Tradition

Traditions are an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (such as a religious practice or a social custom.) Much of Western society has abandoned it, citing that it's "restrictive," "stifling," or "bland." This case is not found only amongst secular spheres but also in many Christian communities. The reason I've gotten many times from Christians is that it stifles the true spirit of worship, or that "religion" restricts having a fulfilled relationship with Jesus Christ, and even to fulfilling the desire to being "less Catholic." I find no dichotomy between religion and relationship, or Catholic and Christian; and I have expressed in conversations before that it's like saying one loves their spouse but hates marriage.

In my view, the abandonment of tradition in the Church has been largely negative and has been successful in dropping the numbers of church attendance. With tradition eliminated, the context of things is erased, and much to remind us of Church life has made us forget what going to church is supposed to be: the celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, his victory over sin and death, thus enabling us to have communion with the living Triune God. In many post-modern churches you see mostly a relaxed atmosphere in an air-conditioned (albeit essential, especially in Florida where I live) auditorium with a concert set-up and projector screens displaying simple and repetitive love songs about Jesus, followed by a motivational TED talk style sermon masked by a pop-culture theme creating an environment of hair-raising chills down our spines, calling it the "sure presence of the Holy Spirit." It works for a time, turning a mindful theologically rich religion into a thoughtless concert experience; but when the elementary enthusiasm of being a Christian is snuffed out, the sheep wanders from the flock seeking their own. This danger is present when the importance of theology and substantial study is reduced and traded for adrenaline pumping entertainment.

In most (not all) traditional churches, you usually find defining architecture. Maybe baptismal fonts at the door entering a broad nave decorated with stained glass windows lined with pews on either side, holding hymnals bearing songs with poetic lyrics praising our God next to prayer books containing our liturgies which flesh out our worship and inscribed with essential Christian doctrines beside bibles for study and reflection in the quietness of the nave between services. Or a chancel between the nave and the sanctuary containing the pulpit for the proclamation of God's word before the people and where Christians gather at the rail for Holy Communion where in front is the altar in the sanctuary containing the Body and Blood of our Lord. All housed under a roof as the ark of Noah, symbolizing the Church as a safe haven "in the world but not of the world." Around us there's supposed to be theological definition somewhere that perpetuates inspiration of faith, grants a state of refuge, and encourages scholasticism. It's not ALL completely essential, however even one of the elements mentioned can help in advancing discipleship of church members.

Many may tout that we're trying to hold to  novelties that no longer matter in our post-modern world and we need to mold our structures and even doctrines to attract more parishioners, pandering to a Hillsongesque church culture of which I'm largely critical. We don't and shouldn't hold to tradition for tradition's sake, or if it is simply "all we know." We should hold to tradition because it's discipline, it grounds us and takes hold of our person. Tradition is intellectual, equips us, gives us insight and better understanding of the Faith passed down for two millennia; perhaps it may give understanding to the world around us. All I have stated crosses denominational lines, and western provinces of the Anglican Communion have been especially notorious for abandoning tradition in a doctrinal sense.

I strongly encourage tradition in your walk with the Lord, in any denomination. You may broaden even your own understanding of scripture and enrich your love, worship, and devotion in the Lord. As I have said before, they are resources to aid our understanding. Along with the Bible, immerse yourself in to the Church Fathers, the Reformers, St. Thomas Aquinas, even Roman Catholic doctrine and Eastern Orthodox dogma. It doesn't hurt or stagnate faith to get more insight, it only enlivens it.

"Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you." -1 Corinthians 11:2

"Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God, teaching about ritual washings,laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." -Hebrews 6:1, 2

"... equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head ​— ​Christ." -Ephesians 4:12-15

(Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments and/or critiques,  I would love to read your thoughts. If you enjoyed this, follow my friends' blogs at www.barelyprotestant.blogspot.com and www.against-heresies.com. Look up also the "Religious Nut and Hellbound Sinner Podcast" and my Facebook page The Via Media. Definition taken from Miriam-Webster, and scripture verses are derived from the Christian Standard Version.)