It Just Seems Wrong (2)

            [In last week’s bulletin article we looked at some reasoning which is not right that may be used occasionally by some in condemning certain activities of individuals or ways the Lord’s work is carried out.  Some might use the logic “Look at what it might lead to!.”  While there is some wisdom in this, if something does not contradict God’s word, while we can choose to refrain from it ourselves, we cannot condemn others who choose to practice it.  Others might approach condemning a particular activity or manner of carrying out a certain work by saying, “The _______ church down the road does it that way!”  While the desire for distinction is a good one, it must stop at the pages of God’s word; therefore we cannot condemn someone or a church for practicing something solely on the basis that it looks like something a different group of people might do.  Now let us consider one more path of reasoning some might use in condemning a manner of carrying out the Lord’s work…]

“We’ve Never Done It That Way Before!”

            This reasoning is sometimes brought up whenever someone suggests carrying out a particular work as a church in an “unconventional” way.  Even if we realize that it does not violate God’s word and it’s authority it may still “smell funny” to us.  Some might even go so far as to heatedly object saying, “We have never done it like that before!”  Here, as well as in the other cases previously discussed, we need to think twice about the logic we are using to say something is wrong.  Just because something is not traditional does not mean that it is wrong. 

Wisdom In This Reasoning

            When voiced with the proper attitude, there is some underlying wisdom found in this objection.  Those in the younger generation need to understand that the older generation may have tried doing something the same way we may be wanting to do it now.  Through personal experience some may know that it just does not work.  There are some traditions which we may have which simply make sense.  When the first century Christians came together there were certain activities which we know they did.  We read of them observing the Lord’s Supper, having some sort of Bible teaching or preaching, singing, praying, and taking up a collection for the Lord’s work. In what order were these things done?  The only instructions we have concerning the order of our services are, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40) and “…Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Col 3:17).  It is completely traditional to have an invitation song after preaching, to open and end the services with a prayer, to meet on Wednesday evenings, or even to have a building in which to meet.  There are many things we do, and the manner in which we do them, that make sense; however, we cannot condemn another individual or another church for not following these traditions, as long as they do not transgress the word of the Lord.  Any tradition we do must first not conflict God’s word and secondly must be expedient. 

Traditions That Must Be Kept

            Paul made reference to some traditions in a positive light.  He instructed the Corinthian brethren saying, “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you” (I Cor. 11:2).  Since the Christians in that time period did not yet have a complete copy of the Bible as we have it today, they relied heavily upon what the apostles taught or “passed down” to them.  Paul here encourages the Corinthians to keep those things which they had been taught.  The apostles taught traditions in the sense of handing down things the Lord had taught them. Exemplifying this is 1 Cor. 11:23 which says, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread…”  The Lord had commanded them to go and make disciples of all nations “teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:18-20).  It is these traditions that we must not only observe, but insist upon obeying.  2 Thess. 2:15 says, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”

The Pharisees and Tradition

            As was noticed previously, the Pharisees had a problem with binding things on others which God had not bound.  They once asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands before they eat bread”  (Matthew 15:2).  In response to their comments Jesus points out a “tradition” which they had created to get out of having to take care of their father and mother, thus contradicting God’s word.  He points out what really matters by saying, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (vs. 6).  Jesus here shows that following tradition is not what counts, but rather following the word of God.  Was it wrong to have a tradition of washing one’s hands before they eat bread?  Certainly not!  We can all still hear out parents hollering at us as children, “Wash your hands before you eat!”  There are certainly hygienical benefits to the washing of hands before eating.  The problem the Pharisees had was that they viewed their traditions to the same regard, maybe even higher, as they viewed God’s word.  They bound where God had not bound.  Explaining his reasoning to the disciples Jesus told them, “…To eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (vs. 20). 

Traditions and Us

            We cannot hold others to things which we do traditionally.  Jesus said about the Pharisees, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).  The Catholic church is an example of this.  The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “ In a special sense, there is but one source of revealed truth and this source is divine Tradition.  By this is meant the body of revealed truth handed down from the Apostles through the ages and contained in the doctrine, teaching, and practice of the Catholic Church.”  They take traditions, which are not found within God’s Word, and make them equal to the Word.  When an individual or a church does something which goes against the flow, yet it does not go against God’s word, we must remember that they are not contradicting God’s word but rather the traditions of men.  “…Sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4) not the transgression of man’s traditions. 

~ Aaron Beard