Our own approach to tradition, 1 Peter 1:17-19

One thing we should note about the issue of tradition in the evangelical church today is this: there is nowhere near the emphasis on tradition today as in previous generations.  Denominations in many ways are becoming less important in this regard.  For the most part the huge churches of our day are nondenominational.  Thus most local churches are free to do what is right in their own eyes. 

I know that last statement is powerful, coming from the time of the Judges when that was what people were doing.  Every local church today would claim they are following the Lord Jesus; and we are not saying that they aren’t.  But we are saying that today the decisions about music (contemporary, traditional), preaching style (exegetical, topical, evangelistic, teaching), service times and frequency (Sunday, Saturday, Thursday), dress code, methods of evangelism, and so forth are very much up to each church.  Who is making those decisions and on what basis? 

Today’s passage reminds us that we were not saved by the traditions of the fathers.  But of course, our traditions can get in the way of what does save people.  They can obscure the gospel.  They can divert believers from the one passion, which is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.  What we mean to say is that the issue of tradition is not irrelevant.  We must truly know the leading of the one Head of the Church, leading that He communicates through the Word of God.

We are going to conclude these posts by referencing something I found helpful many years ago, something that helped me think about this question of what must be fundamental to a local body of believers.  It is a list from Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century (and here we are 18 years into the 21^st century).  He felt that the Bible demanded these things, and that beyond these there was freedom.  Perhaps they will help you think through this issue in your own situation.  Schaeffer believed the Bible mandated:

1)  Local Churches made up of Christians.

2)  Sunday meetings.

3)  Elders responsible for the local church.

4)  Deacons responsible for material issues.

5)  Discipline.

6)  Specific qualifications for Elders and Deacons.

7)  A wider "fellowship" of churches.

8)  Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8).