What is Listening?
adjective
attending to or alert for sound; be wary of listening ears; government-maintained listening posts;
noun
the act of hearing attentively; you can learn a lot by just listening; they make good music--you should give them a hearing; listening; Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0; listening;
verb (used without object)
1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.
2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed by to ): Children don't always listen to their parents.
3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed by for ): to listen for sounds of their return.
What is Embarrassment?
noun
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
the state of being embarrassed
some event that causes someone to be embarrassed
What is Denial?
noun
1. an assertion that something said, believed, alleged, etc., is false: Despite his denials, we knew he had taken the purse.
2. refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like.
3. disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing.
What is Tradition?
noun
1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.
2. something that is handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.
3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting
Tradition Expanded:
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes (like lawyer wigs or military officer spurs), but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings. Traditions can persist and evolve for thousands of years—the word "tradition" itself derives from the Latin tradere or traderer literally meaning to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping—and new traditions continue to appear today. While it is commonly assumed that traditions have ancient history, many traditions have been invented on purpose, whether that be political or cultural, over short periods of time. Certain scholarly fields, such as anthropology and biology, have adapted the term "tradition," defining it more carefully than its conventional use in order to facilitate scholarly discourse.
The concept of tradition, as the notion of holding on to a previous time, is also found in political and philosophical discourse. For example, the political concept of traditionalism is based around it, as are strands of many world religions including traditional Catholicism. In artistic contexts, tradition is used to decide the correct display of an art form. For example, in the performance of traditional genres (such as traditional dance), adherence to guidelines dictating how an art form should be composed are given greater importance than the performer's own preferences. A number of factors can exacerbate the loss of tradition, including industrialization, globalization, and the assimilation or marginalization of specific cultural groups. In response to this, tradition-preservation attempts have now been started in many countries around the world, focusing on aspects such as traditional languages. Tradition is usually contrasted with the goal of modernity and should be differentiated from customs, conventions, laws, norms, routines, rules and similar concepts.
In Political & Religious Discourse
Main articles: Traditional values, Traditionalist conservatism, and Traditionalism (religion)
The concepts of tradition and traditional values are frequently used in political and religious discourse to establish the legitimacy of a particular set of values. In the United States in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the concept of tradition has been used to argue for the centrality and legitimacy of conservative religious values. Similarly, strands of orthodox theological thought from a number of world religions openly identify themselves as wanting a return to tradition. For example, the term "traditionalist Catholic" refers to those, such as Archbishop Lefebvre, who want the worship and practices of the church to be as they were before the Second Vatican Council of 1962–65.
Likewise, Sunni Muslims are referred to as Ahlus Sunnah wa Al-Jamā'ah .literally "people of the tradition [of Muhammad] and the community", emphasizing their attachment to religious and cultural tradition.
More generally, tradition has been used as a way of determining the political spectrum, with right-wing parties having a stronger affinity to the ways of the past than left-wing ones.[citation needed] Here, the concept of adherence tradition is embodied by the political philosophy of traditionalist conservatism (or simply traditionalism), which emphasizes the need for the principles of natural law and transcendent moral order, hierarchy and organic unity, agrarianism, classicism and high culture, and the intersecting spheres of loyalty.Traditionalists would therefore reject the notions of individualism, liberalism, modernity, and social progress, but promote cultural and educational renewal, and revive interest in the church, the family, the state and local community. This view has been criticised for including in its notion of tradition practices which are no longer considered to be desirable, for example, stereotypical views of the place of women in domestic affairs.
In other societies, especially ones experiencing rapid social change, the idea of what is "traditional" may be widely contested, with different groups striving to establish their own values as the legitimate traditional ones. Defining and enacting traditions in some cases can be a means of building unity between subgroups in a diverse society; in other cases, tradition is a means of othering and keeping groups distinct from one another.
Important Facts of Tradition
Tradition: can also refer to beliefs or customs that are Prehistoric, with lost or arcane origins, existing from time immemorial. Originally, traditions were passed orally, without the need for a writing system. Tools to aid this process include poetic devices such as rhyme and alliteration. The stories thus preserved are also referred to as tradition, or as part of an oral tradition. Even such traditions, however, are presumed to have originated (been "invented" by humans) at some point. Traditions are often presumed to be ancient, unalterable, and deeply important, though they may sometimes be much less "natural" than is presumed. It is presumed that at least two transmissions over three generations are required for a practice, belief or object to be seen as traditional. Some traditions were deliberately invented for one reason or another, often to highlight or enhance the importance of a certain institution. Traditions may also be adapted to suit the needs of the day, and the changes can become accepted as a part of the ancient tradition. Tradition changes slowly, with changes from one generation to the next not being seen as significant. Thus, those carrying out the traditions will not be consciously aware of the change, and even if a tradition undergoes major changes over many generations, it will be seen as unchanged.
In reality the traditions enacted today are not the traditions implemented yesterday. And the traditions of yesterday may have been implemented for the sole purpose of deception.
Another important sociological aspect of tradition is the one that relates to rationality. It is also related to the works of Max Weber and were popularized and redefined in 1992 by Raymond Boudon in his book Action. In this context tradition refers to the mode of thinking and action justified as "it has always been that way".This line of reasoning forms the basis of the logical flaw of the appeal to tradition. which takes the form "this is right because we've always done it this way. In most cases such an appeal can be refuted on the grounds that the "tradition" being advocated may no longer be desirable, or, indeed, may never have been despite its previous popularity.
Sources: Wikipedia; DictionaryListen More
- How many of us really listen the way we should? It would have to be one of the biggest problems in the world today, especially when it comes to relationships. It seems that as the generations have passes, we have become even more self driven and our listening talents are slipping as every season passes. People don't listen to others, and they certainly are not listening to God. You can tell in their actions both as individuals and as nations, we are needing to listen a lot more.
Why Don't We Listen to God?
Of course the biggest reason that we do not listen to God is because Satan is at work in ways that are beyond our knowledge. When the devil started his quest to destroy what God had created here on earth, the first thing he did was attack in the Garden of Eden. His attack was for Eve not to Listen to God. That was one of the key elements back then, and it is one of the key elements now. He literally told Eve that she would be a lot better off if she did not listen to God. Satan has been using the same discovery of mans weakness in the garden against us ever since.
One of the biggest forms of listening to God is in the form of reading the Bible. The act of hearing God's word comes in a couple different forms. We are listening to God's Word when we hear a preacher give a sermon. We are listening to God's Word when we are reading studies like The Whole Message, and we are getting our best form of listening to God when we are reading His Holy Words in the Bible.
I have even been able to take the form of listening to God to a higher level when I look at nature. I can see and understand His mighty power and design. I am hearing His pulse of purpose thru the tools of not just my ears, but my eyes. We have to learn to not just listen with our ears, but expand that into listening with our eyes and listening with our mind, and listening with our hearts. This is when we really start understanding the heart beat of God.
Refusing to Listen
I find that the greatest majority of people in the world just flat out refuse to listen to God's word. they don't want to hear it in writing, they don't want to hear it in verbal communication, and they certainly don't want to hear it from the Bible. Even the so-called Christians don't listen to God.
Proverbs 28:9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
WOW!! People who refuse to Listen to God, people who refuse to hear His Laws, People who refuse to read the Bible and learn more about Christ. and hear His Voice, Even their Prayers are an abomination to God!!
Psalm 50:16-17
But to the wicked God says:
"What right have you to declare My statutes,
Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Seeing you hate instruction
And cast My words behind you?
When you refuse to listen to God's laws and commandments, and refuse to continue in growth with Him by learning more, studying more, praying more, and Listen / "obeying"; you have no right whatsoever to God's blessings.
Embarrassment
Far to often people don't want to hear the truth because it brings forth their own faults. it is far easier not to listen than it is to face up to our shortfall, and deal with the realizations of reality. Most people are embarrassed to bring forth their sins. The really strange part here is that nobody is asking them to bring forth their sins to friends or family or coworkers, which is where we would receive a false embarrassment. We are being held back by an embarrassment of ourselves and God, and the interesting part is that God already knows all of our sins. The devil has just put the wool over our eyes to be embarrassed about something that is already known by ourselves and The Creator. There is really nothing to be embarrassed about, we are ALL as "filthy rags". So don't let an emotional false senses of embarrassment keep you from listening to God.
Denial
There are of course the people that are in denial that they even have a problem. They don't think of themselves as a sinner or a bad person. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing,And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. So there is no denying that we all fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You can not deny the fact that we are all in need of a Savior to clean us from all our filthy ways, and the persons that deny that they are sinners and deny that they have a need to be redeemed, are denying Christ. And Christ will deny them on the day of His coming. Do understand that we ALL need Christ and we ALL need to Listen to His Word
Tradition
Traditions of man is probably the biggest killer of souls. It is certainly the biggest reason why people don't listen to God. Some people are just in a tradition of their own development that they never pray or read the Bible, and that is a tradition that they enjoy are are not about to change their comfort zone of tradition. Others are part of a religion and maintain their traditional practices never even knowing that their practices may be ungodly. They just continue on with their traditions refusing to listen to anything else. Tradition does not mean that it is right. in fact, in today's world, I would have to say that most traditions are actually ungodly. These traditions have been developed by Satan to keep you away from the Truth, to keep people away from listening to God. So we need to set these traditions developed by man aside and really start listening to God. And when you open your eyes to the Truth of Christ Jesus and start Listening to Him, you will be absolutely shocked at all the traditions that are so ungodly in the world today.
Mark 7:9
He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God,
that you may keep your tradition.
Matthew 15:3
He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress
the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Mark 7:13
making the word of God of no effect through your tradition
which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Over a dozen times Jesus warns us of the traditions of man. What does that tell you about your church traditions that you are holding on to more than God?
As noted in the Definitions(left): In reality the traditions enacted today are not the traditions implemented yesterday. And the traditions of yesterday may have been implemented for the sole purpose of deception.
Self Righteous Pride
We also have the self righteous pride people. They have often bee referred to as the Pharisee Mentality. They are God fearing, Christ loving people that are still putting themselves as exalted for their works. They think they have a higher placement in the world because of their Godly ways, They feel that they are so high on the list of God's people that they would have to literally look down to see heaven. This too is an extremely wrong place to be in God's eyes. The Pharisee Mentality people are not a humble people, they do not bow down to God and many of them think that people should be bowing down to them because of their superior Biblical knowledge. I feel sad for these people because they rarely ever listen to God. They are so far into their own self accomplished perfection that listening to God is not an option, They know the Word, they pray, they read, the just never listen, really listen. It's not enough to know God's Word, We need to find the Joy of Listening! there is such great joy in listening because it is one of our forms of learning, the greatest form of Fellowship with God, and one of our biggest forms of Loving.
Stubborn
Most all of our refusals to listen to God come down to our own stubborn ways. Rather it be because of Embarrassment, Denial, Traditions, or Self Righteous Pride, we are not listening because we have ourselves in the way. We need to get ourselves out of the way so God can do His best work to us and thru us.
How Do We Listen to God in Prayer?
One of the weakest aspects of the Christian life is listening to God in prayer. it would be safe to say that 99.9% of prayer is in the form of speaking to God, asking Him for materialistic thinks, or favor or healing. We never come to God listening. How many of you ever spent even 5-minutes a day listening to God? in Silence, No Speaking, Just Listening? As sad as it is, this is the reality of the world we live in right now. We are so consumed by the world and don't even know it. Satan and his evil agents keep us so busy that we don't even have time to pray for what we need let alone be still any listen. And in all reality, the "Be still and listen" is actually the most important part of prayer.
Here we are all running to God every time we want or need something and laying the petitions at the foot of the cross and then never sticking around long enough to get the answers. it's like the devil has created religion in the world to be a one way street, when in fact God wants us to be in a fellowship with Him.
How to listen to God in Action
Now you guys are really going to love this! We talked about why we don't listen to God, and how we need to listen to God in prayer, but there is one more form of listening to God that we can not overlook. It is in the form of a verb, by definition, it means to "OBEY" God. Wow! How many of you ever knew that a definition of "Listen" is to obey.
You see we can listen all day long to God's messages, and we can listen to God all day in prayer, but until we actually listen to Him in the form of obedience, we are not really listening. He wants us to DO the thinks he is telling us in our listening to Him.
The amazing part here is that God listens to us, He listens to our prayers, He listens to our requests, and He also listens to us in His obeying Us. What an amazing way to think about this. God Obeys Us??? Yes He does!!! Jesus answers prayers, He is our intercessor!!
Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Luke 11:10
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened.
John 16:24
Until now you have asked nothing in My name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
He is literally showing us by His own actions how important it is to listen to Him. Not just in listening to His Word, and Not just in Prayer, but by listening to Him in the form of obedience. We really do have the most awesome God. And he is here for us is more ways than we could ever imaging.