Faith
Tradition?
Steve W. Reeves
West Side Church of Christ, Searcy, Arkansas
One of my favorite Broadway musicals is "Fiddler On The Roof." I love the story of Tevya, the Russian Jew who was forced to cope with the changing ttide of tradition that affected his livelihood, his community and his family. The play is a powerful reminder of how tradition shapes and influences all of us.
In
recent years I have heard, with increasing frequency, the term, “faith
tradition.” What does this mean? Does our relationship with God depend merely
on tradition? Is one tradition as valid as another? Are we free to follow
whatever tradition suits us or switch to
another tradition if we like it better? To base your eternal relationship with
God on the shallowness of a “faith tradition” seems very dangerous to me.
On one
occasion Jesus was questioned by the religious leaders of his day. They wanted
to know why his disciples broke the tradition of the elders by not washing
their hands before eating bread (Matthew 15:1-2). Jesus replied by asking them why they broke
the commandment of God for the sake of their traditions. He explained, “For God
said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or
mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I
have that would help you has been given to
God,” 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother.’
And by this you invalidated the
word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:4-6). Jesus’ rebuke was
clear.Their “faith tradition” was actuially responsible for violating a direct
command of God.
Jesus
confronted this error by saying, “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy
of you: 8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9).
But their heart is far away from Me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:7-9).
Paul’s
admonition to Timothy should remind us that there is a foundation for faith
that far surpasses the changing character of human tradition. “From childhood
you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that
leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy
3:15).
I do
not want my relationship with God to be based on a “faith tradition.” I want to
study the sacred writings so that I might know with assurance how I should
live, work, worship, love and serve my Lord.
-
Steve W. Reeves
