Scriptural
Reference:
"So then,
brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed
on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter"
2 Thessalonians 2:15
"Now I commend
you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions,
just as I passed them on to you"
1 Corinthians 11:2:
"You have let go
of the command of God and are holding on to the tradition of men"
Mark 7:8:
"He said to them,
'You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of
God in order to establish your tradition'"
Mark 7:9
"He answered them,
'And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?'"
Matthew 15:3
"[You] shall not
honor his father or his mother.' So you make void the word of God for
the sake of your tradition".
Matthew 15:6
Reflection:
Anglican Article 34 of Religion states that traditions and ceremonies
can differ among national or regional churches, as long as they don't
contradict God's Word. It gives each specific church the power to modify
or eliminate man-made rites and ceremonies, provided that everything
is aimed at uplifting the church and maintaining its common order. Violating
these traditions in a way that disrupts the common order is viewed as
an offense that can undermine the authority of the magistrate and distress
the consciences of the vulnerable.
Traditions and
Ceremonies to be identical everywhere or completely the same. It's clear
that they've varied and evolved based on the differences in countries,
eras, and cultural practices. As long as nothing goes against God's
Word. Crafting unique traditions that resonate with the local community
can lead to special acts and practices that consider
Diversity of traditions:
The article recognizes that traditions and ceremonies can and should
vary based on the nation, time, and customs of the people.
Authority of Scripture:
A fundamental principle is that no tradition or ceremony can be set
up that contradicts the written Word of God.
Power of individual
churches: Each national or regional church has the right to create,
modify, or eliminate its own ceremonies and rites.
Edification: The
aim of all traditions should be to uplift and edify the church, rather
than create division.
Accountability
for breaking tradition: Those who deliberately and publicly violate
the church's traditions and ceremonies should be openly rebuked, as
they are seen to be acting against the common order and harming the
consciences of others.
In Article 34,
we get to address the issue of how traditions in the Church can be uniform,
leaning on what's already been laid out about the authority of Scripture
(Article 6) and the church (Article 20). The comparison between "Traditions
and Ceremonies" in the first part and "ceremonies or rites" in the last
part makes it clear that the "Traditions of the Church" this Article
talks about are about practices, not doctrines: those "ordained only
by man's authority" and not by Scripture's authority.
Up to this point,
all the Articles have been straightforward and solid on essential doctrine.
They've also been clear about what counts as essential. Scripture is
enough, but it's not all-encompassing. Here, beyond that line, in the
realm of non-essentials-areas where we might have different views-Article
34 provides us with guiding principles.
Before diving into
the principles and their relevance for today's Church, it's important
to highlight the two 'non-negotiables' that this Article emphasizes.
The first is the idea that "nothing be ordained against God's Word."
This takes us back to Article 6. For the English Reformers, Scripture
holds the highest authority. Our doctrine is based on Scripture, and
our practices should be evaluated in light of it. Any practice that
contradicts Scripture is wrong. However, we should remember not to dismiss
a practice that isn't against Scripture.
The second non-negotiable
is found at the end of the Article, stating "that all things be done
to edifying." This wording likely comes from 1 Corinthians 14:26 (and
also Romans 14:19), where Paul emphasizes that when God's people gather,
everything done must aim to "build up." So, when we think about any
aspect of our communal life and whether to establish, modify, or eliminate
a certain practice, the Church needs to determine if the action will
strengthen believers in their relationship with God.
So, on one hand,
our practices shouldn't contradict God's word, and on the other, they
should help build up God's people. This gives us a lot of freedom: like
how much water we use for baptism, how many Scripture passages we read
during a service, how often we gather for the Lord's Supper, what posture
we take when praying in a service, what a minister should wear, and
so forth. But Article 34 gives us more guidance, offering two principles
to help us navigate these choices.
The first principle
tells us that Traditions and Ceremonies don't have to be the same everywhere
or at all times. The Church isn't required to follow the same practices
in every situation. It's totally fine to come to different conclusions
in different places or at different times. Context is key, and as long
as the Church isn't acting against Scripture and is focused on building
up God's people, varying contexts can lead to different practices.
Originally, this
principle was meant to support changes in practice against Rome's objections.
As the Church grew and Europe became more fragmented, the Reformers
emphasized that each national church had the right to make its own decisions
regarding practices.
The second principle
reminds us that individuals shouldn't "openly break the traditions and
ceremonies of the Church, which are not contrary to the Word of God,
and are established and approved by common authority," meaning practices
that have been properly set up. The Book of Common Prayer's section
'Of Ceremonies' refers us back to 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul encourages
that "all things be done among you in a seemly and due order" (1 Corinthians
14:40). Our Article takes Paul's concern seriously, hence the need for
a clear rebuke for anyone who opposes a properly established practice.
~ What is the value of this Article today?
First off, while
some revisionists try to convince us that a little "accommodation" in
our practice doesn't affect our doctrine, it's crucial for us to emphasize
that in both our practice and doctrine, "nothing should be ordained
against God's Word."
Next, even though
the word of God remains unchanged, we must remember that tradition is
always shaped by context, and we shouldn't forget the importance of
building up God's people in our current time and place.
Finally, in this
age of global cities and multiculturalism, we might question whether
the national church should dictate our practices. However, in a time
marked by individualism and consumerism, this Article definitely serves
as a valuable reminder to return to "due order." While the Reformers
rejected the uniformity of Rome in this Article and provided various
reasons for diversity in practice, they never suggested that we should
embrace differences just for the sake of being different.
That said, there's
a caution we need to heed regarding the misuse of this article. Too
many churches have drifted away from the Bible by using this article
to push non-scriptural beliefs and practices, creating reflections of
the world at the expense of scripture and doctrine. We must draw a line
when any practice undermines or alters what we hold dear in our faith
and doctrine.