Caution Against Unorthodox or Unprecedented Traditions in Church
The caution against unorthodox or unprecedented traditions in the church is rooted in biblical warnings against false teachings and human innovations that contradict the word of God. The apostle Paul warns the Colossians to beware of "philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8) [1]. This warning highlights the danger of human traditions that are not grounded in Scripture.
The biblical concept of tradition is complex, encompassing both positive and negative connotations. On one hand, tradition can refer to the transmission of Christian doctrine and practices, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and 3:6, where Paul commends the Thessalonians for holding to the traditions they received from him [3]. On the other hand, tradition can also refer to human innovations and arbitrary interpretations that contradict Scripture, as seen in the Jewish traditions criticized by Jesus and Paul (Mark 7:3, 9, 13; Colossians 2:8) [1, 3].
The early Christian church fathers were aware of the dangers of unorthodox traditions. Tertullian, for example, critiqued certain Christian traditions that deviated from the primary discipline of the Christian Name [12]. The Reformers also emphasized the importance of evaluating traditions in light of Scripture. John Calvin argued that human traditions that are not grounded in Scripture are illegitimate and can lead to the corruption of the church [4, 7, 9]. The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran confession, similarly cautioned against traditions that are "against Scripture" and emphasized the importance of distinguishing between traditions that are necessary for the church and those that are not [5, 8, 10, 13].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin and Charles Hodge, emphasized the authority of Scripture over human traditions. Calvin argued that the church should not enact new laws or traditions that are not grounded in Scripture [4]. Hodge noted that the early Christian church did not always draw a sharp distinction between Scripture and tradition, but that this distinction became more pronounced during the Reformation [11].
The Anglican tradition, as represented by the Thirty-Nine Articles, took a more nuanced view of traditions, allowing for diversity in ceremonies and traditions as long as they are not contrary to Scripture [6]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, while not directly represented in the sources, has historically emphasized the importance of tradition in shaping Christian practice, while also critiquing unbiblical traditions.
The caution against unorthodox or unprecedented traditions in the church remains relevant today. As the Hebrews passage warns, a "root of bitterness" can spring up and defile many if not checked (Hebrews 12:15) [2]. The church must continually evaluate its traditions in light of Scripture, lest they become a stumbling block to the gospel.
Sources
- Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (Geneva1599) — Beware lest there be any man that spoile you through philosophie, and vaine deceit, through the traditions of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 12:15 (BBE) — Looking with care to see that no man among you in his behaviour comes short of the grace of God; for fear that some bitter root may come up to be a trouble to you, and that some of you may be made unclean by it;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Tradition — Any kind of teaching, written or spoken, handed down from generation to generation. In Mark 7:3, 9, 13, Col. 2:8, this word refers to the arbitrary interpretations of the Jews. In 2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6, it is used in a good sense. Peter (1 Pet. 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism of the "strangers scattered" whom he addresses (comp. Acts 15:10; Matt. 15:2-6; Gal. 1:14).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 92: But if, without any regard to circumstances, you would simply know the character belonging at all times to those human traditions which ought to be repudiated by the Church, and condemned by all the godly, 584 584 Calvin on the Necessity of Reforming the Church. the definition which we formerly gave is clear and certain—viz. That they include all the laws enacted by men, without authority from the word of God, for the purpose either of prescribing the mode of divine worship, or laying a religious obligation on the conscience, as en”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 69 But the bishops might easily retain the lawful obedience of: 69 But the bishops might easily retain the lawful obedience of the people if they would not insist upon the observance of such traditions as cannot be kept with a good conscience. 70 Now they command celibacy; they admit none unless they swear that they will not teach 71 the pure doctrine of the Gospel. The churches do not ask that the bishops should restore concord at the expense of their honor; which, nevertheless, 72 it would be proper for good pastors to do. They ask only that they would r”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 286: It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, and utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever through his private judgement, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that others may fe”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 92: a standard, it will readily appear that it is not a property of the Church to disregard the limits of the word of God, and wanton and luxuriate in enacting new laws. Does not the law which was once given to the Church endure for ever? “What things soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it” ( Deut. 12:32 ). And in another place, “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” ( Prov. 30:6 ). Since they cannot deny that this was said to the Church, what else”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 40 Nevertheless, very many traditions are kept on our part, which: 40 Nevertheless, very many traditions are kept on our part, which conduce to good order in the Church, as the Order of Lessons 41 in the Mass and the chief holy-days. But, at the same time, men are warned that such observances do not justify before God, and that in such things it should not be made sin if they be omitted without offense. 42 Such liberty in human rites was not unknown to the Fathers. 43 For in the East they kept Easter at another time than at Rome, and when, on account of th”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 92: in all things. But to ascribe the origin of the traditions by which the Church has hitherto been oppressed to the apostles is mere imposition, since the whole substance of the doctrine of the apostles is, that conscience must not be burdened with new observances, nor the worship of God contaminated by our inventions. Then, if any credit is to be given to ancient histories and records, what they attribute to the apostles was not only unknown to them, but was never heard by them. Nor let them pretend that most of their decrees, thoug”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 12 Thirdly, traditions brought great danger to consciences; for: 12 Thirdly, traditions brought great danger to consciences; for it was impossible to keep all traditions, and yet men judged these observances to be necessary acts of worship. Gerson writes that many fell 13 into despair, and that some even took their own lives, because they felt that they were not able to satisfy the traditions, and they had all the while not heard any consolation of the righteousness of faith and 14 grace. We see that the summists and theologians gather the traditions, and ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 34: on abiding by the written word, and receiving nothing as of divine authority not contained therein. In this, however, it must be confessed they were not always consistent. Whenever prescription, usage, or conviction founded on unwritten evidence, was available against an adversary, they did not hesitate to make the most of it. During all the early centuries, therefore, the distinction between Scripture and tradition was not so sharply drawn as it has been since the controversies between Romanists and Protestants, and especially since the ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — [TRANSLATED BY THE REV. S. THELWALL.] (part 3): but of Christian traditions,[4] wishing even the prae-cision of them who advised the retention of circumcision.[5] And would that the same fate might befall those, too, who obtruncate the pure and true integrity of the flesh; amputating not the extremest superficies, but the inmost image of modesty itself, while they promise pardon to adulterers and fornicators, in the teeth of the primary discipline of the Christian Name; a discipline to which heathendom itself bears such emphatic wit”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), 34 But concerning this question it is taught on our part (as has: 34 But concerning this question it is taught on our part (as has been shown above) that bishops have no power to decree anything against the Gospel. The Canonical Laws teach the same thing (Dist. IX). 35 Now, it is against Scripture to establish or require the observance of any traditions, to the end that by such observance we may make satisfaction for sins, or merit grace and righteousness. 36 For the glory of Christ’s merit suffers injury when, by such observances, 37 we undertake to merit”