Traditionalism Defined

tra•di•tion•al•ism 1) the false perception that our practices are soundly rooted in God’s word simply because these are the practices and beliefs that we think our organization has held for some time. 2) a delusion: many of the practices and beliefs are recent infiltrations of worldliness. The actual longevity of our traditions may not match reality. While “progressive Baptists” actively seek liberalization, traditionalists have failed to recognize the incursion of unbiblical change in a few short generations.

Thesis #4 "Old-School" Is Probably More Biblical

If you think a Bible teacher sounds “old-school,” you have likely strayed from biblical truth. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say of an older pastor/teacher “He’s so knowledgeable…but he’s so strict/hardcore/old-fashioned.” I’m amazed that people can admire the zeal an older scholar possesses for the word of God, and simultaneously disparage that scholar for actually teaching the word of God. Even more astonishing is that these same individuals consider themselves to be “traditional” or “conservative” Baptists! God’s word hasn’t changed, but we certainly have.

Thesis #2 - "Baptist Tradition" Is Broadly Diverse

The Baptist Faith and Message is (still) a wide umbrella. It broadly encompasses many “traditions,” including those about which a local congregation might declare “we’ve never done that before!” When changes are proposed to a local congregation, resistant individuals all too often invoke the BF&M, mistakenly assuming that only their Baptist experience is supported by this great SBC statement of faith. We must realize that the BF&M declares only the baseline of beliefs common to the collective of churches within the Southern Baptist Convention. This confession of faith declares Baptist distinctives, such as baptism of regenerate believers by immersion, and thus has a narrowing, confining effect upon the range of beliefs that its institutions (and some would say its member churches) may express. The degree of theological constraint induced by the BF&M, however, is not so restrictive as to produce cookie-cutter churches. Each church is autonomous, and out of that freedom arises diversity. Even while celebrating the resurgence of Bible-centeredness in SBC churches, the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force acknowledged theological diversity within the convention. In part of their 2009 Pre-Progress Report, Ronnie Floyd, et. al. called upon SBC churches to commit to a “healthy confessional center.” Yet, describing that bible-centered confession, they wrote, “Like the best of confessions, the BF&M 2000 speaks most clearly to those doctrines wherein we enjoy greatest agreement and speaks more generally concerning areas where some differing opinions exist.” In other words, while we are all striving towards biblical excellence, we do have differing interpretations in areas that are not quite as essential to the gospel—nevertheless, we agree to cooperate.
The Baptist Faith and Message allows for diversity in several theological areas including a range of views regarding eschatology, charismatic gifts, and ecclesiology. Plainly, we can’t all be right when some of our views are mutually exclusive. Grace, however, permits us to accept some degree of diversity. Thankfully, these divisions will end some day soon: “for now we know in part, and we prophecy in part. But when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10 HCSB)

Our SBC diversity becomes more apparent when we look at how we “do church.” In the same progress report, the GCR Task Force said, “There are essential and non-negotiable components of biblical ministry like proclamation, evangelism, service to others, prayer, and corporate worship. At the same time, we are convinced there is no specific style or method ordained by our God through which we must engage in these biblical ministries.” Perhaps SBC churches once appeared as uniform in worship style as McDonald’s franchise menus are, but that is no longer true today. In fact, our denominational leadership is pushing for diversity in strategy, methodology and style.

The openness of the Baptist Faith and Message permits local congregations to dig deeper into Scripture in order to align themselves more thoroughly with biblical doctrines and practices. Not all of us are going to be on the same page because we are experiencing sanctification and the transforming renewal of our minds in different areas at different rates.

So next time someone proposes a change for your church, please don't say "That's not Baptist." Search the scriptures and see if the change will push your congregation towards a Bible-centered excellence.

Thesis #1 - Biblical Truth Trumps Tradition

No tradition of man ever trumps biblical truth. So what if great-grandma and grand-pappy always "did it that way"? The truth is that error perpetuated through just one generation looks to the younger recipients as if it has “always been that way.” Every tradition must be tested in the light of scripture. If a tradition holds to scripture, then it is a good one. If a tradition contradicts scripture, however, then we must reject it and fashion our practices after God’s word. Colossians 2:8 says, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.”

Is it wrong to question "Baptist Tradition?"

As a pastor, I've apparently taken a serious tumble while strolling down the seemingly leisure path of simple verse by verse exegesis. The pebble over which I tripped turns out to be a much more firmly anchored boulder, and it's name is Tradition.

"Are you trying to change the way we do things around here?" demanded a few outspoken members of the congregation. "Well, uh, no...not right yet," I ineptly stammered. "We've discussed this point before, and yes, I envisioned that eventually, some day, some year, we might implement something similar to what we see described in scripture. Right now, I am just attempting to expose concepts from scripture that we may have not noticed before."

Let me tell you, dear friends in the pastorate, do not try this at home! You may be tarred and feathered, burned at the stake as a heretic. How dare any preacher contradict heritage?

I'll let you guess which issue triggered this backlash as I post subsequent briefs-maybe in a few days, I'll have completed my own "95 Theses" to nail to the church door.

In the mean time, isn't it appropriate to evaluate our traditions against scripture? Doesn't Colossians 2:8 say, "Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ"?