It's All Just Tradition - Right?

The constant drumbeat of those claiming to want progress for the church is that everything doctrinal is just “tradition.” Things like a capella music in worship are just the “tradition” of the American Restoration Movement is the mantra. Tradition is "our" curse.

The next component to all of this is that tradition is just tradition and everyone knows you can’t bind tradition. The “C”hurches of Christ (as they would say it) have been evil and terrible sexist racist the last 400 years, and we built a tradition that we won’t abandon for the sake of unity (if you think my sexist racist comment is over the top I challenge you to underline every time Shelly and York mention it in their book the Jesus Proposal). The only thing standing in the way of unity amongst all “Christians” is that nasty word – Tradition. The greatest sin of the “C”hurches of Christ is their obstinate clinging to tradition. If only we would abandon tradition we could all get together and smoke the peace pipe. Sounds good – but is it possible someone has been smoking some other kind of pipe to get here.

First of all, what is tradition? Everyone knows what tradition is right? An important lesson still unlearned by many is the need to pay close attention to the way people are defining the words they use. If we want a biblical answer to the question “what is tradition” I think a logical place to start would be the Bible right? For the sake of not making this blog a noval, the word tradition used in the New Testament means the thing “handed down.” Take a peak at Bauer, Danker, A & G and verify.

The next question that must be asked is this… are all handed down things equal? Is tradition good, bad, or neutral? The biblical answer is yes. Listen closely; tradition is neither a curse nor a virtue in and of itself! The origin of the handed down thing makes all the difference in the world. Whether or not something is received depends entirely on WHO is handing it down.

The Bible speaks of the traditions handed down by God. Traditions whose origins are with God must be followed. Notice what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter” (NASB). This is called “belief in the truth” (2:13). Those who were accepting anything else besides this tradition believed a lie and were unrighteous (2:11-12).

A little later on in 2 Thessalonians Paul talks about tradition “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us” (2 Th 3:6). This tradition is called “the word of the Lord” (3:1). It is commanded and must be done (3:4) It’s allowing the Lord to direct the heart (3:5). Anybody want to step up to the plate and tell God that tradition is what is preventing the world from getting closer to him?

Part 2 soon to come if anyone is interested…?

Sow the Seed Faithfully,
Caleb