Mark 7:5-6, Proverbs 1:24-33, SOLA SCRIPTURA

The problem is that traditions often become "law". As long as the "tradition" is helpful it can serve as a valuable guideline for Christian conduct, service and worship. Far too often the traditions become more important than Scripture. I've been in discussions where the people were far more concerned about maintaining their "heritage" than with ministering the Gospel to people in a Biblical and Godly way.

One of the obvious examples is in the area of hymnody and worship style. Coming from a Lutheran tradition I have been raised and trained in liturgical worship. I began playing the organ for church at 12 years old and much of the time from that age until my mid twenties I served as a church organist. After graduating from college I served as liturgist in my home congregation. I've participated in choral presentations of traditional music and enjoy very much many of these historical hymns and chorales of the church.

Still, the task of the church is to reach our generation(s) with the Gospel message in a way that they understand. All of those traditions we now hold in such high esteem were once expressions of a contemporary practice. When written, the above hymn was contemporary. It no longer is. While the message is still powerful and true, its ability to reach this generation is limited to the few whose temperament, vocabulary and musical skills enable them to get past the last century style. But when discussing this reality with many in our churches, there is a great resistance to "loosing our great heritage".

We are not called to pass on the "rich hymnody and heritage of our fathers". We are called to make disciples (Mt 28:18-20). This must be something very like what happened among the Pharisees in our text. A practice which probably began by dedicating one's wealth, property and possessions to God, eventually became a loophole to doing what God commanded. When we allow our "traditions", our "heritage", to prevent us from obeying God we fall under the same judgement as did the Pharisees.

The Reformation Principle of "Sola Scriptura" was intended to help get us back on track. It was because of "traditions" and extra-Biblical laws hindering the Gospel and putting people in bondage to "the way we've always done it" that Luther and the other reformers finally were forced to go back to the scriptures alone. Anything that stands in the way of fidelity to God's Word is an idol, be it church confessions, traditions or history. Only full submission to the truth of Scriptures, in spite of what we've always believed, in spite of what we've always practiced, in spite of the dangers to our "heritage", etc., can keep us in harmony with God's will and purposes for our lives.

What stands between you and full obedience to God? Are there some things which prevent you from embracing truths of Scripture, things that your church or tradition does not allow? It may be a matter of how people can dress to come to your church. It may be the kinds of songs or instruments which are "appropriate" for worship, or the kinds of garments that pastor(s) wear. Any tradition which no longer ministers grace, to God's people and those of our generation we are commanded to serve, is a tradition which violates God's Word. It must be repented of and disposed of so that the Holy Spirit might use us to fully serve Christ and His people.

Paul talks about his own zeal for the traditions of his "fathers", his determination as a Pharisee to enforce the traditions of His faith. But God had other plans and gave Paul grace to repent. In the midst of persecuting Christians, Paul repented and became a great and shining light to the contemporary (Gentile) society of His day, forbidding Jewish Christians to force their traditions onto Gentile Christians.

May each of us obey God as completely as Paul. Jesus' truth is all we need. May we say with conviction with the Reformers:

"We receive and embrace with our whole heart the Prophetic and Apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the pure, clear fountain of Israel, which is the only true standard by which teachers and doctrines are to be judged." [Book Of Concord]

Sola Scriptura!

God bless you richly. I pray you have experienced a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth and enjoy His grace to serve Him fully this coming year.

Shalom

Bob