God has moved in history and it's wise to study His ways.
Consider how many times the psalmist calls the worshippers to remember the works of the Lord and how He has moved, delivered, saved, rescued, judged, blessed, and acted (cf. Psalm 111.3, for example). His action in history is revelation of Himself.
We, as the heirs of what God has done before, have to pay attention. Tradition is what we inherit, though it has gotten a bad rap by those too unwise or immature to listen to it. Throwing it out the door sets us up for all sorts of silliness of the doctrine and practice varieties. Just look at those trying to "re-think" Christianity and give us a New Kind of Christianity which isn't Christianity at all.
I am for critiquing methods. I am for making changes. But we also have an inheritance, a faith passed down and hammered out through trials and persecution and council. It's in the Bible and articulated in statements like the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed.
Tradition is vital to our staying rooted. We're not on our own but part of God's story through history.
Last thought: it tends to be older souls (no matter the age of the body) who embrace tradition. They can fall into traditionalism easily. Be careful.
It tends to be younger souls who critique traditionalism. The can reject tradition easily and find themselves disconnected from what is real in the name of relevance. Be careful.
But that's just me thinking thoughts...
No comments:
Post a Comment