Building a Truth-Filled Legacy: Beyond Christmas Traditions

Every family passes something down. Whether we realize it or not, we are all part of a pipeline that flows from generation to generation, carrying beliefs, values, habits, and faith. The question is not whether we will pass something on, but what exactly we are handing to those who come after us.

The Difference Between Tradition and Truth
There's a profound difference between tradition and truth. A tradition might start with a kernel of truth, but over time it can morph into something entirely different—a nice story, perhaps, but one that lacks the power to transform lives. Think about how many stories begin with historical facts but eventually become mythology, losing their original meaning and impact along the way.

A truth-filled legacy, on the other hand, is built intentionally on unchanging truths. It requires work, protection, and deliberate effort to maintain and pass on. While tradition can become comfortable routine, truth leads to conviction—the kind that changes how we live.

This distinction becomes especially important during seasons like Christmas. Our culture is incredibly intentional about building traditions. If we choose to remain passive, society will gladly fill in the gaps, turning sacred truths into mere customs that entertain but don't transform.

The Legacy Pipeline
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 presents a clear picture of God's design for passing down faith: "These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live."

Notice the generational flow: grandparents to parents to you to your children to your grandchildren. This is what we might call the "legacy pipeline"—God's strategic plan for ensuring that faith doesn't die with one generation but continues to impact the world for centuries.

But here's the crucial point: wherever you are in that pipeline, it starts with you. Whatever was or wasn't passed down to you is not an excuse. You are not a victim of your circumstances or your family history. God speaks to you directly through His Word, and you have both the responsibility and the opportunity to ensure that truth flows forward from this point on.

Two Common Roadblocks
When it comes to the legacy pipeline, there are typically two problems that prevent truth from flowing properly:

First, wrong information is being passed down the line. The pipeline might be intact relationally, but what's flowing through it is inaccurate or incomplete. This happens when we separate the three essential elements of a relationship with God: fearing Him, loving Him, and obeying Him.

If we teach our children to fear God without loving Him, we pass down an image of an angry deity to be avoided rather than a loving Father to be embraced. If we emphasize love without obedience, we create a version of God who makes no demands and requires no change in our lives. If we stress obedience without relationship, we produce religious duty devoid of joy and intimacy.

All three elements must flow together: reverence for who God is, love for what He has
done, and obedience that demonstrates our relationship is real and transformative.

Second, the pipeline itself is broken. Relationships have been severed. Perhaps parents and children are estranged, or grandparents have been cut off from grandchildren. Sin, hurt, and dysfunction have created barriers that prevent any information—good or bad—from flowing at all.

Repairing the Pipeline
Romans 12:18 offers guidance: "Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone." Notice it doesn't say "Do everything possible to ensure others live in peace with you." We can only control our part.

Restoration begins with forgiveness. This doesn't necessarily mean restoring every relationship to what it once was, especially in cases of abuse or ongoing toxicity. But it does mean releasing the poison of unforgiveness that damages us and prevents us from moving forward.

Unforgiveness is like driving while constantly looking in the rearview mirror. You cannot see where you're going or who you might be hurting along the way. You cannot even stay on the road.

For younger people, this might mean honoring parents and grandparents even when they don't share your faith. It means inviting them into your new traditions, showing them through your life what Christ has done, and creating opportunities for them to tell their stories while you share yours.

For older generations, this means understanding that your legacy is not your comfort, your possessions, or your retirement plans. Your legacy is what you invest in the lives of those coming after you. It means being willing to adapt, to serve, to love, and to share not just your resources but your story of what Jesus has done in your life.

No Victims, Only Opportunities
Whether young or old, it's easy to adopt a victim mentality. "Nobody invested in me." "They never ask for my input." "I don't know how to start."

But there are no victims in God's kingdom, only opportunities. If you're young and lack spiritual parents or grandparents, the church is full of older believers who would be honored to invest in you. If you're older and your children or grandchildren won't receive from you, there are countless spiritual sons and daughters who need what you have to offer.

The legacy pipeline isn't limited to biological family. It's about passing truth from one generation to the next, wherever and however God opens those doors.

What Will You Pass Down?
Consider for a moment what you're currently passing down. Is it financial wisdom or debt? Work ethic or laziness? Tolerance or prejudice? Educational values or anti-intellectualism?
More importantly, does your family know through your convictions—not just your words—that you love Jesus more than your hobbies, your comfort, or your traditions? Can they see that Christ is not just part of your life but the center of it?

The most powerful legacy you can leave is not money, property, or even family traditions. It's the testimony of what Jesus Christ has done in your life. It's showing the next generation who you were before Christ and who you've become because of Him.

This Christmas season, you have a choice. You can celebrate tradition, going through familiar motions that feel comfortable but ultimately change nothing. Or you can build a truth-filled legacy, intentionally passing down faith that transforms lives for generations to come.

The pipeline starts with you. What will you pass down?