Putting Tradition in Proper Perspective

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

I want to say from the outset I am not for doing things a particular way just because that’s the way they’ve always been done.  No, I’m not talking about matters that pertain to the Bible, like worship.  We don’t worship a particular way just because that’s how we’ve always worshipped.  We worship a particular way because that’s how God told us to worship (John 4:24).  There are some things that should never change because the unchanging gospel tells us how they should be done.

However, let’s be honest.  There are things we do a certain way just because that’s the way we’ve always done them.  Whether we want to admit it or not there are some areas in which we have become very tradition oriented.  But it isn’t just that we honor tradition.  That’s one thing and I honor tradition as much as anybody.  The problem is that in many ways we have come to bind tradition.  We are unwilling to consider doing anything in any other ways and we look down our noses at other folks who do.  I find this not only to be incredibly distasteful but unchristian to the core (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

However, this has gendered another problem among us.  The stringent binding of nothing more than recognized tradition has led some to become rebellious.  They don’t necessarily want to challenge tradition because they earnestly believe they have better ideas of how to do certain things or more valid viewpoints with which to made decisions.  No, they challenge tradition just because they want to.  They want to push the envelope.  They’re not concerned as much with making a difference as they are with making a point.

They are what I’d call “intentionally provocative.”  They may say things or do things that are blatantly controversial just for the sake of being different.  They don’t care how effective that tradition may be or how damaging it could be to some people’s faith to tamper with it.  All they know is that it is a new age and since it is not a sin everybody should just get out of their way.

I’m reminded of a tradition that existed among some Christians in the first century that some were beginning to challenge.  In Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 the apostle Paul wrote about  the different reactions some were having to taking meat that had previously been offered as a sacrifice unto an idol god and fixing it as a common meal.  Some adamantly opposed this practice believing that the meat had been tainted by its previous purpose.  Others, including Paul, knew that because an idol was nothing that the meat would cause no spiritual harm.  To some this was nothing more than a tradition whose time needed to end.  But to others this was a big deal.  They could not conscientiously partake.  What were they to do?

Sure, Paul could have told those who objected to the meat to “man up” and “get with it.”  He could have told them it was foolish and that things needed to change and they needed to change now.  But he took a different approach.  He basically told them if they wanted to eat it then eat it.  If they didn’t want to eat it then don’t eat it.  Each party was to leave the other alone in view of their liberty in the matter and not allow something that petty to drive a wedge between them.

Whether we like the traditions that carry many congregations and lives or not is irregardless.  But how we react to them is very pertinent to our relationship with one another and our standing before God.  We should not, like the Pharisees, become so tradition based that we fuel another “anti” movement like the one that has caused so much trouble over the years.  But neither should be intentionally provocative with no concern for the fragile faith of others.  Petty problems have been a deterrent to the Lord’s church for far too long.  It is time to lovingly consider one another and provoke one another, not to anger, but unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).   But that will only come when we put tradition in its proper perspective, and regardless of what side of the issue we fall on, respond accordingly.

-Andy Brewer

QUESTION:  What are your thoughts of how tradition has fueled so much controversy among Christians?

1 thought on “Putting Tradition in Proper Perspective”

  1. A subject that has concerned me for many years and have witnessed first hand of members leaving congregations where it seemed there was no place of meeting halfway. For instance, using the building for dinners i.e. fellowship meals,(the building is not Holy, it’s the members inside it) when to present the Lord’s table..before or after the sermon, these are just two of many that I have seen myself. It is troubling that other’s are watching us as we implode in some of our congregations and IMHO puts up a blockade for being a light to those walking around in spiritual darkness. Thank you for the article

    Reply

Leave a Comment