Lately, it seems that "tradition" has been an interesting issue for folks who speak to me. I find it interesting how pastors respond to claims of traditions. Some take them seriously, some ignore them, some trample on them intentionally "to prove a point." Some hold them inviolate.
But, recently, I spoke at a small, very old Baptist church. This is a church of more than 200 years of age, but it is very much down. The community in which it was founded has long ago disappeared into history and very few people live close to the church. It can no longer support a full-time pastor. The attendance was less than a decent Sunday School class.
In speaking with one of the women, I commented on how people sat in different places in the mostly empty meeting room. She looked to her right and told me that her parents used to sit right there. She was very much an older woman and repeated again that that is where her parents always sat and she liked to sit with them.
How, as a pastor, do you respond? We all know that there is no scriptural basis for such an opinion. We are not told to "sit where your parents sat." It is easy to mock such an attitude and to say, as we often say, "well, she should get her priorities straight" and "she should learn to love Jesus more," and such things.
But it mattered to her. It was important to her. Maybe it should not be important, but it was important. We are called to love her. How do we express that love?
I think dealing with the actual people among whom we minister is much harder than we like to think. It is not about asserting our authority (as if we were important). It is not about "straightening these people out." It is not about "fighting their traditions." Ultimately, it is about loving and ministering to them.
The story of Gideon's Ephod remains real to us, as God's people too often end up worshipping the wrong things for good reasons. They need to be taught not to find such value in things God does not value.
But they need to be taught carefully, lovingly, patiently, until God shall strengthen their hearts.
Traditions do not matter, but the people who value traditions matter a great deal. Our job is to love them.
But, recently, I spoke at a small, very old Baptist church. This is a church of more than 200 years of age, but it is very much down. The community in which it was founded has long ago disappeared into history and very few people live close to the church. It can no longer support a full-time pastor. The attendance was less than a decent Sunday School class.
In speaking with one of the women, I commented on how people sat in different places in the mostly empty meeting room. She looked to her right and told me that her parents used to sit right there. She was very much an older woman and repeated again that that is where her parents always sat and she liked to sit with them.
How, as a pastor, do you respond? We all know that there is no scriptural basis for such an opinion. We are not told to "sit where your parents sat." It is easy to mock such an attitude and to say, as we often say, "well, she should get her priorities straight" and "she should learn to love Jesus more," and such things.
But it mattered to her. It was important to her. Maybe it should not be important, but it was important. We are called to love her. How do we express that love?
I think dealing with the actual people among whom we minister is much harder than we like to think. It is not about asserting our authority (as if we were important). It is not about "straightening these people out." It is not about "fighting their traditions." Ultimately, it is about loving and ministering to them.
The story of Gideon's Ephod remains real to us, as God's people too often end up worshipping the wrong things for good reasons. They need to be taught not to find such value in things God does not value.
But they need to be taught carefully, lovingly, patiently, until God shall strengthen their hearts.
Traditions do not matter, but the people who value traditions matter a great deal. Our job is to love them.