Scripture gives attention to traditional factors that are evidence of good. When Scripture discusses the tradition(s) of the fathers the context is for truth and spiritual life. Keeping tradition refers to what Abraham might have thought or done that set a standard for what others ought to think or do, or what they would not think or do. It meant the same in the life and laws represented in Moses. Many more are included, especially in Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, and the prophets, but also in traditional families. Some of the fathers set up practices and beliefs that persons of biblical faith would not want to pass on. These too may have become traditions, but readers knew that when a person of orthodox faith wrote about the traditions of the fathers that person was not referring to deviations from the faith and wisdom of the fathers. In other verses there may appear some reference to a failure of this or that father, but when the phrase was used tradition of the fathers it was known that only the true and good was meant in the reference. Carrying the concept into the New Testament period, the church wanted to follow the tradition set by Jesus and the Apostles. This tradition concept relates strongly to Communion and Baptism which have continued in the tradition of the Church since its founding. Traditions should never violate Scripture for God to approve them. Communion and baptism are traditions given sacred meaning – Sacraments.
There are then, two concepts of tradition important to this writing. One relates to the divine, as in the keeping of the Communion. The other relates to society/culture. There are traditions that are good for individuals, for communities, for the state. Some are helpful beyond our general perception. They build solidarity, sense of relationship, hope for life and the future. They express belief in each other, in memories well preserved. References are made to Swedish traditional practice in the first volume of Today’s Page. One of those, socially, but with spiritual overtones, was the church smorgasbord. When the church held its annual festive dinner, there was a witness of Christian culture in it. The Lucia Festival was meaningful. My favorite was the fiftieth birthday of Christian men, noted often in Sweden in days gone by. It was a special time when a man was making transition to the other half of life, for which the first half had been lived. It was his day and God’s. He would spend an hour or so alone in the church, in prayer and life review, with inner response to his meditations. There would be other events of the day. It was foreshadowed in the fiftieth year, the Sabbath of years, from the rites of ancient Israel. Things were cleaned up during that year. Some matters were forgiven, old rights were restored, and things were set right that lagged from passing days. One wonders what would happen if modern cultures could set up such a meaningful tradition so to answer nagging issues, spiritual and otherwise, to gain lost balances?
What could be done by us in a mechanistic world to accomplish high life purpose, fitting to fellowship with God and each other? Prayer ought to be there with a biblical thought each day. We would strengthen habits that would express our values. The family would create its traditions, with the most effective ones those that draw the members together in mutuality and love. Such traditions have something to do with recreation, work and worship. Our family took a family trip every August, and we talk about those trips more than fifty years afterwards. What would happen if a family would read a book as individuals and, once a quarter, meet to discuss the implications and thoughts taken from it? What would happen if a father took his son for breakfast once a month, or the mother with the daughter, and sometimes exchanging? The possibilities are numerous to build memories and foundations that, perhaps mysteriously, have immortal meaning. For years, a dear friend, a former student at the college where I was administrator calls at 10:00 A.M., and we pray together for about ten minutes or so. It is now a tradition, one of the highlights of my day. We seldom miss our appointment. If we do, we usually make it up later in the day. It was tradition even for Jesus to go to the synagogue, and listen to the words of priests and laymen. His voice was invited on a reported occasion and he revealed something special to the people. He was present to share in the congregation where God was recognized, to be sought and followed. He was doing the ordinary when he shared the meaning of going into God’s house in tradition of worship. We are partly made from our personal and family traditions that deserve observation and action. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020