Do we really 'Prove all things'?

Or are we blindly going through day to day and yearly traditions without first fully examining whether or not they are things we ought to be doing?

Are we justifying our traditions on man's authority or God's?

When I realized that God's word says we have to prove all things and not just a few things I started to dig into everything that I could from the practices we do in church to the holidays that we enjoy.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Whenever you are doing something do you ever ask yourself "is this something that I want to do?" or are you studying and researching to prove that you are doing all that you can in order to know that it is something that God has purposed for you to do and that it is approved by His word?

It is not enough to just accept something as being right in God's eyes just because we have always done it. You need to dig deep on everything you do, traditions, etc,, You should sincerely ask yourself "am I doing this just because I want to or is this something that God wants and does it truly please Him?"...

Remember that many times we try to justify what we are doing is ok because of so-called "Christian Liberty". But God's word says that our liberty should not be used to disguise sin (occasion to the flesh) but instead to serve others and more importantly to serve God.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13.

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16

Some, such as I did at one time, will justify their participation in a particular activity or tradition as just having good clean fun without proving that it is acceptable to God even though it has evil underlying roots or associations.

God does care about the origins of any particular thing we involve ourselves in but many, as did I in the past, think that we have cleansed whatever activity or tradition and now we can freely indulge in it as Christians. This is far from God's truth as seen through what He told Haggai:

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord ; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Haggai 2:11-14

We cannot call something clean just because it is fun and we want to indulge in it. We do not have the power to "Christianize" anything. Only God can make the unclean clean. He is the one who sets those standards not us.

Remember that sin is indeed fun for but a season but the end result is death and it is not good to ever try and justify it.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Hebrews 11:24-25

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

We should not use our thought processes outside of God's word to justify anything we do...
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

We should indeed prove all things and not compromise on anything so that we can be assured that whatever we do is indeed acceptable unto the Lord.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:10

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

God's word also reminds us that we ought not to indulge in ungodly practices even if we think no one is watching. A true believer knows he is always in full sight of our Lord who sees everything.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

When we do something we ought to also remember that it should first and foremost be pleasing to God as we were created for His good pleasure and not the other way around.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

Do not be like the Pharisees and build up defenses that lie outside of God's word and that are in opposition to His will in order to try to justify whatever it is you want to do that is not pleasing to God.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:9

With all that said, are you really proving all things in the light of God's holy word?

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee...Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:11 and 105

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

When people do this they find out how narrow the path to life truly is.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14