A certain church started growing and attracting very many young people. Soon, the youth started to demand for change from the traditional way of hymn books to praise worship and from pipe organ to band sets and instruments. But the leaders of the church refused them vehemently and later, all the youth moved to another church. The new church welcomed them and instituted these changes and growth continued, but the old church began to decay and in throes of death.
Without gainsaying, church tradition has always been at the forefront of what brings retrogression and stagnation to otherwise growing churches. The clash of tradition and revelation have not always portended well for churches.
A. DEFINITION AND BIBLICAL BASIS (Acts 10:11-16. Matthew 15:6)
God was showing new revelation of His intention to reach out to the Gentiles to Apostle Peter, but he was blinded by tradition. His answer showed his traditional mindset. A one-time revelation can soon become a tradition. Tradition is what we are used to; our way of doing things; past effective methods, programmes styles and strategies. It is our experience and what we are comfortable with. It is what worked before and which we believe should still be working now and at all time.
- Tradition is good if it’s still effective
- Tradition is valuable as long as there is future.
- But when tradition threatens the future, it must be buried.
Recommended Reading
SOLVING SKILLS: Conflict And Criticism In Ministry
The Holy Spirit? – Understanding the Third Person of the Trinity
Understanding And Overcoming Procrastination
B. CONTRASTING TRADITION AND NEW REVELATIONS
Tradition
- Holds to the past tenaciously
- Comfortable and settled way
- Pride and human methods
- Archaic methods and tactics
- What once worked
- Past victories and structure
- Old people, building and stories
- Liturgy, order and sacred order
- Routine, nominal and lifeless
- Stagnation, retrogression and struggling
- Status quo and man-made rules
New Revelation
- Is about relevance and future
- New ventures and effectiveness
- Humility and God’s new Ideas
- New systems and strategies
- What will make impact now
- New territories and reaching out
- Young people, excellence and impact Innovation, flexibility and openness
- Vitality, life-giving and enchanting
- Growth, expansion and multiplication
- Reaching people effectively
While Tradition will lead to empty church in the midst of exploding population, Revelation will bring growth and relevance. While tradition will help the church to remain a mere figure, new revelation will make her into a mighty force.
C. PROCESS OF BECOMING A TRADITIONAL CHURCH
Today, denominational, Pentecostal, charismatic, mainline and indigenous, churches are and have become traditional ones. Once a church is 7 years old upward, it has become traditional. What are the process of becoming a traditional church?