Traditions that are Not in the Bible
Today, I had a great Facebook exchange with a family member’s friend. We were discussing wedding bands. Should married couples wear them? Are there alternative ways to demonstrate one’s marital faithfulness? It was a friendly discussion in which I mostly pontificated, as usual. It was a conversation between a few committed Christians who supported each other and didn’t question motives, etc.
One of the questions that came from that discussion was a common one that I hear a lot as an Anglican pastor: “If some traditions aren’t in the Bible, then they’re not sacred or required, right? Isn’t it up to the individual to choose?” It’s a superb question, and not every pastor or parishioner would answer it the same.
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Should We Keep Traditions?
My answer is yes. Yes, we should wear our wedding bands, and yes, they are sacred. Also, yes, they are not in the Bible. Many other sacred traditions should be kept but aren’t commanded directly in the Bible.
The Evangelical & Reformed Views
In the non-catholic or free church (sometimes called Puritan) tradition that is popular today among evangelicals, it is standard to assume that if something is not commanded in scripture, it is not necessary. Wedding bands, for example. Also, clergy vestments, dates of holidays, traditional written prayers, communion every Sunday, making the sign of the cross, receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, etc. In Puritan theology (and most evangelical theology today), these things are, at best, personal or local church choices or, at worst, pagan intrusions into “pure” faith.
That way of thinking may not be helpful, true, or even Biblical after all. It doesn’t say anywhere in scripture that we should only do things that the Bible itself tells us to do. There is mention several times in the NT of traditions that are being passed along by word of mouth. The idea isn’t that we should only keep the Biblical traditions. The idea is that our “man-made” traditions should never go against Scripture or be elevated above God himself, in his love and justice.
They should support it. They should be pointing to the gospel. There are many ways to point to the gospel, but these traditions are the ways that our spiritual ancestors have passed on to us. We should consider that very highly when thinking about how to point to the gospel and live it out.
How Anglicans See Traditions
In the Anglican way of thinking, any Christian tradition with the weight of years behind it should be kept. If it supports the gospel and the Bible, and if it is not forbidden by scripture, then we are obliged to keep it. I know that sounds heavy to a lot of evangelical ears, but we are evangelical, too. Anglicans have been a part of the evangelical stream for a long time. For some reason, the Puritan approach gets more press. It’s not un-evangelical to see traditions as important and as often obligatory on the individual.
Traditions that Point to Jesus
No, traditions can’t save you; that doesn’t negate that they aren’t important and necessary. When they point to salvation, they do help people find it. When Christians share the same ancient traditions, we all point to salvation in the same ways. We are identifying ourselves visibly with each other and with our spiritual forefathers.
Christmas
For example, Jesus likely wasn’t born on December 25th. And yet that is the traditional date we celebrate the feast of the Incarnation. The Bible doesn’t command us to use that date; it is silent on that point. It would be foolish for an individual Christian or a local church to declare his own personal Christmas Day, not only foolish, but unwise. Unwise because it would isolate that individual or church from the rest of the Christian community. This is especially harmful in a day and age where we need as much visible Christian unity as possible. I know it would be silly for someone to declare their own personal Christmas; that is what we are told we should do with many other traditions.
Vestments
What about vestments? That is a great example. Years ago, some Protestants decided that the pastors shouldn’t wear robes. Of course, most Christians kept using them (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, or others). However, most American evangelicals think that robes are inherently arrogant or legalistic, etc. The Bible doesn’t directly command robes (arguably, it does, but that is for another day). Yet, Christian ministers have worn robes for hundreds of years and distinctive stoles for thousands. Should our generation toss them aside so lightly? What baby are we tossing out with that bathwater? I’m not sure, but I don’t want to be the one to find out. Furthermore, I hate picking out ties and suit coats anyway.
Vows
At weddings, I’ve seen the couple write their vows. That’s fine for them during the reception, or maybe at a different part of the service (not as vows, but as personal promises). This is another example of how we scorn traditions because we make up our definitions of marriage as individuals and then impose them. Instead, we enter into an ancient Christian institution and should take the same vows as everyone else. The Bible doesn’t include the actual vows. They are traditional. Taking them reminds us, our witnesses, and the world that we are Christians and that we haven’t reinvented marriage.
The Church Year
Another example is the church year. The cycle of Advent to Christmas, Epiphany, and then from Lent to Easter to Pentecost is very ancient. Christians have been observing together for so long. Many Christians today ignore it. They feel that because the Bible doesn’t command it, it’s not important; be that as it may, millions of Christians are observing it. The Bible doesn’t command us not to have a shared calendar of celebration and repentance. It encourages us to find unity and to work together. It encourages us to be “one.” Individualism drives us from the shared Christian traditions rather than from the holy scripture, in my opinion.
Three Approaches
Christian denominations hold varying views on the relationship between scripture and tradition. Puritans generally adhere to the regulative principle, limiting practice to explicit biblical commands. Anglicans often follow the normative principle, incorporating traditions that do not contradict scripture. Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions engage with a broader spectrum of practices, aiming for reconciliation with biblical teachings.
We do not elevate above God, as Jesus said the Pharisees were doing. Yet Jesus didn’t say, “Destroy all tradition!” It was the fact that we Pharisees tend to put them above God or love or the gospel. When they are in their proper place as a means of grace, unity, visible witness, and spiritual growth, then they are important. It isn’t the individual choice, to the American ear’s chagrin. We are part of a community of faith. We shouldn’t see ourselves as deciding everything, our personal preferences or interpretations. Especially regarding human traditions, we should participate in the group rather than being autonomous. Notice Jesus excoriates not traditions but abuse from the Pharisees,
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
Mark 7:98-9
In my view, the Puritan approach becomes very individualistic, wrist-locking people in an uncomfortable position in terms of other Christians, and frankly, is unbiblical. After all, St. Paul wrote,
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.”
2 Thesslaonians 2:15
The Roman Catholic approach tends to be rigid and sometimes justifies anti-biblical, contradictory traditions. The Anglican approach is to see ourselves as keepers of an ancient tradition. We are guardians with an obligation to tradition and Christian unity. We are individuals, yes, but we aren’t autonomous.
Conclusion
Thankfully, all Christians still share Baptism and Communion. We differ in how we understand them, but we all believe they are commands of our Lord Jesus that should be kept. These shared sacraments still bind us together in a visible witness. But if we went a step further and gave the Christian tradition the benefit of the doubt, default setting, we would go a whole lot further in building a true, unified Christian community. We’d probably find a better and wiser way of doing things, discovering that our spiritual ancestors knew something about how to worship and live.
What are your thoughts?
Photo by Julia Michelle on Unsplash
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