe without God, in which man is the center. He warns that the church has been capitulating and losing its differentials, as it adopts such traditions and discards basic doctrines of the Christian faith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]