Several months ago I observed the tearing down of an 89 year old church building to make way for a fast food restaurant. For generations, white columns distinctively supported the gabled entrance of the stately red brick edifice. It had withstood World War I, World War II, most of the tumultuous twentieth century, and the emergence of the postmodern era out of the ashes of the modern. What was the reason for her demise? This sacred space appears to have fallen prey to the pursuit of profit. "‘It's a sad thing for me,’ said one longtime member… ‘I was married there and I was baptized there, and my two kids were baptized there and both of them were married there. It's just been a big part of my life.’”[1] Hamburgers and fries will now be dispensed where faith was once formed.
This scenario has become quite normative for us. We live amongst a people who tend to value expediency and efficiency more than transcendence and timelessness. In fact, traditions are held in contempt by many who believe progress depends on jettisoning the past. Even the Church, in many instances, has turned her back on a rich heritage in favor of timely trends and progressive programs designed to reach the masses. Unfortunately, in attempting to super-size the church, some have given in to the same marketing strategies that have rendered almost everything dispensable. Christian symbols have been removed from "worship space" in favor of non-threatening theatre-like environments. Even the Christian message of dying to self and finding life in Christ have given way to the more comfortable message of self-fulfillment. In the mean time, our sense of historical perspective has been compromised. One minister of music was recently asked if her church sang any of the old songs. She said, “Yes, of course. We even sing a couple of songs that are two or three years old.” Despite the shift in values, there are stalwarts who still ascribe to the well worn paths. Churches espousing tradition, however, are often viewed as unbending, ancient, and out of touch.
Should we be so positive that tradition is a negative? In a day when meals in a sack are ordered by number, songs are considered oldies after a few months and most things are designed to be disposable, including church buildings, what traditions could possibly be relevant?
Christian author and clergyman David Bercot claims that, “Scripture speaks of two types of tradition: human tradition and apostolic tradition. On the one hand, Christians are warned not to be deceived by the ‘tradition of men.’ On the other hand, Christians are commanded to ‘keep the traditions as I have delivered them to you’ (1 Cor. 11:2).[2] Acts 2:42 records that the Church dedicated itself to “the Apostles’ teaching.” In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Paul says, “Therefore, brothers, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” Before the New Testament existed, this Tradition or standard of faith was being disseminated throughout the Churches.
What was this God given tradition taught by the Apostles through their spoken word and writings? Professor and author D.H. Williams claims that 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 is, “Paul’s outlined version of the tradition.” It is concise and stunningly simple: “that Christ died, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day.”[3] Where did the tradition come from if not the Scriptures? The tradition stated here was standard fare in the early Church before an authoritative canon of Scripture was established. Out of the life of the Church and her worship came the kerygma (the Word proclaimed). These teachings were based on the eye witness accounts of the Apostles. Christian author and scholar Robert Webber sees the Tradition expressed in the kerygma as containing these basic elements:
1. The prophecies of a coming Messiah were fulfilled in Christ’s incarnation
2. Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead
3. He has ascended into heaven and will return to earth to judge all evil
4. Repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit
5. The Church is the new “people of God”[4]
So then, the tradition that has been handed down to us is the Gospel narrative – from prophecy to incarnation, passion, resurrection, ascension, culmination and Kingdom. Christian churches must espouse these truths, or cease to be authentic. This is the tradition we must hold on to without compromise. Cultural characteristics come and go as do buildings. Sadly, the church building that was torn down reveals our ease at dismissing the past. But, if the real Church is to remain faithful to the Lord, we must live out the Gospel narrative (dying to ourselves and being raised in Christ), and then pass to the generations coming behind us the transforming truth about God’s love expressed in Jesus. We must erect our lives and Churches on God’s transcendent tradition, that is, on the solid Rock, the Cornerstone. And then commit ourselves to “being built into a Spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5), that will never be torn down. If we are so inclined, we will truly be “the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). The wrecking ball of cultural paradigm shifts, nor the gates of Hell will ever prevail against it!
[1] Lexington Herald Leader, September 7, 2006.
[2] David Bercot, “A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs” (Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998), 646.
[3] D. H. Williams, “Evangelicals and Tradition” (Baker Academic Publishing Co., 2005), 58-59.
[4] Robert Webber, “Renew Your Worship” (Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), 55.
