September 25, 2008
Old Friends
It’s been interesting to watch our new start-up church take shape. Even though we don’t have a permanent building, furnishing and equipment are starting to appear. The most recent donations are a hand crafted communion table and both the American and Christian flags, each on a free standing pole. I find it significant that these particular items are ones that the leadership in my previous church, in an effort to contemporize the church, removed from the congregation. For me there is something very comforting in seeing these symbols of tradition return to their place of prominence, it’s certainly worth the effort and inconvenience to bring them back and forth each week.
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Gail;
-----What is a communion table? What are the American and Christian flags? What are hymnbooks, and hymns, suits and ties, flowery hats, and pretty dresses? These are all just things. Why are we so bothered about things when thousands of people are dying without the Lord everyday? Why are we so desiring to bind ourselves up to traditions when people need to hear the Gospel before they die?
-----Would I look silly if I raised a flag up my pole: white with red polka-dots having a large blue star in the center bearing fifty-two white pinstripes?
-----”What on earth is that?” you might ask.
-----”Well! That is the flag of the USA! Nobody says the flag has to be red and white striped with a white-star spangled blue field in the corner. I think this flag better speaks the essence of our great country!” I would only look more ridiculous if I were wearing pants three sizes too large belted half-way down my backside, a cap on backwards, and sterling silver poked through holes punched in every available fold of my dragon-tattooed hide!
-----Communion tables, flags, hymns, Sunday-best dress, and proper fitting and hung clothing are not what is under attack in both our secular and religious cultures. The concept of tradition is. And it is under attack because tradition necessitates a reasonable submission of the individual to a standard. But the concept wrapped up and gifted to us in the term “contemporary” is that of self-supremacy, self over standard, non-submission. What has been handed to us by our forebears won’t exude any effect over my life, boy howdy!! I am my own person! I’ll wear my hat like I want! And I’ll have church my way, too! Because I am important! Just see how many are dying without Jesus!
-----With the understanding that the Pharisees engaged in traditions of men, exacting obedience of their fellows, one needs to walk cautiously when dealing with tradition. For if the things of our activities become the meaning of our activities, then the Pharisees are reborn in us. Then, however much we might deny it, their kind of tradition is born. We have certainly seen the things of the contemporary church - the new music, the guitars, the high-tech audio/visual production, the casual shirts, the blue jeans, etc. - become the things of their activities with demanded acceptance from their fellows.
-----But the humble heart will look to see and regard the tradition it has found itself in. It accepts that it is somewhat shaped by the generally accepted things of its fellows’ hearts. It finds a place within fellowship through what Paul bade all to do: submit to one another. From there comes tradition. Welcome back, communion table! Welcome back, US Flag! Welcome back, Christian Flag! Welcome back, mutual peace and edification!
Love,
Steve Corey
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