Pastor Steve's thoughts

Biblical Values, Traditions, and Preferences

02/07/08

04:52:07 pm, by Steve

, 490 words, 156 views

Categories: General

Biblical Values, Traditions, and Preferences

When cultural preferences are confused with biblical values, our mindset mimics the Pharisees. Jesus condemned the traditions of the Pharisees. Why? Because their emphasis upon their traditional preferences kept people from the Kingdom of God. As I read through the gospels it is clear that Jesus had little tolerance for this mindset. In Matthew 12, Jesus dared heal a man on the Sabbath and the Pharisees went ballistic! Jesus stares at their tired traditions and stares at the man with the shriveled hand…and says people are more important than your preferences. People are more valuable than your traditions.

There are churches all across America who hold to their traditions instead of reaching out to lost people. In America, there are 365,000 churches. According to the Barna Research group, 80% are plateaued or in decline. The average age is increasing as younger people say no to church. Most baby boomers don’t attend church and they passed this on to their children and so on down the line. Therefore, churches are aging and in decline. Why is this happening? Could it be most churches refuse to change? Could it be they refuse to be relevant to a new generation? Could it be that people love their preferences and traditions more than they love God?

I vividly remember this comment I heard 15 years ago, “We don’t have traditions in our church but if we stop doing altar calls I’m never coming back.”

I’m so thankful that we have a church that is willing to try new things. I’m so thankful we have a church full of people who get it. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

I like what Haddon Robinson says of this verse, “I’ll do anything short of sinning to lead someone to Jesus.”

That’s why we have a coffee shop in our church!
That’s why we have contemporary music!
That’s why we feed people under the bridge!
That’s why we serve the people at Abbie Lane!
That’s why we don’t confuse biblical values with personal preferences!

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Comment from: Steve [Member]

Karen,
Thanks for your insights. I want to admit that I don't have all the answers.

I'll revert back to the passage that I quoted (Matthew 12). It seems to me that Jesus took aim at the traditions that kept people from the Kingdom of God. So in the context of the passage, I think two issues are coming to the surface. First, traditions that keep people from God. Second, traditions that get elevated to the level of Scriptural imperatives.

I think discussing this issue is good for all of us. Young and old. We can charitably talk about tension of tradition and relevance. Hopefully, we can all grow in our appreciation of each other and grow toward maturity.

I'm still reflecting on these things... and LEARNING from all of you.

Steve

Permalink 03/04/08 @ 17:24

Comment from: Karen Douglas [Visitor]

"Make new friends but keep the old, some are silver the others gold" is a line from and 'old' girlscout song. To belong to Grace does it mean that there is no value in old traditioins? While catering to the young is it prudent to put the feelings and traditions of our older members (that are more than willing to make our facility young friendly),completely into oblivion? Where's the tolerance of consideration for the longings of a wee bit of the traditions of our youth. A church doesn't have to be all one way or another. After all life trandscends all ages as our youth will understand in 'a vapor.
There still may be some value in the old ways. All I say is don't write it off completely.

Permalink 03/04/08 @ 14:55

Comment from: Pat Mustoe [Visitor]

I certainly hope no Christian church in the world is run by mimicing anything at all like the Pharasees!

I agree that we need to be relevant. Love, kindness, humor, hospitality, forgiveness, graciousness, service, relaxed, humility, on and on, IS relevant. Social activities, venues of service to our community, stability and consistency and honesty are relavent or show relevancy. Loving young parents by loving their children is relevant. The list goes on and on but the real relevancy comes by connecting to lost people.

But which lost people? Grace has clearly determined that they want to connect to young people, love them and keep them to our church. Young people that like rock music but not country western music? That's another topic...ahem, moving along. What age is young people? Can a 60 year old relate to a 20 year old over a game of Scrabble? I don't think so Tim. If we are going to love young people where they are at then we need young evangelists, young ministry leaders, young worship leaders, wearing young clothes to do that while the elders cheer them on.

It is so easy to say be all things to all people but like Steve said, it is not possible for each person in each church to do that. So Grace has decided to be young to the young. If the music is so loud that you have to turn down your hearing aid, then do so. If you miss the old way you worship then invest in some CD's of whatever type of music you like and worship at home. If you are young, get involved. If you are old enough to consider age 40 as young then you have your own harvest to tend that is ripe with weary people who finally stopped pretending to be young long enough to look at their own lives and feel futility and despair. As the young people so often say: "It's all good" But seriously, remember that lost people at age 40 is a reality not to be overlooked. And if you are in a stage of your life where you are not young and you have made so many life mistakes, search until you find an authentic church that feeds you. Your eternity is at hand and you are but a baby to the God that loves you. As old people often say "where's the love". By the way....do you like Scrabble? Call me if you do. oh...and...lol.

Permalink 02/26/08 @ 04:45

Comment from: Steve Hill [Visitor]

Colin,

Your last question was:

How do we keep what is important and not alienate each others values?

I think we need to realilze that it is not always possible. Let me explain what I don't mean: I don't mean we should not try to understand each other and find common ground. I don't mean we should not show graciousness and respect. What I mean is that sometimes people have conflict and the source can be conflicting values. It's a realilty in the church. Unfortunate but real nonetheless. I think two things can help. First, have a good understanding of preferences verses biblical mandates. Second, most churches will not write down their values. Sometimes values go unspoken. Let me give you a sports example: The major league pitcher is on the verge of a NO HITTER! The last batter up tries to get a base hit by bunting. One of the unwritten rules of baseball is that bunting to end a no hitter is off limits. So my point is: It's not a written rule in baseball but it's a well known value among ball players. My point: Know what's important to you and why! That's why our church has a doctinal statement and a values statement.

Steve

Permalink 02/25/08 @ 13:19

Comment from: Kurt [Visitor]

· http://www.1on1.com

Younger people need Christ just as much as anyone.

1) Most churches choose not to compete with the likes of MTV, YouTube, teen chat rooms, Instant Messenger, gamers, and peer pressure.
2) Most churches choose not to make the effort to meet teens where they are - you know, the stuff that Jesus does.
3) Most churches are afraid that the younger generation will rock the boat (which they will). They are too noisy and have too much energy.

Permalink 02/24/08 @ 21:06

Comment from: Colin Gibson [Visitor]

I think with Jon's, and Eric's recent topics this seems to be a issue worth discussing.

As a church, what are we willing to explore to further push our faith envelopes to make sure as followers we are not stagnant? Some traditions are put in place for a reason, are they still relevant to the current body and the future body of GCF?

I think even at my younger age, I can be subject to holding on to tradition pretty tightly growing up in a liturgical atmosphere, but I too must pay attention to the experience and wisdom of the "elder" crowd as they have been down this path. How do we keep what is important and not alienate each others values?

I really have more questions than answers on this one :)

Permalink 02/21/08 @ 18:31

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Biblical Values, Traditions, and Preferences

02/07/08

Biblical Values, Traditions, and Preferences

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