Tradition - 3/8/09am

The Good - Created by God, made binding by God
These are the traditions as passed on by the Lord through the apostles and the scriptures.
II Thessalonians 2:13-15 -The gospel, taught by epistle and word
II Corinthians 10:7-11 -Such as Paul was in letters, he was in person
II Thessalonians 3:6-12 -Manner of living taught by Christ and apostles
I Thessalonians 4:1-8 -Apostles taught the Lord’s commands, to be followed
I Corinthians 11:23 -Paul received instruction from the Lord
Matthew 28:18-20 -Apostles to teach what Christ had taught them

The Indifferent - Created by man, not made binding
These are things that we do out of tradition, simply because it makes things easier to do it the same way each time. They are things that are within what we are to do, that help us carry out the Lord’s traditions, yet we do not force other people, or expect congregations, to do things exactly the same way.
Order of Services
(How many songs, prayers, etc. In what order they’re done)
Meeting Times
(When? How many times on Sunday? Midweek studies?)
Seating
(Where we each tend to sit, pews, facing forward, sitting at the very front)
Peripherals
(song books vs. overhead vs. call and repeat, etc.)
I Corinthians 14:40 -Decently and in order
Romans 14:1-13 -Disputable things: matters of judgment
I Peter 2:13-17 -Do not misuse liberty

The Bad - Created by man, made binding by man
Man has created numerous traditions. And while that is not necessarily wrong, what is wrong is when we make these traditions binding on others and expect others to keep them. When man’s traditions are made equal to, or greater than, God’s tradition, we have sinned greatly.
Matthew 15:1-13 -Jews replaced God’s commandments with man’s
Galatians 1:13-17 -Jewish traditions, in which Paul persecuted church
Colossians 2:8-10 -Cheated by men according to man’s traditions
Titus 1:10-16 -Don’t heed fables and commandments of men
I Peter 1:13-21 -Aimless conduct received by tradition

The Bad - Created by God, made binding by God, done by rote
God has given us things to do. And perhaps we follow them. But if we do it only by habit and rote, we are holding to a sinful tradition. Following the Lord must be more than empty repetition and habit.
Isaiah 29:13-14 -Reverence for God is tradition learned by rote
Isaiah 1:11-20 -Israel’s obedience is just habit, and without meaning