Truth or Tradition?

Where do we draw the line as believers and followers of God’s Word and where does the slope that leads to compromise begin? There are some in fundamental circles who “squint at a gnat and swallow a camel” as the old colloquialism goes. The truth of God’s Word is superseded by traditions or traditions are tied into Gods Word. For example, our church observed the Lords Supper this past Sunday night.  Some churches may practice the observance of the Lords Supper every week while some hold to a quarterly or monthly observance. Which one is right? The Bible does not tell us how often to observe the Lords table, it simply says, “…as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” I Corinthians 10:25.  There would be those who accuse a church who observes this ordinance weekly as overkill or taking it too lightly and others would say it is not taken enough.  Is it observed out of tradition or in obedience to the truth? 

As I mentioned in my last post, there is nothing Biblical about a Sunday night or Wednesday night service but they are good things to have. There is nothing biblical about having a special revival service or conferences, but they are good things for churches to have. When you start canceling church services where is the cut off line? Where do you draw the stopping point and say this is too far? And what group of churches are you following the example of by your change in church structure? I understand there are variances on things such as service time, service structure and so on.  This is not a posting regarding one way being right or one way being wrong, (ie. 6:00 p.m. Sunday night service verses 6:30 p.m. Sunday night service)  My personal concern is that we as Baptist pastors do not trickle slowly down a path of compromise.

I am not an Independent Baptist first, I am a Christian first, but I bear the title Independent Baptist and my church bears the title as well because it separates and declares to the world our doctrine and Biblical position. I am aware that there Independent Baptist that I would not agree with on every subject matter or position and there are IFB pastors and leaders that have sinned and make open shame to the body of Christ. However, I am not going to change my distinctive position based upon man, because it is a position I have come to Biblicaly. Just because a church drops the name Baptist it does not remove them from problems or even being associated with a doctrine, unless the church teaches no doctrine and then it ceases to be a church. The purpose of the church is to declare the doctrine of God’s Word and based on the teaching and doctrine it lines them up with a denomination, there is no way around that.

Every person has tradition; there are good tradition and bad tradition. Truth is our ultimate standard bearer. Truth separates, it declares distinctive, holds our position, and it clarifies. The issue that I am seeing there are some who are mingling tradition and truth and thus throwing both out. Every preacher of the gospel must line up somewhere. One may say, I am a Biblicists if so what mode of baptism do you practice? What gospel do you preach? What distinctive do you hold to? The answer to these questions will declare your denominational position. We have been handed a treasured truth and I do not want to throw it away because of a few in our ranks that sow discord. Mark them, as the Bible admonishes us to do (Rom. 16:17) and move on. Preach Jesus, win souls then fulfill the great commission by, “…Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” Matt. 28:20. Remember that Jude took pen in hand to write concerning the common salvation but the Holy Spirit moved him to write concerning earnestly contending for the faith. (Jude 2) Read and study this great New Testament book and we will see the standard bearer of Truth declared in a time of open apostasy. May we, those who have been entrusted with the glorious Gospel of Christ fulfill our calling.