1. Ministering in one series of meetings near central UK, some very theologically hymns were sung. However, in more than one instance, I noted some of the older believers who instead of standing to sing would take note of the hymnwriter and if too modern would close their books and sit back down.
2. In many English churches, style of dress and the wearing of certain types of garments are more important than what is in the heart. I remember being told that I would not be welcome to even preach at certain churches if my wife did not wear a brimmed hat!
3. Traditions included what type and precise number of hymns was allowed, what version of the Bible, what time the children’s Sunday school would be, only organs could be used and in many places the music sounded like funeral dirges, no gospel appeal of any kind could be made (directly or indirectly even in the sermon), where a person was allowed to sit, ladies’ meetings attended mostly by the elderly in a manner that has continued just as it did when they started 75 years ago or more, reverence in the church hall for 5-10 minutes before service time, etc, etc.
In the USA, some of these same traditions exist but in various guises. Again, there is nothing necessarily wrong with some of these areas. But when tradition becomes so important as to exclude God from our plans or endeavors, or we seek to stifle and limit the working of the Holy Spirit within our midst for the sake of keeping a tradition because it was done that way for the last 25, 50, 80, 130 years or more, then tradition has become a sin.
It never ceases to amaze me when I watch old church members cluck their tongues with disregard towards a new believer ONLY because those new Christians or visitors do not know the established pattern of how things must be done! Yet those same self-righteous members are bitter at heart, struggle in their marriages, do not evidence the fruit of the Spirit, and then have the audacity to demand that all believers must “conform to the way things have always been or you will just not be considered as spiritual as I am!”
Sadly, the traditions are not just propagated by the members, but even by the pastors. Instead of teaching the entire counsel of God and encouraging all believers (young and old alike) to respect the Word of God, they encourage or condone or at the very least implicitly give their tacit approval for the stifling of church.
Pastors and members alike have forgotten that church is not about the traditions of men, but about a holy and righteous God. Never once in my entire ministry did I ever hear, “Pastor, we would be willing to grow together with you as we study the Word of God to see how we are to act amongst ourselves, how we are to act around the world, how we are conduct ourselves in a place of worship, and if it does not line up with our traditions – well, then we are willing to give the praise and glory and honour to the Lord Jesus Christ for helping us to see what was actually important in the light of eternity!”
(to be continued)
Posted in Church Life | Tags: Anatevka, Bible version, church, hymnbooks, pastors, tradition, UK, USA
