Traditions are Good & Bad

Here in the South there are a lot of traditional stuff that’s done in many churches. I’m not against tradition and, if fact, many traditions can and are good. However, when we attach those traditions to the Bible we then are in dangerous and even heretical ground. In other words, if what we do traditionally is viewed as something that we do because it’s taught in Scripture and if we don’t do it or change it we’re departing from the Word – that’s bad. Examples are Sunday School, Sunday night services, a choir, or a mid-week service.

I can sense in some of you that your feathers are ruffled – good. Before you get all frothy in the mouth, let me tell you that I’m 100% all for those examples and would say that they are all good traditions but not mandated by Scripture. Sure, we are mandated to “make disciples” and “teaching them to observe all that that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20). However, nowhere does it say that it must be done in Sunday School. You do realize that Sunday School was originally designed to educate our children started by religious philanthropists that wanted to end illiteracy. You see, children were a big part of the work force and this resulted in limiting the number of hours a child could work per day to 12! This limit was not lowered again until 1844. Moreover, Saturday was part of the regular work week. Sunday, therefore, was the only available time for these children to gain some education. Thus, Sunday School. Of course, they used religious material – the Bible to learn how to read. Anyway, enough of the history lesson; the bottom line it is a tradition we have held unto in which has changed in time.

Is Sunday School one of those good traditions? I would say yes, but it also has its draw backs. What? There can’t be anything “bad” about Sunday School, right? Well, I would submit to you that now parents have abdicated their BIBLICAL duty in raising their children. Like, “Fathers, … bring them [children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). My whole point here is that we need to be careful about what we get mad at in church, especially when we are looking at God’s Word and trying to figure out how best in our current culture to fulfill the mandates of Scripture. We must be careful that we don’t do exactly what we condemn the Roman Catholics for doing and not put as much weight on our traditions as we do to the inspired Word of God.