Once upon a time there was a guy who was physically active. He worked out three, sometimes four times a week, enjoyed pick up basketball and tennis on the weekends and because, in his early twenties, he still had the metabolism of a teenager, didn't really think too much about what he ate. No matter how much or what kind of food he put down his gullet, it just didn't seem to impact his weight or his health. Then everything changed. He got married, began to eat three large square meals a day (often more), kids came along, work schedules became more demanding, the daily commute became longer. In short, life took over.
Exercise? It gradually got tossed aside. There was just too many other pressing concerns. Physical fitness, staying in shape; that was just one of those self-indulgences that a family man, a primary bread winner, had to sacrifice.
Jump forward sixteen years. Eighty pounds heavier, sitting in a doctors office breathing heavily as he struggled to bend over and tie his shoes, the distance he had fallen hit hard. Having been diagnosed as obese with borderline high blood pressure and high cholesterol, teetering on the edge of adult onset diabetes and having just been warned by his doctor that if he continued on this path he would be dead by 65 or even earlier, it finally occurred to this guy that maybe he shouldn't have considered exercise, staying in shape, a throw away activity after all.
And then, being a Christian, this guy began to think about where he had let his physical health slide in spiritual terms. Maybe, he realized, in his desire to sacrifice for his family and his career, he was actually robbing himself, and his family, his Church and even his God of the healthier, more energetic, happier person he could and should have been. Maybe he was robbing his wife, his children and his grandchildren of years of time which he could have given them had it not been cut short because of poor physical health. Maybe by selflessly not focusing a little more on himself, he was actually being quite selfish.
So, he began to make some changes. He started making physical exercise a priority. It was a difficult transition at first, not only for himself physically, but for his family. Taking time to exercise meant he was taking an hour or so in the evenings, two to three times a week, away from them. Dinner schedules were disrupted, some responsibilities needed to be adjusted. There were a few stressful conversations between this man and his wife, who although recognizing her husbands steady physical decline over the years and the need for change, nevertheless was annoyed at some of the inconvenience his determination to claw his way back to health was causing her.
But as his weight came down, his energy increased, his mood improved and concerns about diabetes, heart attack or stroke subsided, she recognized the good that had resulted from his being selfish. She recognized that the time he was taking for himself was allowing him to give much more of himself back to her and the kids, not only now but perhaps for many more years than might have previously been available to him. And though she still grumbled from time to time, she lovingly encouraged him to keep up the battle.
In I Timothy 4:6 Paul writes to Timothy "For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
It's easy to read the King James and conclude that exercise has little or no value for the Christian. But that was not at all what Paul was communicating. The Greek word for little here is "oligos" which refers to degree or intensity. Paul was simply stating that in comparison to the importance of seeking to grow in godliness, the desire to grow in physical health pales in significance because the benefits of godliness reach far beyond this life.
The New Living Translation puts it more accurately.
"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."
Paul, of course, had his own physical limitations, as do we all. He had a "thorn" in the flesh which many believe was some kind of physical impairment that gave him difficulty in ministry. But regardless of disability, he didn't use it as an excuse for not taking care of his temple. Though he doesn't directly state it, his letters are filled with analogies and lessons drawn from the world of athletics and fitness which draw a clear picture of the important connection between the pursuit of physical health and spiritual growth. We are to "...fight the good fight", "...box not as one beating the air", "...run that we might gain the crown", "...wrestle not against flesh and blood."
Nowhere does he write "lay on the couch that we might wait for the Kingdom."
The conclusion we can take from Paul's analogies between the physical and spiritual can and should be applied both ways. Just as our spiritual health impacts our physical actions, so endeavoring to take care of our physical health contributes a great deal to our spiritual growth and well-being. After all, it's difficult to lay down your life for your brother if it takes all of your energy to just get out of bed in the morning.
It's silly to argue that setting aside time from our busy lives for prayer and Bible study is an exercise in selfishness. The same is true, it could and should be argued, for taking care of this physical temple.
Oh, about that guy clawing his way back from the brink of physical disaster? He's still clawing, still lugging around some unwanted poundage, but steadily making progress. But the story doesn't end there. His wife caught the fitness bug too. Now, two or three times a week he arrives home at night, finding that she has gone to the gym or hit the road for a bike ride, leaving him and the kids to leftovers from the microwave. It's a little annoying at times, but overall it brings a smile to his face. She's more active and more energetic than ever. And those tight bike shorts she sports around the house from time to time...well, 'nough said. Most of all, though, he loves the fact that she loves him enough to be a little selfish.
PostScript: If you doubt any part of this guy's story is true, just ask his wife. She edits his blog every week before it's published. So if it wasn't, you wouldn't be reading it. And, though a little embarrassed, she even let him keep the part about the tight bike shorts. :-)
For or Against?
It's that time again. The U.S. presidential election season is getting into full swing. I have my political opinions just like anyone else, but the whole process just makes me tired. You can't read the paper or watch the news without being bombarded with political "talking points" or over the top rhetoric. Does anybody notice that these elections seem increasingly to be less about offering solutions and more about blasting the record of the other side? In 2008, while we heard a little about "hope and change," we were assaulted daily by the mantra "anybody but Bush." This election cycle already seems to be heading in the same direction. Sadly, politics in this country is becoming more defined not by what you are "for", but what you are "against." Is it any wonder why Americans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with our country's political system?
As has so often been true throughout history, the Christian world is mirroring the secular. There is a growing cynicism toward the Church and what it stands for. As Christians, we are being attacked, not because of what we are for, but because of what we are against. Of course we know that as evil waxes worse and worse in this world, a wholesale rejection of God's way of life and those who stand for it is inevitable.
The temptation, as well as the danger, for us as Christians is that we will reciprocate, becoming as cynical and disillusioned toward the world as they are becoming toward us.
Why a danger? Well, let me put this way. If I was to ask you what it is that defined Jesus' ministry to this world, how would you answer? Would you say His ministry was defined by what He was "for" or by what He was "against"?
In John 3:16 we read "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Jesus, of all men, had reason to be cynical about the world. After all, it was reacting vehemently and violently toward the message He was bringing. It would ultimately spit on Him, brutally scourge and crucify Him for that message. Yet, through all of it, when He had every right to condemn, when He rightfully could have lashed out against the evil in the world, He instead continued to preach a gospel of love, forgiveness and salvation for those who would believe on Him. A message "for" a better tomorrow. That was the message which defined Him.
In Mark 6:33 we read "But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd."
Jesus' example begs the question of you and me. As one of His disciples, striving as we are to become like Him, what defines us? Concerning my heart toward this world, am I animated more by what I am "for" or by what I am "against"? Does looking at the world around me engender emotions of anger, cynicism, hatred and condemnation, or rather, as was true of our Savior, love, pity and compassion? When the world looks at me do they see only my hostility and condemnation or do they see the love of Christ flowing from me to them? Does my life witness to the joy, peace, long suffering and patience that is in me because of His life living in me?
No, we can't control the negative political climate around us. We can't control a downward spiral that is increasingly against all things Christian. But we can resist the temptation to return the same. We can control the climate of our hearts.
Like our Lord, we can show compassion for those in this world, ministering and serving them as we have opportunity. We can pray to the Father for those who He may be now calling out of this world, into a relationship with Christ. We can yearn fervently for the return of our Lord and the ultimate release of all mankind from bondage to the god of this world.
So Christian, where do you stand? For or Against?
As has so often been true throughout history, the Christian world is mirroring the secular. There is a growing cynicism toward the Church and what it stands for. As Christians, we are being attacked, not because of what we are for, but because of what we are against. Of course we know that as evil waxes worse and worse in this world, a wholesale rejection of God's way of life and those who stand for it is inevitable.
The temptation, as well as the danger, for us as Christians is that we will reciprocate, becoming as cynical and disillusioned toward the world as they are becoming toward us.
Why a danger? Well, let me put this way. If I was to ask you what it is that defined Jesus' ministry to this world, how would you answer? Would you say His ministry was defined by what He was "for" or by what He was "against"?
In John 3:16 we read "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
Jesus, of all men, had reason to be cynical about the world. After all, it was reacting vehemently and violently toward the message He was bringing. It would ultimately spit on Him, brutally scourge and crucify Him for that message. Yet, through all of it, when He had every right to condemn, when He rightfully could have lashed out against the evil in the world, He instead continued to preach a gospel of love, forgiveness and salvation for those who would believe on Him. A message "for" a better tomorrow. That was the message which defined Him.
In Mark 6:33 we read "But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd."
Jesus' example begs the question of you and me. As one of His disciples, striving as we are to become like Him, what defines us? Concerning my heart toward this world, am I animated more by what I am "for" or by what I am "against"? Does looking at the world around me engender emotions of anger, cynicism, hatred and condemnation, or rather, as was true of our Savior, love, pity and compassion? When the world looks at me do they see only my hostility and condemnation or do they see the love of Christ flowing from me to them? Does my life witness to the joy, peace, long suffering and patience that is in me because of His life living in me?
No, we can't control the negative political climate around us. We can't control a downward spiral that is increasingly against all things Christian. But we can resist the temptation to return the same. We can control the climate of our hearts.
Like our Lord, we can show compassion for those in this world, ministering and serving them as we have opportunity. We can pray to the Father for those who He may be now calling out of this world, into a relationship with Christ. We can yearn fervently for the return of our Lord and the ultimate release of all mankind from bondage to the god of this world.
So Christian, where do you stand? For or Against?
Paul's (and Jerry Seinfeld's) Guide to Avoiding Christian Burnout
I stumbled on an old Jerry Seinfeld clip the other day. It was a video of his appearance on the Jay Leno show just after his popular sitcom, Seinfeld, had come to a close. In this clip, Jerry announced to Jay Leno that he was taking a break from being funny because after nine years of spending every day trying to make people laugh he was just plain tired. "Being funny, he exclaimed, is exhausting! I need a break! So if it's okay with you Jay, I'd prefer this be a serious interview about serious things."
"Sure," Jay said with a grin. "Let's talk about something serious." "So, you fly quite a bit in your profession. Is there anything about flying that really irritates you?" Of course, with that opening, Seinfeld couldn't help himself. He immediately launched into a bit about pilots who feel they have to share every detail about what is going on in the cockpit. "We're dropping down 20,000 feet now." "We're banking to the right now." "Why do they feel they have to do that?" "We don't go up and knock on the cockpit door and say, 'Hey, I just wanted to let you know, I'm eating the peanuts now...'"
Now it was obvious this whole bit between Seinfeld and Leno was just that, a bit, a fairly transparent one at that. But the premise of this little bit they did resonated with me on a spiritual level. Jerry Seinfeld is a comedian. He can't not be a comedian. He can't help being funny, even if he wanted to. It is who he is.
What about you? As a Christian can you not help but be a Christian? Is it who you are? Or, do you at times feel, well, a little burned out on the whole Christianity thing? Do you just feel sometimes like you've reached the end of your rope? Do you occasionally get overwhelmed or frustrated with striving to do the things you should, becoming the person you know you ought to be? If you were completely honest with yourself, are there moments when you'd like to stop struggling "to put on Christ" and just set Him aside for a little while?
Let's face it, while there are some "christians", little "c", who seem content to wear the shoes of discipleship once a week on their walk through the doors of their church, for most of us, walking this walk is a full time, boots on the ground, twenty-four seven, affair. We do get weary. We do become exhausted and overwhelmed from time to time. After all, the road we are called to travel is not called the "wide and luxurious way." It's often painfully narrow and uncomfortable.
In II Corinthians 4 the Apostle Paul writes "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body...For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
If anyone had the right to Christian burn out it would be Paul. He, it seems, never got a break. No sooner had he suffered stoning in one city then was he cast into prison in another. How easy would it have been for him to throw up his hands and cry, "God, can't I have a little break here!?" "Could I get maybe just one weekend laying on a hammock in the Caribbean?" "Maybe send me to a little peaceful back water of a town where I can keep my mouth shut and go incognito for a few months? This whole roller coaster of a walk you have me on here is just a little much don't you think?!"
Of course he could have gone there, but he didn't. In fact, if we are to believe what he writes in his letters to the brethren (and based on the example of his life, there is no reason not to) the idea of kicking up his feet in a hammock somewhere never crossed his mind.
Why? Because it was who he was. Or rather, it was who he had submitted himself to be. He was animated not by his own energy, by his own strength, but by the life of Jesus Christ living in Him through the Holy Spirit.
It was that life, manifesting Himself in Paul, that motivated him and kept his feet walking the straight and narrow path Christ had set for Him.
Throughout his many letters Paul repeatedly pointed to where the true source of energy for his ministry originated. It's a powerfully encouraging testimony for those of us who at times grow weary with the struggle.
In Galatians 2 he writes "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
In Hebrews 12:2 we read "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Yes, at times, like Paul, our outward man will perish. We will become weary, we will run up against the limits of our physical bodies. But if we rely instead, not on our physical strength, but on Him to renew His strength, His might within us daily, burn out will not be a part of our vocabulary.
Whether or not you enjoy Jerry Seinfeld's particular brand of humor you can't deny that comedy runs through his veins. It's who he is. When we keep our focus on Jesus, our daily walk will be energized by His life within us. We are strengthened and renewed by His life running through our veins. Even though our outward man perishes, we cannot not be His disciples. It is simply who we are.
"Sure," Jay said with a grin. "Let's talk about something serious." "So, you fly quite a bit in your profession. Is there anything about flying that really irritates you?" Of course, with that opening, Seinfeld couldn't help himself. He immediately launched into a bit about pilots who feel they have to share every detail about what is going on in the cockpit. "We're dropping down 20,000 feet now." "We're banking to the right now." "Why do they feel they have to do that?" "We don't go up and knock on the cockpit door and say, 'Hey, I just wanted to let you know, I'm eating the peanuts now...'"
Now it was obvious this whole bit between Seinfeld and Leno was just that, a bit, a fairly transparent one at that. But the premise of this little bit they did resonated with me on a spiritual level. Jerry Seinfeld is a comedian. He can't not be a comedian. He can't help being funny, even if he wanted to. It is who he is.
What about you? As a Christian can you not help but be a Christian? Is it who you are? Or, do you at times feel, well, a little burned out on the whole Christianity thing? Do you just feel sometimes like you've reached the end of your rope? Do you occasionally get overwhelmed or frustrated with striving to do the things you should, becoming the person you know you ought to be? If you were completely honest with yourself, are there moments when you'd like to stop struggling "to put on Christ" and just set Him aside for a little while?
Let's face it, while there are some "christians", little "c", who seem content to wear the shoes of discipleship once a week on their walk through the doors of their church, for most of us, walking this walk is a full time, boots on the ground, twenty-four seven, affair. We do get weary. We do become exhausted and overwhelmed from time to time. After all, the road we are called to travel is not called the "wide and luxurious way." It's often painfully narrow and uncomfortable.
In II Corinthians 4 the Apostle Paul writes "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body...For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
If anyone had the right to Christian burn out it would be Paul. He, it seems, never got a break. No sooner had he suffered stoning in one city then was he cast into prison in another. How easy would it have been for him to throw up his hands and cry, "God, can't I have a little break here!?" "Could I get maybe just one weekend laying on a hammock in the Caribbean?" "Maybe send me to a little peaceful back water of a town where I can keep my mouth shut and go incognito for a few months? This whole roller coaster of a walk you have me on here is just a little much don't you think?!"
Of course he could have gone there, but he didn't. In fact, if we are to believe what he writes in his letters to the brethren (and based on the example of his life, there is no reason not to) the idea of kicking up his feet in a hammock somewhere never crossed his mind.
Why? Because it was who he was. Or rather, it was who he had submitted himself to be. He was animated not by his own energy, by his own strength, but by the life of Jesus Christ living in Him through the Holy Spirit.
It was that life, manifesting Himself in Paul, that motivated him and kept his feet walking the straight and narrow path Christ had set for Him.
Throughout his many letters Paul repeatedly pointed to where the true source of energy for his ministry originated. It's a powerfully encouraging testimony for those of us who at times grow weary with the struggle.
In Galatians 2 he writes "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
In Hebrews 12:2 we read "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Yes, at times, like Paul, our outward man will perish. We will become weary, we will run up against the limits of our physical bodies. But if we rely instead, not on our physical strength, but on Him to renew His strength, His might within us daily, burn out will not be a part of our vocabulary.
Whether or not you enjoy Jerry Seinfeld's particular brand of humor you can't deny that comedy runs through his veins. It's who he is. When we keep our focus on Jesus, our daily walk will be energized by His life within us. We are strengthened and renewed by His life running through our veins. Even though our outward man perishes, we cannot not be His disciples. It is simply who we are.
Avoiding the Ruts of Christian Tradition
Did you know that the space between rails on all railroad beds is exactly 4 feet, 8.5 inches, no more, no less? Why? Because that was the standard distance between the wheels of a Roman war chariot. Sound ludicrous? It's true!
Chariot wheels on ancient dirt roads created deep ruts. As Roman chariots gave way to covered wagons, it was necessary that the distance between the wheels remain constant so they could travel smoothly in these ancient ruts. To change the distance between the wheels would make for a very uncomfortable ride, not to mention shorten the life of the wagon itself. Of course, specifications for building wagons were brought with the settlers to the new world of America and when wagon trails gave way to railroads, the traditional distance between ruts became by default the standard distance between the rails. It's not changed to this day. Why? Because it's always been done that way.
Besides being humorous, this little known fact points out an interesting truth. We humans love to cling to our traditions. There's powerful comfort in holding on to things the way they have always been done. Sometimes the traditions we cling to make sense, sometimes they are just plain silly.
It's not surprising that some traditions that were began in the secular world have, over time, made their way into Christian practice. However, at times the desire to cling to tradition has run contrary to, even usurped, biblical teaching.
Around 155 A.D. Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of the Apostle John, went to Rome to deal with various heretics. While there he tried to persuade the bishop of Rome not to switch Passover to Easter Sunday. Irenaeus, a well known church historian of that time, records this:
"'And when the blessed Polycarp was sojourning in Rome in the time of Anicetus, although a slight controversy had arisen among them as to certain other points…For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp to forego the observance [in his own way], inasmuch as these things had been always observed by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant; nor, on the other hand, could Polycarp succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep [the observance in his way], for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him. And in this state of affairs they held fellowship with each other; and Anicetus conceded to Polycarp in the Church the celebration of the Eucharist, by way of showing him respect.'"
(Irenaeus. FRAGMENTS FROM THE LOST WRITINGS OF IRENAEUS. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Excerpted from Volume I of The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, editors); American Edition copyright © 1885. Electronic version copyright © 1997 by New Advent, Inc).
Here were two church leaders at odds with one another. Polycarp, correctly defended the observance of Passover as he had received it from the Apostle John, who in turn received it from the Lord Himself. Anicetus, on the other hand, defended his observance of Easter, citing the tradition of previous church leaders in Rome who had been influenced by pagan worship.
To which one would you give more weight? It's kind of a no brainer right? Well, apparently the appeal of tradition, despite the absence of biblical sanction, was so strong in the church at Rome that it trumped the practice and teaching of the Lord Himself.
Although, Irenaeus, surely pressured by the Roman church leadership to which he answered, tried his best to put a positive spin on the resolution to this discussion, other writings of Polycarp and his successor, Polycrates, reveal that the issue was far from resolved.
Writing some years later to the Roman Bishop Victor concerning the change of Passover to Easter, Polycrates proclaims, "I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ' We ought to obey God rather than man.'"
(Polycrates. Letter to Victor. As quoted by Eusebius. Church History. Book V, Chapter 24)
Unfortunately the sentiments of Polycrates were not echoed by the majority in the Christian world. Pagan tradition ultimately won out over biblical teaching. Today, the ruts of pagan tradition in the Church have run deep. Most of Christendom travels mindlessly in the tracks of false tradition, blindly accepting them as God's divine path.
But pagan religious observances weren't all that were adopted as tradition by the Church.
In his book, Lost to the West, Lars Brownworth, illustrating the influence of Roman culture on the practice of the Church writes, "Even the ceremonies of the church and the (Roman) court had begun to mirror each other. Priests and courtiers dressed in luxurious vestments, elaborate processionals and singing choirs heralded the beginning of services, and incense and candles were carried as a sign of honor... There was a comforting sameness to it all, a familiarity that reassured each celebrant of the divine order."
Unfortunately, this new focus on the externals of worship, the dress, the pageantry, while appealing to some who wished to assert the primacy of the Roman Church and its bishop among the Christian churches, only served to alienate many of the more "peasant" churches. These poorer congregations neither had the means nor the desire, for that matter, to compete with the opulence of their Roman brethren.
As we know, Jesus had a great deal of criticism for those who would put tradition on an equal footing with His truth. Of these He said, "...you have made the law of God of no effect by your traditions...in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:6-9)
Of course, compared to the damage done as a result of the adoption of pagan religious traditions into the practice of the church, adopting the pageantry and format of the royal court to the format of services seems rather innocuous. The danger becomes, however, when Christians attempt to attribute to these traditions divine ordination, placing them on par, or even at odds, with biblical teaching.
I recall years ago, sitting in a congregational meeting where the suggestion was made that a relatively minor change be made to our traditional format of worship services. There were many expressions of support for the suggestion, that is, until a prominent member of the congregation stood up and stated their opinion that to change the format of services would be contrary to the order God had inspired previous leadership of the Church to establish. With that, enthusiasm for the change was lost and it was tabled.
In I Thessalonians 5:12 Paul exhorts "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
As Christians, individually and collectively as a church, it's important that we exam whether, in our desire to hold to tradition, we have in any way made void the law of God.
And by way of examination, we should ask ourselves, and answer honestly, some basic questions:
When it comes to navigating our walk as Christians, it's far better to hold fast to what is true than to remain stuck in the ruts of our tradition.
Chariot wheels on ancient dirt roads created deep ruts. As Roman chariots gave way to covered wagons, it was necessary that the distance between the wheels remain constant so they could travel smoothly in these ancient ruts. To change the distance between the wheels would make for a very uncomfortable ride, not to mention shorten the life of the wagon itself. Of course, specifications for building wagons were brought with the settlers to the new world of America and when wagon trails gave way to railroads, the traditional distance between ruts became by default the standard distance between the rails. It's not changed to this day. Why? Because it's always been done that way.
Besides being humorous, this little known fact points out an interesting truth. We humans love to cling to our traditions. There's powerful comfort in holding on to things the way they have always been done. Sometimes the traditions we cling to make sense, sometimes they are just plain silly.
It's not surprising that some traditions that were began in the secular world have, over time, made their way into Christian practice. However, at times the desire to cling to tradition has run contrary to, even usurped, biblical teaching.
Around 155 A.D. Polycarp of Smyrna, a disciple of the Apostle John, went to Rome to deal with various heretics. While there he tried to persuade the bishop of Rome not to switch Passover to Easter Sunday. Irenaeus, a well known church historian of that time, records this:
"'And when the blessed Polycarp was sojourning in Rome in the time of Anicetus, although a slight controversy had arisen among them as to certain other points…For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp to forego the observance [in his own way], inasmuch as these things had been always observed by John the disciple of our Lord, and by other apostles with whom he had been conversant; nor, on the other hand, could Polycarp succeed in persuading Anicetus to keep [the observance in his way], for he maintained that he was bound to adhere to the usage of the presbyters who preceded him. And in this state of affairs they held fellowship with each other; and Anicetus conceded to Polycarp in the Church the celebration of the Eucharist, by way of showing him respect.'"
(Irenaeus. FRAGMENTS FROM THE LOST WRITINGS OF IRENAEUS. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Excerpted from Volume I of The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, editors); American Edition copyright © 1885. Electronic version copyright © 1997 by New Advent, Inc).
Here were two church leaders at odds with one another. Polycarp, correctly defended the observance of Passover as he had received it from the Apostle John, who in turn received it from the Lord Himself. Anicetus, on the other hand, defended his observance of Easter, citing the tradition of previous church leaders in Rome who had been influenced by pagan worship.
To which one would you give more weight? It's kind of a no brainer right? Well, apparently the appeal of tradition, despite the absence of biblical sanction, was so strong in the church at Rome that it trumped the practice and teaching of the Lord Himself.
Although, Irenaeus, surely pressured by the Roman church leadership to which he answered, tried his best to put a positive spin on the resolution to this discussion, other writings of Polycarp and his successor, Polycrates, reveal that the issue was far from resolved.
Writing some years later to the Roman Bishop Victor concerning the change of Passover to Easter, Polycrates proclaims, "I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord, and have met with the brethren throughout the world, and have gone through every Holy Scripture, am not affrighted by terrifying words. For those greater than I have said ' We ought to obey God rather than man.'"
(Polycrates. Letter to Victor. As quoted by Eusebius. Church History. Book V, Chapter 24)
Unfortunately the sentiments of Polycrates were not echoed by the majority in the Christian world. Pagan tradition ultimately won out over biblical teaching. Today, the ruts of pagan tradition in the Church have run deep. Most of Christendom travels mindlessly in the tracks of false tradition, blindly accepting them as God's divine path.
But pagan religious observances weren't all that were adopted as tradition by the Church.
In his book, Lost to the West, Lars Brownworth, illustrating the influence of Roman culture on the practice of the Church writes, "Even the ceremonies of the church and the (Roman) court had begun to mirror each other. Priests and courtiers dressed in luxurious vestments, elaborate processionals and singing choirs heralded the beginning of services, and incense and candles were carried as a sign of honor... There was a comforting sameness to it all, a familiarity that reassured each celebrant of the divine order."
Unfortunately, this new focus on the externals of worship, the dress, the pageantry, while appealing to some who wished to assert the primacy of the Roman Church and its bishop among the Christian churches, only served to alienate many of the more "peasant" churches. These poorer congregations neither had the means nor the desire, for that matter, to compete with the opulence of their Roman brethren.
As we know, Jesus had a great deal of criticism for those who would put tradition on an equal footing with His truth. Of these He said, "...you have made the law of God of no effect by your traditions...in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:6-9)
Of course, compared to the damage done as a result of the adoption of pagan religious traditions into the practice of the church, adopting the pageantry and format of the royal court to the format of services seems rather innocuous. The danger becomes, however, when Christians attempt to attribute to these traditions divine ordination, placing them on par, or even at odds, with biblical teaching.
I recall years ago, sitting in a congregational meeting where the suggestion was made that a relatively minor change be made to our traditional format of worship services. There were many expressions of support for the suggestion, that is, until a prominent member of the congregation stood up and stated their opinion that to change the format of services would be contrary to the order God had inspired previous leadership of the Church to establish. With that, enthusiasm for the change was lost and it was tabled.
In I Thessalonians 5:12 Paul exhorts "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
As Christians, individually and collectively as a church, it's important that we exam whether, in our desire to hold to tradition, we have in any way made void the law of God.
And by way of examination, we should ask ourselves, and answer honestly, some basic questions:
- Have I/we given spiritual weight to a tradition or custom of men that can't be directly justified by scripture? Or, does justification of our tradition require we engage in scriptural gymnastics or make large leaps of logic?
- Do any of our traditions or customs run contrary in their practice to God's law of love? Are they in any way putting stumbling blocks in front of those who God may be calling into our fellowship?
- Do I/we draw more comfort from rigid adherence to religous custom rather than responding to God's instruction to grow in grace and knowledge, despite the uncomfortable places that growth might take me?
When it comes to navigating our walk as Christians, it's far better to hold fast to what is true than to remain stuck in the ruts of our tradition.
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