A lover of traditions

For much of my Christian experience I was taught and believed that traditions were wrong. Only a few months ago, I read the words of a mega-church pastor, a popular author and speaker, who demeaned tradition and spoke patronizing about those unenlightened people and churches who embraced tradition. The scripture usually cited is Mark 7:8-9, which reads,

“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men. He was also saying to them, You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.” (NASB)

For years I rejected all sorts of traditions in church. For a time, our family didn’t have a Christmas tree. I embraced new songs and rejected hymns. I rejected ancient, traditional liturgies and forms, and, long ago, even preached a sermon, “Smells and Bells — Incense and Other Nonsense.”

But the words of Jesus in Mark 7 do not teach against tradition. Jesus spoke against the reality that some had neglected the commandment of God and, instead, were practicing their own traditions. He also said that some actually reject God’s word in order to worship and act the way they want to.

God is, in fact, the great instigator and establisher of tradition. What is The Passover if not tradition? What were the great feasts and celebrations of Israel but the continuation of traditions that were deemed valuable to the life of the people and nation?

Jesus himself established the “traditions” of Baptism and Holy Eucharist, or Communion, so the idea that tradition, in and of itself, is somehow wrong is simply inaccurate. Traditions, in truth, give meaning to events, to activities, even to lives.

I love traditions, as long as they do not replace God’s word and God’s will. I love the traditions of standing for the National Anthem, of school colors and mascots, of parades on Independence Day, and of playing “Rocky Top” when the Volunteers of the University of Tennessee score a touchdown.

I love Christmas trees, fireworks on New Year’s Eve and July 4th, birthday cakes, and logs in the fireplace during cold weather. Even in this 21st century, most young brides want “traditional” weddings with “traditional” music and symbolism. Symbols and tradition give comfort, continuity, and depth to simple events and acts.

In my youth, Christmas Eve was spent at the home of my maternal grandparents with the other members of the family. The evening consisted of a meal, fireworks, and the opening of one Christmas present. I anticipated Christmas Eve almost as much as I did Christmas Day. When the grandchildren married and moved away, that tradition was lost. But, in my family’s case, one tradition was replaced with another.

This Christmas Eve, as with so many in the years past, will be spent at Church singing the songs of the season, hearing the Christmas story, and receiving Holy Communion together. This Christmas Eve, God willing, my two oldest sons, their wives, and eight of our nine grandchildren will join with other members of the Church and the local community around the Table of the Lord. We will miss my youngest son, his wife, and daughter, but I hope they are establishing their own traditions in New Mexico.

“Traditionally,” at our church, Christmas Eve is one of the most attended events of the year. Part of the reason for that is that quite a number of people from the area, who do not normally attend our church, show up for the service. We are always glad to see them and they sing, listen, and come to the altar for Holy Communion along with the rest of us. Perhaps it has become a tradition for some of them, too.

This year, Christmas Eve is on a Sunday, so we don’t really know what to expect regarding attendance. We have our two normal Sunday morning services at 8 and 10 a.m. and our two Christmas Eve services at 6 and 9 p.m.

Will attendance be lower on Sunday morning because we have the evening services? Will attendance be lower for the evening services because people have already attended the morning services? Or will people keep to the tradition and come to both morning and evening services?

We just don’t know, but I’m not going to fret about it. I’ll be at all four services because it has become a vital part of my own Christmas experience — it’s become a “tradition.”

I grieve some for those people who abandon traditions in order to feel more “modern.” Often they feel smug and superior to those still “trapped in tradition.” I was that way once and remained so for decades. When I went back to reclaim some of those traditions, like old, faithful friends they were waiting for me and embraced me warmly. And, like old friends with whom I was reunited, I wondered how I was able to live so long without them.