Lent Comes of Age
“You make the Word of God of none effect by your tradition.”
Christianity Today (repeated in The Alabama Baptist) notes that Lent is “one of the oldest Christian Traditions.” TAB laments that the season is not practiced in many Southern Baptist churches. I have a similar lament: that it is practiced at all in Southern Baptist churches (or by Evangelicals anywhere).Let’s take a look at this “old Christian tradition.”
We can all agree that it certainly is not a practice given to us in the pages of scripture. So what does that mean? Well, it means that some guy made it up. Whether he made it up in AD 100 or in AD 2000 makes no difference; he still made it up. Now, if you are one who has no problem with stuff people make up that isn’t in the Bible, then this post isn’t necessarily directed at you.
I just can’t understand why groups which claim Sola Scriptura (authority comes from the scriptures alone) would fawn over such a glaringly unbiblical and historically deadly practice. It’s not terribly surprising, though, as more and more Evangelicals fawn over the “beautiful” and unbiblical practices that go on all around us (practices that were denied by the faithful for centuries - at the risk of their very lives).
Some people still object, so the council then decides to start jailing people and threatening them with eternal damnation for denying this “aging Christian tradition.” Those who fail to practice it as directed must have their “sin” forgiven by performing acts approved by “the successors of the council” and beg to have their eternal damnation reversed (for not perfectly practicing what some guy made up).
A few centuries later, this “getting older Christian tradition” has millions in bondage of fear of eternal damnation. Tens of thousands more are killed for not practicing it. And those who do practice it, have to keep up with the changing rules from the “unchanging” churches.
In 2009, this “old Christian tradition” still has hundreds of millions under the threat of eternal damnation and millions more deluded into thinking that God is pleased that they’ve given up M&Ms. This isn’t funny and it certainly is not something to be admired.
Heresy and false shepherds were alive in Paul’s day… and more were expected. Shall we look at their “traditions” and say to Paul, “Well, Paul, that stuff may have been wrong in your day, but nearly 2000 years have passed! Surely, doctrines that old must have become truer over time”?
No, that would be silly (I’m trying to be nice).
God’s dealings with man have changed at different times for different purposes, but those changes originated with God and are confirmed by his Holy Word. Now, we may debate the content of that Word, but we surely should be able to rule out anything contradictory to it.
Just because something is “old” doesn’t make it any better than if I invented it yesterday. Next time you hear about some “lovely” tradition, do as the “noble” Bereans did with Paul’s doctrines in Acts 17:11 “search the scriptures whether these things are so.”
The progression:
Time is not the arbiter of truth. The passage of time doesn’t make anything more “true” nor does it make the statements of men any more authoritative.
I’m trying to reconcile the words in Christianity Today… they used the adjective “Christian” for a practice they know well is not biblical (a doctrine connected to promises and condemnations that are antithetical to Evangelical Christianity). It makes me wonder… if I made up an unbiblical practice today and declared that failure to honor it as I dictate would amount to one risking his eternal fate… how quickly would Christianity Today and the Southern Baptist Convention swoon over my lovely “Christian tradition”?
You know what I'm giving up for Lent? The unscriptural traditions of men.
I just can’t understand why groups which claim Sola Scriptura (authority comes from the scriptures alone) would fawn over such a glaringly unbiblical and historically deadly practice. It’s not terribly surprising, though, as more and more Evangelicals fawn over the “beautiful” and unbiblical practices that go on all around us (practices that were denied by the faithful for centuries - at the risk of their very lives).
How we got here…
OK, so we have some guy who created this “holy season” for himself. He likes it so much he starts telling his friends about it. They can’t seem to find it in their Bibles either so some of them don’t care to follow the “new Christian tradition.” This upsets the originator of Lent so he gets his like-minded buddies to form a council and they vote that Christians MUST practice Lent .Some people still object, so the council then decides to start jailing people and threatening them with eternal damnation for denying this “aging Christian tradition.” Those who fail to practice it as directed must have their “sin” forgiven by performing acts approved by “the successors of the council” and beg to have their eternal damnation reversed (for not perfectly practicing what some guy made up).
A few centuries later, this “getting older Christian tradition” has millions in bondage of fear of eternal damnation. Tens of thousands more are killed for not practicing it. And those who do practice it, have to keep up with the changing rules from the “unchanging” churches.
In 2009, this “old Christian tradition” still has hundreds of millions under the threat of eternal damnation and millions more deluded into thinking that God is pleased that they’ve given up M&Ms. This isn’t funny and it certainly is not something to be admired.
Heresy and false shepherds were alive in Paul’s day… and more were expected. Shall we look at their “traditions” and say to Paul, “Well, Paul, that stuff may have been wrong in your day, but nearly 2000 years have passed! Surely, doctrines that old must have become truer over time”?
No, that would be silly (I’m trying to be nice).
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. - Acts 20
God’s dealings with man have changed at different times for different purposes, but those changes originated with God and are confirmed by his Holy Word. Now, we may debate the content of that Word, but we surely should be able to rule out anything contradictory to it.
Just because something is “old” doesn’t make it any better than if I invented it yesterday. Next time you hear about some “lovely” tradition, do as the “noble” Bereans did with Paul’s doctrines in Acts 17:11 “search the scriptures whether these things are so.”
The progression:
- Doesn’t Exist
- Some Guy Makes it Up
- It Gets a Little Older
- It Gets Even Older and Changes
- It Becomes “Ancient”
- Nobody Remembers that Somebody Made it Up
Time is not the arbiter of truth. The passage of time doesn’t make anything more “true” nor does it make the statements of men any more authoritative.
I’m trying to reconcile the words in Christianity Today… they used the adjective “Christian” for a practice they know well is not biblical (a doctrine connected to promises and condemnations that are antithetical to Evangelical Christianity). It makes me wonder… if I made up an unbiblical practice today and declared that failure to honor it as I dictate would amount to one risking his eternal fate… how quickly would Christianity Today and the Southern Baptist Convention swoon over my lovely “Christian tradition”?
You know what I'm giving up for Lent? The unscriptural traditions of men.
"Let no man judge you in regard to a holy day..." (Col 2:16)
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