When Culture And Tradition Are Mistaken As Truth

This morning, I found myself desiring to sit in silence and tend to My Garden (me)… but before I could really dig in, I had to grab fresh mint leaves from the backyard garden.

Back inside, I steeped a cup of mint and soursop leaf tea, added a pinch of cayenne, and sat down with my Bible and my 30/60/90-Day Kingdom Alignment Challenge Workbook ... 

I sat down and begin to listen for direction from The Holy Spirit and as I flipped the pages, it happened.

I was drawn to a scripture that wouldn’t let me read past it.
It grabbed me. Sat me down. And held me still.

I knew instantly—I had to pause and let God show me what He was inviting me to see. And what He showed me? Transformative.

“And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men...”
— Matthew 7:7–9

WHAT I SAW WAS THAT WE ARE FOOLED BY RELATABLE EXPERIENCES AND ACCEPT IT AS “TRUTH”

We are surrounded by traditions dressed up as doctrine.

From social media to family advice…
From viral content to quiet “church culture” rules…
There are things we relate to that we’ve started calling truth.

But here’s the problem:

Relatability is not a reliable indicator of truth.

People relate to things in 3 main ways:

1. They’ve heard it said before
   
   

2. They’ve seen it done before
   
   

3. They’ve personally experienced it before
   
   

But that doesn’t make it truth. That makes it familiar. And that’s how tradition sneaks in.

It is passed on as "the way it is" backed by something that sounds like truth , maybe even contains a little truth and is strengthened by agreement.

1. WHAT IS TRADITION?

A tradition is a belief or custom passed down through generations or culture—usually without being questioned.

It becomes accepted truth because it’s common, not because it’s Kingdom.

2. HOW DOES IT OPPOSE TRUTH?

Tradition often gets tangled with a little truth, a lot of opinion, and just enough emotion to feel deep. And because it’s relatable, we stamp it with: “That’s good.”
But Kingdom truth doesn’t get voted in by feelings. It’s confirmed by the Word of God.

3. DO YOU FOLLOW ANY OF THESE?

Let’s look at some common examples that have slipped into culture, church, and even coaching.

Example 1:

“Your gift is not for you. An apple doesn’t eat its own fruit.”

Sounds deep, right?
And we love it because it’s relatable:

• You’ve heard it in sermons
  
  

• You’ve seen it on Pinterest or Reels
  
  

• You’ve felt it because you’ve poured out and served others
  
  

But here’s what happens…
We start feeding that phrase to people who are already feeling empty.
We hand it over like medicine when, in reality, it’s a distraction from addressing the root of their depletion.

We tell them:
“Keep giving. Push through. Pour anyway.”
Even if they’re spiritually dehydrated with fractured ankles,

It continues to yell, “So what—run! This ain't about you.”

But that’s not the nature of God.

He doesn’t use you and toss you aside.
He restores your soul.
He leads you beside still waters.

He anoints your head with oil until your cup overflows. (Psalm 23)

Overflow is not selfish—it’s Kingdom order.
You were never meant to serve empty. And yes, you benefit from the fruit you bear, too. I would actually argue that you benefit MOST.

Example 2:

“Don’t sit your purse or Bible on the floor.”

Sounds respectful. But it’s not biblical—it’s cultural.

We treat it like scripture, but it’s really a superstition.
The floor isn’t holy or unholy. It’s just… the floor.

God isn’t more present when your Bible is on a table.
He’s present in your heart posture.

We must learn to tell the difference between spiritual reverence and cultural rituals that don’t carry God’s weight.

Example 3:

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

This one feels comforting, but it’s not true.

Scripture says:

“He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

That’s about temptation, not life burdens.

The truth?
God often allows us to carry more than we can, so we lean into Him for strength.
He is our refuge because we’re not supposed to do it all on our own.

Example 4:

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Sounds wise. Feels like a Bible verse.
But it’s not—it came from Benjamin Franklin, not Scripture.

Now, does God value order? Yes.
Is decluttering a divine invitation and process? Absolutely.
But this phrase has done real damage.

It’s dangerous because it causes people to judge others based on their momentary surroundings, as if a messy house means someone is far from God, or that He is far from them. It subtly teaches that those who live in clutter or chaos must be spiritually lacking,
which is not always the case, and the accusation is harmful.

It could simply mean they need tools, healing, support, or help.

This tradition causes poor treatment of people based on temporary circumstances,
and those words can create long-term barriers built on lies that sounded like truth.
It implies that if someone isn’t “clean” to the observer's standard, they must not be close to God.

But the truth is:

Jesus sat in homes with dirt floors, dined with those who were labeled undesirable,

and healed people in messy places. He got pretty close, I would say.

God doesn’t disqualify based on appearance.
He inspects the heart, and then He gently guides, shifts, redirects, and sends HELP—
through His Spirit, and sometimes through people who reflect His goodness through love, kindness, and service.

So let’s be careful not to dress up personal preference and call it a spiritual principle.
Because that’s not holiness, that’s tradition pretending to be truth.

Example 5:

“Don’t question God.”

This one shuts people down, especially when they’re seeking, grieving, or hurting.

But let’s look at the truth:

• David questioned: “Why, Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)
  
  

• Jesus questioned: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)
  
  

QUESTIONING DOESN’T OFFEND GOD.
It opens the door for connection.

He doesn’t shut down your “why.”
He leans in.

Because He’s not a dictator—He’s a Father.

God is relational. And a relationship thrives on honest conversation, not fear-based silence.

In fact, Scripture invites our questions:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7

THAT’S NOT A WARNING—IT’S A WELCOME.
An invitation to approach Him boldly with curiosity, concern, confusion, and longing.

So let’s stop using fear as a poor attempt at “protecting” God’s reputation.
He doesn't need protecting. He’s not afraid of our doubts.
He’s ready to meet us in them—with truth, grace, and love.

SO… WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS?

If you're asking:

“How do I know which beliefs I’ve called ‘truth’ that are actually just tradition?”

Start here:

• Ask The Holy Spirit to show you
  
  

• Watch what you get defensive about—that’s a common place where tradition hides.
  
  

• Compare your beliefs not to culture, but to Scripture.
  
  

• Sit with discomfort. Let God untangle the mixture.
  
  

AND IF I REALIZE I HAVE SOME?

➤ Don’t panic.
Don’t spiral.
Don’t shut down.

➤ Repent.
Realign.
Replace it with the truth and live in it.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32

Let the Word wash you.
Let God rebuild what culture has layered on.
Let truth become your new foundation.

FINAL WORD

You are not just a Mother building a business.
You are building in the function of a MOTHER who is been invited and trusted to partner with THE KING.

And in this Kingdom, we don’t build on tradition just because it sounds deep or feels familiar.

We build on the Rock.
One step in Absolute Truth at a time.

Qiana Nicole
The Kingdom Mamas Personal Brand and Social Media Strategist
Social Media: @beingqiananicole