Culture And Tradition
The culture and tradition of human society are powerful influences upon the behavior of men. These influences often create very positive outcomes. However, it is not uncommon for culture and tradition to get in the way of the sovereignty of God. This latter concept is my theme for this article.
1. Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians:
These schools of culture and tradition were quite active in the New Testament period. Without detailing the specific tenets of each, we know that their differences often sparked great controversy among the people, and caused Jesus and His early church much difficulty. Jesus took great pains to correct and rebuke their presumptuous ideals.
2. John’s Disciples:
John the Baptist was God’s man. He also had a following of disciples who sought to promote his values. Some of these had great difficulty making the transition from following John to Jesus. Thus they had serious questions concerning Christ’s authority and teaching.
3. The Jewish Versus Gentile Church:
From the birth of the church in Acts, there was great controversy concerning the Jew and Gentile issue. Many Jewish Christians simply couldn’t accept God’s plan for also saving the Gentiles. Thus the great debate which caused the early church so much heartache by causing disunity.
4. Apostolic Factions:
Then occurred the development of factions within the church regarding apostolic popularity. Certainly many preferred the ministry of one against the others. Paul addressed this problem as a major theme of his ministry.
5. Modern Movements:
Like the previous examples of culture and tradition, the church has many examples in its history of the divisive nature of human organization. The Word is not supportive of our culture and tradition when they disrupt the Divine intention of the Lord for His people. It appears that God indeed uses our particular structures as long as they serve His purposes. However, the greatest damage can be done by human organization that contradicts the will of God. For example, denominations and para-church ministries often frustrate God’s will by becoming agents of the teachings of men rather than those of God.
6. The Final Authority:
The final authority in the affairs of men must be God’s Word. If we remain steadfast and obedient to His revelation, then our culture and tradition become servants to His purposes for us. We are indeed commanded to submit ourselves to God ordained human authority in the family, government, place of employment, and local church. This is pleasing to God and crucial to our stability as the people of God. However, we must make sure that our culture and tradition are not extra-Biblical. We cannot simply organize and expect God’s blessings! His will and purpose must never be circumvented, and His Word must not be violated. This always happens to organizations of men when they forget to seek His will.
7. Policy Versus The Spirit:
The greatest error is committed when we permit our structural policies to deny the freedom of the Holy Spirit. Only God can lead His people into His perfect will. Yes, He can use structures of men as they yield to Him, but policy alone is no substitute for the fresh anointing of God’s Spirit!
8. The Local Church:
Another error is to develop structures of men that defeat God’s plan for the local church. The local church is always defined by its geographical location in the New Testament, not by its particular tradition and culture. When we develop organizations of men that circumvent God’s authority of the local church, we are in extra-Biblical territory and must be extremely careful!
The New Testament church was born by apostolic ministry. Thus the trans-local ties among those churches. The founding apostle retained authority in these churches, yet did not ignore the authority of the local church leadership. It appears that local church leadership is indeed the final authority to determine God’s will for that church, not trans-local ones. Certainly error has often arisen in local churches! Yet the very nature of the local church keeps error contained so it doesn’t spread to other churches. Apostolic gifting is usually absent in our modern church organizations, yet we must avoid the temptation to create a substitute for Holy Spirit gifting with teachings of men. Let’s use our culture and tradition to glorify God! Let’s remain submitted to His Word and Spirit!
9. Obey God, Not Men:
There may come a time in your life and ministry when the Lord very clearly and personally shows you that you must adjust your steps. You may have to go against your culture and tradition to do so. Be careful to first appeal to those over you in your particular structure in creative ways to permit your continued association with them. You need to be certain that the Lord’s will for you is at odds with your present organization’s policy before making a change. Make sure that you always react in a loving manner toward those who disagree with you! Remember, on that Final Day, we must answer for our behavior to the Head of the church, not men.
1. Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians:
These schools of culture and tradition were quite active in the New Testament period. Without detailing the specific tenets of each, we know that their differences often sparked great controversy among the people, and caused Jesus and His early church much difficulty. Jesus took great pains to correct and rebuke their presumptuous ideals.
2. John’s Disciples:
John the Baptist was God’s man. He also had a following of disciples who sought to promote his values. Some of these had great difficulty making the transition from following John to Jesus. Thus they had serious questions concerning Christ’s authority and teaching.
3. The Jewish Versus Gentile Church:
From the birth of the church in Acts, there was great controversy concerning the Jew and Gentile issue. Many Jewish Christians simply couldn’t accept God’s plan for also saving the Gentiles. Thus the great debate which caused the early church so much heartache by causing disunity.
4. Apostolic Factions:
Then occurred the development of factions within the church regarding apostolic popularity. Certainly many preferred the ministry of one against the others. Paul addressed this problem as a major theme of his ministry.
5. Modern Movements:
Like the previous examples of culture and tradition, the church has many examples in its history of the divisive nature of human organization. The Word is not supportive of our culture and tradition when they disrupt the Divine intention of the Lord for His people. It appears that God indeed uses our particular structures as long as they serve His purposes. However, the greatest damage can be done by human organization that contradicts the will of God. For example, denominations and para-church ministries often frustrate God’s will by becoming agents of the teachings of men rather than those of God.
6. The Final Authority:
The final authority in the affairs of men must be God’s Word. If we remain steadfast and obedient to His revelation, then our culture and tradition become servants to His purposes for us. We are indeed commanded to submit ourselves to God ordained human authority in the family, government, place of employment, and local church. This is pleasing to God and crucial to our stability as the people of God. However, we must make sure that our culture and tradition are not extra-Biblical. We cannot simply organize and expect God’s blessings! His will and purpose must never be circumvented, and His Word must not be violated. This always happens to organizations of men when they forget to seek His will.
7. Policy Versus The Spirit:
The greatest error is committed when we permit our structural policies to deny the freedom of the Holy Spirit. Only God can lead His people into His perfect will. Yes, He can use structures of men as they yield to Him, but policy alone is no substitute for the fresh anointing of God’s Spirit!
8. The Local Church:
Another error is to develop structures of men that defeat God’s plan for the local church. The local church is always defined by its geographical location in the New Testament, not by its particular tradition and culture. When we develop organizations of men that circumvent God’s authority of the local church, we are in extra-Biblical territory and must be extremely careful!
The New Testament church was born by apostolic ministry. Thus the trans-local ties among those churches. The founding apostle retained authority in these churches, yet did not ignore the authority of the local church leadership. It appears that local church leadership is indeed the final authority to determine God’s will for that church, not trans-local ones. Certainly error has often arisen in local churches! Yet the very nature of the local church keeps error contained so it doesn’t spread to other churches. Apostolic gifting is usually absent in our modern church organizations, yet we must avoid the temptation to create a substitute for Holy Spirit gifting with teachings of men. Let’s use our culture and tradition to glorify God! Let’s remain submitted to His Word and Spirit!
9. Obey God, Not Men:
There may come a time in your life and ministry when the Lord very clearly and personally shows you that you must adjust your steps. You may have to go against your culture and tradition to do so. Be careful to first appeal to those over you in your particular structure in creative ways to permit your continued association with them. You need to be certain that the Lord’s will for you is at odds with your present organization’s policy before making a change. Make sure that you always react in a loving manner toward those who disagree with you! Remember, on that Final Day, we must answer for our behavior to the Head of the church, not men.