They warned us about the traditions of men. So when I examined traditions I got a bunch of contradictory mess. Orthodox say one thing. Polish National Catholics say another. Roman Catholics say this. Tradiiton and scripture is leading to division. The first break up was between two churches who could not agree. Catholicism led to division. There is a church on every corner claiming apostolic succession. That is why I follow Jesus. Using the Bible of course. If they had done that all along, think how much less division the world would have in Christianity.
What you fail to understand is the fact that there are two types of tradition, Divine and ecclesiastical Tradition. Divine being from God, whether it be Dominical or Divine Apostolic (from the Holy Ghost). And ecclesiastical or Simple Apostolic, the Divine Traditions are throughout the whole Roman Catholic Church and Catholicism. Due to the disputes on the Ecclesiastical Traditions is what led to the Division. Here is the thing the Orthodox is really a fork of the Catholic Faith. This fork began with the Great Schism in 1054 AD. Protestantism (this includes all denominations outside of Catholicism) is a complete break from the Catholics, and started when Martin Luther revolted in 1517 AD. We know that the Scriptures are hard to understand: *“*
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.” II Peter III, XVI, and that private interpretation will lead to disaster (2 Peter 1, 20). If Scriptures are clear to understand, why did Martin Luther and his imitators make new catechisms of Christian doctrine? Why do they fill the libraries with innumerable books of interpretations, explanations and commentaries? Above all, why have they any churches, where the Scriptures are explained, if the Scriptures are sufficient? And if there should be a church, why so many churches, of so many denominations, in every city and in every town? If there is a clear statement that in the Scriptures which all Christians should endeavor to put into execution, it is certainly the desire which Christ expressed in His prayer to the Eternal Father on the eve of His Passion and Death, “That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17, 21). What else do such words mean than that all Christ’s followers should first of all have the same faith?—“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Eph. 4, 5). If you are in a faith that contradicts the teachings of the Apostles and the Roman Catholic Church then you cannot claim to be apart of this “one faith.”
It is a historical fact that the Church of Rome was always considered the first, the most important, and the most powerful Church in Christiandom. This was admitted in the first centuries and is so regarded today. She saved civilization and the Scripture. Her children outnumbered by far members of all other churches put together; and what is most important, they are bound in “One Faith,” as there can be but “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
“While they argue from the Scriptures, they make poor exhibition of the Scriptures… because truth cannot be found by those who do not know Tradition, for not through writing, but by the living voice, Tradition was delivered.” Saint Irenæus (born between 135 – 140 Anno Domini., Smyrna / died 202 Anno Domini., Lyons., disciple of Saint Polycarp)