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Tradition: Good or Bad?

Feb 9th, 2010
by Michael Krahn.

We’ve been discussing tradition on Sunday mornings at my chrch as we work through New Testament and Reformation history. We Protestants have a strange relationship with history, as Don Carson points out here:

MANY PROTESTANTS ARE suspicious of “traditions.” In popular polemic, Protestants have often portrayed Roman Catholics as embracing the Bible plus traditions, while we ourselves simply hold to the Bible. There are several matters that need clarification before we can hear aright what Mark 7 says about traditions.

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The word tradition simply refers to what is handed on. If what is handed on is apostolic teaching, then traditions are a very good thing (e.g., 1 Cor. 11:2); if what is handed on conflicts with what God says, then traditions are unhelpful and dangerous (as here in Mark 7).

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…in the New Testament, traditions are praised or criticized not on the basis of their social function but in the light of their conformity to or departure from the Word of God.

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[W]e must recognize that confessing evangelicals who nominally eschew tradition sometimes embrace traditions that effectively domesticate the Word of God. These may be traditional interpretations of Scripture, or traditional ecclesiastical practices, or traditional forms of conduct that are “allowed” in our circles but that are a long way from holy Scripture. In every case, fidelity to Christ mandates reformation by the Word of God.

Read the whole thing here.


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Posted in: D. A. Carson.

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  • http://aldenswan.com Alden

    Carson fails to point out that the Canon of Scripture that we have is itself a product of “tradition.” There is no “inerrant” list of inspired writings; we owe the selection of the Canon to the early church fathers (who also established much tradition that is discounted today in the West). So, it is somewhat nonsensical to set Scripture apart from tradition.

    Also, Luther stood against the “traditions of men,” not what he considered Apostolic (what the Orthodox view as Tradition). Any real look at tradition should also consider the Eastern view, not just the RCC.

    The real question, it seems, is not “do we accept tradition?” but “which tradition do we accept?”

    I did a more extensive look at tradition on my blog a month or so ago.

  • http://www.michaelkrahn.com/blog Michael Krahn

    @Alden: Please do post the link.

  • http://aldenswan.com Alden

    Thanks Michael. I try never to link to my own site without being asked. I’ve actually written several posts on the issue, but will give links to 2: Here and here.

    These are merely “thinking out loud” pieces as I try to think logically through the issues, and also am exploring the differences between Eastern and Western Christianity.

  • Lark

    I think tradition is a comfort, but like anything practiced without examination, might lead to worshipping other gods. Focus on the Word is the best defense against falling prey to mindless (or soulless) repetition.

  • http://www.rootedradical.wordpress.com Jason Postma

    Let me preface my comments by saying that as someone who was trainied as an historian, I have tremendous respect for our the history of the church and its theology.

    I suspect that what Carson has in mind in his defense of tradition is orthodoxy. To be blunt, “The Don” is a bit of a heretic-hunter. Anything that deviates from historical, biblical (whatever those terms mean) Christianity is heresy. Talk about a static notion of tradition!

    I think a more nuanced view of tradition in the church – in terms of church practices (worship, sacraments, etc) and in terms of theological orthodoxy is required. Paul Ricoeur gets a this in his conception of tradition as a dialectic of innovation and sedimentation. Tradition is a living, breathing thing – to hold onto it too tightly is to errect it as an idol (and, as we all know, idols are non-living things – and, as Carson should know, we become what we worship). On the other hand, change for the sake of change is also dangerous because it completely ignores the foundation from which one is working (all humans are “traditioned” – there is no such thing as an un-traditioned person).

  • http://www.rootedradical.wordpress.com Jason Postma

    So, to answer the question: “Tradition: Good or Bad?

    Bad – when errected as an idol (from “the organ is the only appropriate instrument for church” to “only men are qualified by their nature to be ministers” to “T.U.L.I.P. is the most sublime expression of theological doctrine – to deviate from it is sheer sign of apostasy”). In other words, when traditional is errected as the ceiling or bookend of theological discussion, it is clearly bad.

    Good – when tradition is viewed dynamically, like an unfolding story. Tradition is the roots (the plural is intentional) from which new fruits are grown. We are nourished by the roots and the fruits, and we plant new traditions with the seeds of the fruit. The job of the church and the theologian is to tend the orchard.

  • http://www.rootedradical.wordpress.com Jason Postma

    I should add that my orchard metaphor does imply that pruning is important, but, as any arborist will tell you, it takes careful discernment and and the purpose is for pruning those branches that inhibit the growth of the tree and its fruit. If a tree is growing fruit, far be it from me to cut the branch or uproot the tree just because I don’t care for the flavor, color, or shape of the fruit. The fruit must be given time to ripen so that we can determine what nutrients and nourishment are available. Perhaps it may not provide what I need, but others may find sustinence from it.

    Grafting is also important – in the terms of this discussion, grafting symbolize the importance of ecumenical diaologue (and even, dare I suggest, intercultural and even interfaith dialogue). Sectarianism lurks behind the staunchest defenders of orthodoxy – a way beyond sectarianism is to taste the fruits of others and to offer them a bite of our own.

  • http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com Alice C. Linsley

    Christianity apart from Holy Tradition (not traditions) is easily corrupted. I recommend these essays on Holy Tradition:

    http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is-holy-tradition.html

    http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2009/01/ideologies-opposed-to-holy-tradition.html