The Balance of Traditional Leaders

Tradition by all means has an established place in the church. There’s a unique symmetry within tradition. In the Gospel of Mark 7:1-5, we find the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the presence of Jesus. They imposed this question, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the traditions of the elders instead of eating their food with “unclean” hands?” This agitated the religious leaders when the disciples didn’t wash their hands before they ate. But, do know that I am not implying that you should not wash your hands prior to eating your meals!

The bible warns us to not hold too firmly onto the traditions of men and to grasp onto the commands of God. If there’s no balance in traditions, it will create a barrier between you and God. We make traditions even from an area of our churches where coffee/tea/donuts are served. God forbid if one moves it to another location only to find that you are found guilty of breaking a tradition because it had always been served in that particular space. Let’s not get so entwined in our religious traditions that we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us in our worship services.

When we’re open to doing different things, it allows God to free us from the confinement of doing things the “same old way”. We serve a God who’s not limited in doings things just one way. In the book of Isaiah, 55:8-9, Jesus says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” Tradition can be commanding and it has a special place in the life of every church. However, when will we accept the fact that we are living in a time where change is continual? What a blessing it would be if we could all learn to balance tradition and change in the church. Both are perfect ingredients for allowing our churches to grow and not stifle the Holy Spirit from moving freely in our worship services.

What are you thoughts about balancing tradition and change in the church?

Serving the Lord with Gladness,

Deacon Terri McFarlane