Tradition.
Some people shudder at hearing the word. Others can't imagine life without it.
Tradition means "a belief, custom, or way of doing things that is passed down from one generation to the next." It includes things people repeat and keep because they are meaningful, such as holidays, family practices, cultural customs, or religious teachings.
So at the core, tradition involves passing on something over time within a group.
There's nothing wrong with them fundamentally. However, problems start arising when people become so stuck to their traditions that they can't change, or they get upset if something isn't done "the way it's been done for the past 5 years."
We also need to be aware of when people start manipulating and twisting Scripture to justify their traditions and claiming that the Bible supports something specific when in fact the tradition has nothing to do with the Bible. For example, wedding traditions. (I actually researched them in depth earlier this year and now am pretty much disgusted by most of them.)
If a bride wants to wear white, that's fine. And if a bride wants to wear red, purple, green, blue, etc. that is also fine. One is not holier than the other if she wears white and the other doesn't. This is a cultural tradition that later got theologically justified by misusing Scripture. Here we enter the danger zone. When cultural traditions are baptized as biblical commands, Scripture is no longer interpreted—it is manipulated.
Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 and wore a white lace gown. It symbolized pure wealth as only the very richest people could afford to wear a pure-white gown only once. It represented a status symbol, and only later during the 19th and 20th century did morality get attached to it. Then later "Christians" made it "biblical" and fashion got reframed as doctrine.
But, claiming the white dress is "biblical" is wrong.
1. It adds to Scripture by creating rules God never gave.
2. It confuses culture with holiness by elevating tradition to doctrine.
3. It shames women unfairly.
Traditions need to be handled carefully. And the more I thought about this deeply, I realized that Jesus also had problems with people who held traditions higher than the Scriptures. Let's look at all 13 times the word tradition is used in the Bible.
- Matthew 15:2-3, 6 ~ Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ... Thu have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
- Mark 7:3, 5 ~ For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
- Mark 7:8-9 ~ For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
- Mark 7:13 ~ Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
- Galatians 1:14 ~ And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
- Colossians 2:8 ~ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 ~ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 ~ 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.
- 1 Peter 1:18 ~ 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;
Traditions become a problem when they replace God's commands, mask disobedience, and/or create the appearance of righteousness without substance. The Pharisees took traditions to another level. The problem wasn't that they had traditions. It's that they abandoned God's commands in order to protect their traditions. They were actors wearing a mask, looking righteous because their traditions were visible, their rule-keeping was measurable, and their piety was performative. But inwardly they neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They were not actually concerned about whether the disciples' hands were dirty or not in Matthew. What concerned them was that they were keeping their rules/traditions while Jesus's disciples were not. And what ruffled their feathers even more was the Jesus didn't even care about their hand-washing tradition because he turned the accusation back on them. He cared more about their hearts.
For the Pharisees, tradition made obedience manageable, while true faith made it costly.
And I think it's sadly the same for many Christians today. I think tradition contributes to the reason much of the church is dead. There's no fire, no conviction, no hard preaching against sin. Just fluffy, air-filled-with-a-little-cream-inside sermons that tickle the congregation's ears, who maybe sometimes feel a little conviction but quickly brush it away as soon as the sermon is done because "church is over and it's time to go home."
No need to wonder why Christians are so shallow. Clinging to tradition without inward transformation does not produce holiness; it prevents it. Fifty years into their lives, many believers are still babies. They can't handle meat, are still drinking milk, and therefore can't teach anyone else. Actually, the more I live the more I realize a whole lot of Christians don't start maturing till somewhere around their 60s. They live life so focused on traditions that they miss the whole point of Christianity.
Like I said, I'm not against traditions. But I believe they need to be carefully evaluated and the reason behind them. I've known Christians who are so rigid, it's not even enjoyable talking to them because they can't get past the fact you do or believe something different than they do. Then they try to force their opinions or manipulated Scriptures down the throat because they want you to believe like them. (And also be miserable with them.)
Non-believers don't just listen to what believers have to say - they read their actions, their lifestyle, more than anything else. Focus on the inward, the heart, first. Make sure that it's pure, that tradition or outward piety or rules or standards aren't elevated in your heart above God's word, and you won't have to stress about your outward so much because what's in your heart will be manifested.
