Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The "Tradition Idol"

I recently read a novel called “Outcasts of Skagary” by Andrew Clarke, which by the way is a very good read! As in most novels, the first couple chapters are spent setting the story line and characters. The first theme I picked up on was that the people of Skagary were in effect, worshipers of tradition. “Skagars” were subject to scorn or outcast if they did not adhere to traditions handed down through the generations.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about tradition and how we in the church tend to “worship” tradition. How often, especially in church, do something a particular way because that’s the way it’s always been done? At many evangelical churches, we have a particular way in which we conduct our worship services. Many of the things we do during the services are things that have been done a particular way for very many years. The music taken from a hymnal and was accompanied by either organ or piano. Hymn singing was followed by a sermon preached from behind a pulpit. After the sermon there might have been a closing hymn, such as “the Doxology.” And most people showed up for church wearing their “Sunday best.”

Now we fast forward a few years. Someone, usually a Pastor, welcomes members and guests. After a couple announcements, the Pastor prays as the ushers prepare to pass the offering plates. Then after a few minutes of “meet and greet” time, the Worship Team comes up to the stage and we begin leading the congregation in singing. The music is either original worship songs, or new arrangements of old hymns. Either way, the music is lead by a band consisting of guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, piano and some vocalists. When the music is finished, the Pastor comes up for some teaching from God’s Word. As the Pastor teaches, he often moves around the stage. After the teaching (preaching) time, the pastor often does an “alter call” in which he invites people to come forward to pray or to be prayed for. Sometimes the Worship Team leads in a closing song.

Though I can’t speak for all churches, I can attest to a certain amount of resistance to this newer, more modern way of conducting worship services. I’ve heard complaints about the music style or the preaching style and I’ve also heard of complaints about the way people are dressed. One Sunday, after doing some southern gospel style music, an elderly woman in the congregation shouted, “Now that’s the way church is supposed to be.” I would call this an attitude of “tradition worship.”

Whenever we begin to see attitudes that say the old way is the right way; or the way we’ve always done it is the right way; or the old fashioned organ playing, hymn singing music is the right way; and all other ways are wrong, I think we're crossing over into tradition worship. I think we need to be careful that we do not become so hung up on tradition that we would consider any other way would be wrong. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Look, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t honor certain traditions. Tradition has its place in the church. For instance, the observance of Communion is one tradition that should remain unchanged because it is commanded by Jesus Christ himself. What I am saying is that when tradition becomes an “idol” we need to search our heart and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hard-heartedness in our attitude and to change our heart if we are indeed worshiping tradition.


In the land of “Skagary” the elders were so adamant about following the traditions established in past generations that they were willing to even kill the outcasts to avoid losing their power and to keep the old traditions from being abolished. I do not mean to say that we’d be willing to do the same, but I do wonder how far we’d be willing to go to keep old traditions alive. Interesting to think about is it not?

3 comments:

  1. I think you have highlighted an important point here: legalism, as distinct from inspiration. In our church, we now have two services running concurrently, one traditional, and the other more like the newer way that you describe. The aim is to provide for the preferences of both those who like the traditions, and those who like more modern music and a worship group (which one of our sons played in). It's true what you say, that to condemn a newer or different style of service just because it's different is to become devoted to the routine, not to the source of the worship. The thing we always need to remember is, God knows the heart, and responds to what is in it; not outward appearances. Tradition can be a thing of outward appearances - a set way of looking right without having to make sure you're actually doing right - and that becomes a way of hiding things. What's worse, I think, is this: saying "That's how it's always been done" can be a means to save yourself effort. You go through a routine instead of really seeking God. You copy what was done before, and if before it was done with real feeling, that does not mean that repeated imitation shows the same feeling. It's a case of remember the order of service rather than remember God. That being said, I think it's true that some traditions serve as reminders, like that of Communion. This is actually a huge subject - I could go on too long. May I just say, your post addresses a subject all Christians need to keep in mind. One of Satan's snares is distraction. We can become distracted by remembering by concentrating on singing the tune properly instead of singing to God with feeling.

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  2. I thought of more to say, because this post raises a major issue. Please tell me if this is part of what you mean. Some things are eternal, like Jesus' Words. They never pass away. Some things are lasting, such as the writings of Christian thinkers whose insights are worth keeping alive over centuries, but not eternal as the Scriptures are. And some things are of the moment, not meant to be repeated eternally. The miracle at Cana was a unique event, not the beginning of a tradition - we do not have a tradition of turning water into wine at every Christian wedding. If we get too bound up in tradition, we block out the new, moments of inspiration that are unique to the moment.

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  3. Thanks for your comments Andrew and my apology for taking so long to respond. "Devoted to routine" might actually be a better way to describe what I was thinking with regard to changing up the order of service. We all establish some sort of routine in our daily lives, since rote procedure doesn't require much thought to execute. The danger is when we take on the attitude that our way of doing things is the right way. I've encountered that sort of attitude many times, and have probably even taken on that attitude a time or two myself. (I'm sure my children would attest to that.) We must be careful not to allow devotion to the routine to distract us from seeking God. By the way, I should also say that I have a habit of letting other's complaints distract me from the only thing that matters.

    Finally, "If we get too bound up in tradition, we block out the new, moments of inspiration that are unique to the moment" is part of what mean. As a Worship Leader, I fear I may have missed opportunities for moments of inspiration because I was to worried about sticking to the service order.

    Thanks again for your comments.

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