Traditions

Traditions

Brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 (ESV)

Do you observe any traditions in your life? Most of us have some, including certain holidays. But the Amish follow some traditions that we don’t have.

Every October there is an Amish religious “holiday” that often catches we non-Amish by surprise. Amish businesses are closed, and farmers are not seen working in the fields. The day is called St. Michael’s Day, and is usually observed by the Amish on October 11. For the Amish, most of whom probably know very little about Michael, it is a day of rest and fasting (usually breakfast) prior to the upcoming Communion service.

So, who is St. Michael? As one of the seven archangels named in the Old Testament, he is mentioned in the book of Daniel as a “great prince” and protector of God’s people. . . . But how did the Amish come to “observe” the day of a Catholic saint? In the old days in Europe, many of the Amish and Mennonites were tenant farmers. Much of the land was owned by the church or aristocrats. Farmers paid a percent of their profits to the landholder every year. The date set by the churches and monasteries in Germany for the farmers to pay their tax was St. Michael’s Day, October 11th. This date fell after the harvest, when the profits and resulting tax could be most accurately assessed.

While the Amish no longer have to pay taxes like this, the observance of this day continues because it is a tradition. It makes me pause and think about the things I have set up in my life. Do I focus more on the traditions of my family or the doctrines shared in the Word of God?

Through holy men, God gave us His Word. How wonderful that the Bible is still around for us to read. May we be more diligent about sticking to God’s holy teaching than to anything our ancestors have passed down.

Dear heavenly Father, the only way my heart will embrace Your doctrine is when I understand it. Please give me a hunger for Your Word!