Tradition: a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time (Websters).
Some denominations seem very traditional. Traditions as referred to as "Oral Traditions". You can literally go from a church using incense and candles, choirs, very liturgical to right down the road a church with bands and a more casual setting (in my opinion). Are these traditional services the traditions of men?
Take for example baptism. We all mostly baptize one another, its definitely a tradition to baptize right? A good tradition? Is there such a thing? Should we be more or less traditional in our worship, does it matter?
Jesus seemed quite clear about the traditions of men Mk 7:8. Scripture also eludes to holding to tradition 2 Thess 2:15.
I know you're saying something important to you. I also know I may or may not have received it right.
So, I'm gonna say what I'm thinking and ask the questions as I go along, okay?
First, I'm thinking, "You couldn't make this easy on me and give the full scriptures? Exactly how nosy do you think I am that you would think I'd either know the scriptures or would put in the effort to look them up?"
Okay, I'm
that nosy. lol
Mark 7:8-13. (I'm lazy, so copied and pasted. Anyone who isn't into NIV is free to take whatever version they prefer.)
2 Thess. 2:15.
Okay, now got the verses, but somehow you equate that with baptism. You lost me. In all fairness, you lost me because I come from a church where it's pretty much one baptism is enough, and I was born into the Catholic Church so got that one almost 59 years ago. They aren't big into baptizing multiple times.
But they also believe once is enough because baptism is something like circumcision -- it's an outward sign of a promise. (Circumcision promises the parents will raise the boy in God's ways. Baptism is either the same thing -- as in the RCC version's original intent -- or it's the person himself promising to follow Christ.) The inwardness is on God and the receiver to walk hand in hand.
So, I don't see that as much a tradition as it is Biblical. God says to do that, so do that kind of thing.
Tradition wise, the ones that come to mind neither hurt me nor advance me. I'm thinking the Thanksgiving dinner tradition. American tradition says cook hard all day, go nuts, then eat dinner with your nutsy family because everyone got super worked up on gathering together and working hard, so by the time everyone sits down, everyone goes nuts on each other. Followed immediately by eating too much, maybe a football game or two, some dessert, and then complaints about being too full while people leave. Ours is simply to use that day as a day to thank God for keeping us from starving by giving us enough to eat. The cooking and nuts time are the three days before that, so we just make a Thanksgiving casserole, maybe watch one or two football games (Hey! Dallas! Who cares about Dallas? But, better them getting stuck always busy on that day, than our Eagles), and then a DVD to watch.
We've rather forgone tradition on Christmas too, but, hey our tradition is to watch a series in DVD form, which isn't exactly bad nor good.
And, I don't really see any traditions in the church we used to belong to, so I'm lost on what you're saying... unless? Is this really about how to baptize? The dunk or sprinkle debate hidden as "tradition?" Now that's a tradition I'd rather avoid, so what did I miss?
