Sunday, 8th October, 2006

Tradition: as an authority in Christian Theology

I am always reminded of the song from a show I was once in at the "Festival Theater", the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”. The show, demonstrates the image we most commonly perceive when we talk about tradition in Church. The Tradition of my Fathers, their Fathers, thier Fathers Fathers etc.

We see differences and division of perceived tradition in our different Christian denominations, even within the same denomination. To most it is the “This is the way it has always been done” attitude. I myself used to believe I was very “Traditional”, but this description for the practice of my faith has slowly diminished. I can see now why I described myself as Traditional and how it happened. Constantly in my CofE faith, there was the recurrent aspect of “Church Type”. People would say they are of a catholic persuasion, or he is more Liberal, or she is a charismatic, continually trying to type cast. We have a habit of dressing people into a cover so we can comprehend their nature.

Sure I have a classical taste in hymns and prayer, but this is more down to my tastes in music and poetry. It is of note that my pasterol ventures currently deal more with the older generation. My wife in contrast, although sharing some of my tastes in opera and classical music, likes a lot of popular music, is not interested in poetry, is more akin to popular novels and has a preference for the more modern hymn and lighter less formal worship. She also has more contact with the younger generation, but dispite our differences our values are very similar in and out of worship.

To often we label the generic traditional values that we are used to, preventing us from experiencing a wider exposure to worship. Our tastes in worship can direct our understanding in scripture, the customs we perform and relevance to them in our lives. If we regularly say the “Traditional” Creed we will absorb it, understand it and find relevance in it. If we worship without it or cut bits out, we can develop objections to some of it when are exposed to it. For instance I recently had a discussion with someone who thought we shouldn’t mention the Virgin Mary because it might offend some of the unmarried mothers who attended their services. It is a valid point, and does carry some weight in that one context.

One friend does not believe Mary was a Virgin, but to deny that miracle bestowed on a young woman who could have potentially faced total disgrace if it was not for the Grace of God.

I see many situations were peoples worship preference models there tastes in the arts, their social standing or their acceptance of the supernatural in a predominantly secular, scientific world. You only have to look at the average ages attending a 1662 rite service compared to say a New Wine Rock Service to see the evidence that a contemporary service attracts more so called "Up to Date" worshipers. These are Christian extremes I know, but we do create borders that we penn ouselves into and are ultimatly not prepared or expected to cross. Unfortunately this can also be divisional, splitting people with individual tastes or needs, creating an irreverent acceptance of anything else. We are often driven to decide one way or another on the type of service we affirm as a preference, where we can feel safe within our own context, a preference that can separate us from experiencing and enjoying other forms of worship.

My thought fo the day, "Tradition can become a fencing in rather than experience and a reference to reflect on".

I love to see variety and mix of styles in worship that are inclusive and educational. In most cases hymns and prayers, music and poetry of all varieties can be enjoyed by any age or persuasion in certain circumstances. There are often times when people can get together and share their style of worship with others. Frequently enjoyed by all, but often only accepted as long as it doesn’t affect their preferred style of Sunday morning service. Unfortunately this is where a great deal of contradiction, acrimony and denial starts to develop. We get comfortable with our own zone, we fit into our stable milieu, and can feel secure in our faith while confidently forging our beliefs in confined groups. In contradiction we feel out of place when we venture further afield, unable to express our selves and prejudiced to another’s ways. Our parochial church lives can become secluded and what we embrace as important may not necessarily be important to another gathering. When we view nearly 2000 years of gatherings, you can see how even a people who share a common faith, creed or mission statement can develop there own insight into the scriptures. How their contextual lives can take different paths.

The Gospels that we see in the canonised New Testament, can be translated and interpreted differently due to our sometimes secluded experiences of a perceived catholic (whole/one) church. We can become blinkered and end up with a narrow view of what Tradition is. We don't always see what another sees'.

If I can put forward an example. As people walk pass a beggar on a street, they each see a different person. One may interpret them as drunk, another as a drug addict, and another as a person who couldn’t be bothered to take up the social opportunities the state can give them etc. etc. What I would hope we may all see is a homeless person who is in need of help, a human being who has been dejected by society. From each of our view points we may see something different. The truth is it could be any or all of these. But what is really important is why we see different things, how we empathise with another’s view and ultimately prevent these things happening in our so called “Caring Society”. What counts in the end is what we each do about it.

The same goes for our understanding and perceptions of tradition in our scripture. We need to reflect back to the roots of what we know and have discovered over the last two millennia, we need to re-examine what we know and understand what it means to us and to others. We need to continuously return to the Gosples, to go back to the roots of our faith and allow it to grow afresh in our lives as we see it revealed in others. As we do, we allow God to guide us so we may see the true relevance of His message to us and its relevance in our current time.

We may perhaps then reveal the true traditions of the church, and their relevance in our daily lives. We mustn’t judge others by their experiences or actions, but learn and embrace what is good. As St Paul stated “Gal 6:15 It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised or uncircumcised ; what does matter is being a new creature.”

It should be no issue whether we call our minister a Priest or a Pastor, Father or Mike, what is important is what we take away from our worship, how we interpret it now in our daily lives and what we do about it outside the church building.

A reference attributed to John Zizioulas by Douglas Knight says, “Tradition is the unceasing existence of Revelation in the Church. Revealed through ongoing Pentecost, by the holy spirit.” http://www.resourcesforchristiantheology.org/content/view/155/42/.

So, do we occaisionally need to cross parish boundaries, venture into wider styles of worship? I am sure this would definatly help, and most importantly help us to practice an ecumenical ministry.

As in“The fiddler on the Roof”. Times may change, the problems may appear to be different, but Gods love reflected in others is what gets you through.