NOT ALL TRADITIONS ARE CREATED EQUAL (1)

Victor M. Eskew

 

          The word “tradition” carries both a negative and positive connotation when it is heard today.  Sometimes people advocate for traditions.  In most families, traditions have been preserved during the holidays.  Certain things are done at certain times.  Certain foods are eaten at certain meals.  If the traditions are violated individuals get upset. 

          There are also times when individuals fight “tooth and nail” against traditions.  This is happening in the church today.  There was a time when it was traditional to “dress up” for worship services.  Most are seeking to “dress down” as much as possible.  Suits and ties are out in most places.  Today, those who dress up are ridiculed by some.  This writer has heard some refer to a suit and tie as “priestly garb.” 

          There are other categories of traditions that exist as well.  There are some religious groups that are founded upon and led by traditions.  These traditions are not just the precepts found in the Bible.  These traditions involve the interpretations of church leaders and the decisions of various councils that have been convened through the years.  These traditions are held in the same honor as the teachings found in the New Testament.  Sometimes, they are given more credence.

          The Bible addresses the topic of tradition in its pages.  The New Testament uses the Greek word “paradosis” fourteen times.  Eleven times it is translated “tradition.”  Two times it is translated “traditions.”  One time the King James Version translates “paradosis” with the word “ordinances.”  Let’s look at this subject a little closer.  The title of this article is:  “Not All Traditions are Created Equal.”

          When all of the verses that mention the word “tradition” are studied, one finds that the New Testament mentions four categories of traditions.  One category of traditions is “apostolic tradition.”  Another category is the traditions of the Law of Moses.  A third category is called “the traditions of the elders.”  The final category is “the tradition of men.”  These different categories of traditions are not all created equal. 

          Before we examine each category, let’s define the word “tradition.”  Again, it comes from the Greek word “paradosis” which literally means “a giving over” or “a handing down.”  Thus, a tradition is simply something that is handed down from one generation to the next.  It could be a teaching.  It could be a belief.  It could be a law.  It could be a practice.  It could be a set of laws.  It could be a set of beliefs. 

In and of themselves, traditions are not sinful.  Years ago, almost all churches started their Bible classes at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Worship began at 11:00 a.m.  The congregations would then return on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. for the evening worship services.  Is there anything wrong with these times being honored for Bible study and worship?  Not at all.  There may be some churches that still use this schedule for their Sunday services.  The tradition, however, has not prevailed in recent times.  Churches meet at various times on Sunday mornings for worship and Bible classes.  Some congregations have an afternoon worship service.  Some still have an evening worship service.  Some no longer have evening services.  They have three assembly periods in the morning.  Others have an evening gathering, but it involves Bible classes instead of a worship service. 

Two of the four traditions mentioned above are superior sets of traditions.  The reason they are superior is because they are inspired traditions.  They are traditions that did not proceed from the mind of man.  Instead, they originated in the mind of God.  They were communicated to man by the Holy Spirit.  Ultimately, they were written down in what is known as the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Two times, the Law of Moses is referred to as the tradition of the fathers.  Paul uses these words in Galatians 1:14.  The apostle said he “profited in the Jews’ religion above many mine equals in mine own nation, being more exceeding zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”  Peter also refers to the traditions of the fathers.  He affirms that these traditions created a “vain conversation” or manner of life.  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.”  The Old Law was divinely revealed (See 2 Sam. 23:7).  This law, however, was not intended to be a permanent law.  This law as abolished when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary (Col. 2:14).

When the Old Law was abolished, a new law took its place.  It is called “The New Testament” or “the law of Christ.”  This law was sanctified by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:28).  This law was revealed to the apostles and prophets of the first century.  These men were also inspired by the Holy Spirit to communicate God’s message to humanity.  Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:12-13.  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 

This body of doctrine is referred to as tradition in three different places in the New Testament.  The first time is found is in 1 Corinthians 11:2.  Paul writes:  “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”  The word “ordinances” is the word “paradosis” translated “traditions” elsewhere.  The inspired writings of the New Testament can be called “traditions” because they are supposed to be handed down from one generation to another.  Paul used the word two other times in the book of 2 Thessalonians.  In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, he exhorted the Thessalonian Christians to “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”  In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, those who refused to walk in harmony with the divine traditions were to be withdrawn from.  “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”  Go back and read those last two verses again.  Paul used the pronoun “our” in 2 Thessalonians 2:15.  He used the pronoun “us” in 2 Thessalonians 3:6.  He is referring to the apostles and prophets who had revealed these divine traditions unto them.