A Traditional Approach to Tradition

Some of the most spiritually destructive ideas can be found among religious people. One is the idea that anything identified as “tradition” is a bad thing. The Bible does condemn “the tradition of men” (Mark 7:8), but it certainly doesn’t condemn the traditions as laid out in Scripture.

Another prevalent trend in religious thinking is the idea that the words of the apostles such as Paul or Peter are less than the Word of God. However, the letters of the apostles are referred to as “scripture” (II Peter 3:16.) The Bible as a whole is presented as thoroughly fashioned by God.

Both of these destructive ideas are addressed by Paul in his letter to the Christians in Thessalonica. “So then brothers stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us either by our spoken word or by our letter” (II Thessalonians 2:15). Unless we’re ready to dismiss this passage along with all of the letters, this one says we are to “hold to” traditions that belong in Christianity. It also emphasizes that these authoritative truths are confirmed by the “spoken word” of the apostles or “the letters.”

In the current breathless search for something innovative and new in religious experience, it is easy to attack tradition or dismiss certain passages. However, as far as the Word of God is concerned, neither of these ideas should be found among true Christians.

- Bret