why value tradition?
G.K. Chesterton writes in Orthodoxy:
“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes: our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth. Tradition objects to their being disqualified by their accident of death.”
How does your church value tradition?
carefully. Honor it, acknowledge it, reflect upon it, and in many cases, act on it. But don’t idolize it.
In the Scriptures, I’ve only seen ONE THING that was written to have “nullified” the incredible, all-powerful Word of God … and that one thing? “the traditions of man”.
Mark 7:13 … would love to get Master Drew’s theological expository on that verse, and how it could apply. (seriously!)
For the Kingdom,
Fred McKinnon
http://www.fredmckinnon.com
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com
Wow, Fred. I’m glad I came over to check for responses to this!
Thanks for sharing this quote, Mandy.
I’m with Fred. Refer to the biblical story of the Nehushtan in Numbers 21 – the people had more faith in the serpent idol than in God, becuase it had healed them before – it was tradition. Moses struck the rock when he was told to speak to it – it was tradition.
Tradition is certainly something to be respected, even honored. But one must examine the traditions and see why – what is the reason. Is it “because we’ve always done it that way?” I remember once we changed the “traditional” order of worship music – we did the worship songs first, and ended on praise songs. You would have thought the walls had fallen down! Until people said “You know, why not?”
Good question, Mandy!