Tradition vs Traditionalism

So many churches struggle over long held traditions. Some find peace in beliefs and practices that have comforted them and led to to Christ over many years. They are sometimes reluctant to welcome the ideas and styles of younger generations. So...sanctuaries remain unchanged for decades, music is stuck in the 1950's...or 1850's...or... and dress codes can be fought over for generations. Here are some excellent statements on the subject - think carefully about these and see if you can apply them to your worship ministry; women's program or church structure:

"Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering where we are and when we are and that it is we who have to decide. Traditionalism supposes that nothing should ever be done for the first time, so all that is needed to solve any problem is to arrive at the supposedly unanimous testimony of this homogenized tradition."

* This excerpt is from “Orthodoxy and Western Culture: A Collection of Essays Honoring Jaroslav Pelikan on His Eightieth Birthday”

“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. And, I suppose I should add, it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name.”

― Jaroslav Pelikan, The Vindication of Tradition: 1983 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities

"There is certainly nothing inherently wrong with tradition or with respecting tradition. When tradition is placed beyond questioning or debate, however, it becomes traditionalism. Tradition that doesn't adapt over time becomes dead and ultimately irrelevant to how people need to live their lives. People who actually care about tradition should want to ensure that it remains relevant and, therefore, should be among the first to oppose traditionalism."

“Tradition vs. Traditionalism” By Austin Cline, About.com Guide   June 14, 2005

Then there is this little beauty from an American Pastor:

“There are several reasons for opposing it: 

1. it’s too new. 

2. Its often worldly, even blasphemous. 

3. The new Christian music is not as pleasant as the more established style. 

4. Because there are so many new songs, you can’t learn them all. 

5. It puts too much emphasis on instrumental music rather than godly lyrics. 

6. This new music creates disturbances making people act indecently and disorderly. 

7. The preceding generation got along without it. 

8. It’s a money making scam.

9. Some of these new music upstarts are lewd and loose.”

You might think that this was written yesterday...but, no - it was written in 1723 and printed in a newspaper attacking the music of Isaac Watts (who wrote "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" in 1707, and "Joy To The World" and many other great hymns). 

The point is, there is nothing wrong with tradition - not every new idea is perfect, and not every old practice is antiquated and useless. We need to honor the past by building upon it and bringing purity and authenticity into the things we do.