Tripping Over Our Traditions
“He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:9
Jesus was quick to point out the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. Their traditions had clouded their heart for God. They were criticizing the disciples for eating with unclean hands. The Pharisees had a meticulous ceremony of making their hands clean, and they were quick to point out anyone who didn’t meet their standards. Jesus attacked their concerns for their traditions over being obedient to God. They would ignore or disobey a commandment to fulfill their traditions.
There seems to be a rise in religious traditions happening in the church. I see a lot of people advocating for something they call “High Church.” From what I can gather, this means people are longing for a more liturgical service and less of the attractional model that has been prevalent for decades. To a certain extent, I get where they are coming from. The smoke and lights of the professional productions some churches put on make it hard to enter into spirit-filled worship. At the same time, I am old enough to remember why people flocked to the attactional model of church. Traditional liturgical churches were lifeless and spiritually dead.
How do we as Christians navigate this current landscape? First, you need to find a Bible-teaching church where the pastor is Spirit-filled and not afraid to call out sin. Those are more rare than you think. Many Bible-teaching churches are nothing more than boring theological lectures. Be vigilant, though, because there are some in every city. They may not be large or offer all the services you desire, but the Biblical foundation you will get is invaluable.
Second, you need to make sure any tradition held high serves only to glorify Christ. Many churches and denominations cling to tradition while forgetting their purpose. The danger is people going through the motions, and it is especially dangerous when it is the minister. Another concern is that the liturgical schedule is so tight and rigid that there is no room for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people.
Our faith is lived out on a daily basis, and it takes utter dependence on God to make that happen. If a religious tradition or ritual draws you closer to God, continue doing it; but if you find yourself going through the motions and it has lost meaning, abandon it. We don’t want to trip over our traditions.