For over a hundred years, the George Muse Clothing Company in Atlanta was an iconic legend. Muse’s was the standard of men’s clothing stores. For a young man to reach the age of shopping at Muse’s was a right of passage.
In most of the Muse’s locations the main floor was dedicated to casual clothes: dress khaki slacks, button down oxford shirts, and top of the line traditional accessories. A then futuristic chrome and glass circular staircase led to another level which showcased the finest suits ready to be custom fitted by master tailors.
The turbulent 1960’s and 70’s brought change to the landscape of Atlanta. Virtually every cultural norm and tradition was challenged and replaced, including fashion. Khaki gave way to denim, button-down oxfords to tie-dyed t-shirts.
A Changing Landscape
The George Muse Company held strong for decades, convinced this “fad” would soon pass. One of their last advertising campaigns was “There comes a time when a young man hangs up his jeans for the very last time.” Sadly, their going out of business sales soon followed.
Fifty years later, a similar transformation is taking place. Corporate America is scrambling to adapt.
- Home improvement stores are reinventing themselves to remain relevant to a generation that doesn’t intention to own power tools.
- Grocery stores are adapting to shoppers who prefer buying a cake to making one.
- Nurseries are finding things to sell to consumers who may never have a lawn. And if they do, will probably have someone else maintain it.
Not that any of these things are bad, they’re just different. The only thing constant is change. And change and traditions are often at odds with one another.
The Power of Tradition
Traditions can be wonderful things in their right place. They bring to mind pleasant times of our past. How our family celebrates the holidays, spends time and enjoys meals together offers a sense of security in a changing world. Church services offer security to us even as our families change.
But traditions can also hold us back. “Because that’s how we’ve always done it” may well be the worst reason to keep doing things that way. In the life of a Christian, the best is always ahead. The call of our Lord Jesus was and is always to “follow Me.”
As the Good Shepherd, He is always leading us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. In the Old Testament, God sent angels to rescue Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his children were saved, but his wife perished as she looked back to the home she hated to leave.
The Power of Perspective
Perspective is essential if we are to hold traditions in their proper place in our lives, our families, and even in our ministries. Are our “non-negotiables” really based on doctrinal truth? Or are they based on tradition?
For example, does the Bible really say that denim is bad and khaki is good? Or that a man who doesn’t cut his own grass is lazy? Or that a good mother will make her own baby food?
Is our church’s view of the Great Commission truly consistent with New Testament theology or is it more based on tradition? What about our church music ministry? Choirs or praise teams, hymns or praise and worship? Or our family finances?
When is it OK to borrow money? Or is debt always wrong? Are our “go-to” advisors basing their advice on God’s wisdom? Or on man’s wisdom? Would we really know the difference, or does it really matter?
The Pharisees’ Traditions
In Mark chapter 7 Jesus confronted the Pharisees when He said:
“This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You are so busy holding on to the traditions of men that you let go the commandment of God.”
The Pharisees had become so consumed with their traditions and teachings that they lost sight of the Word of God, replacing His law with their own. They were focused on outward behavior. Jesus went on to clarify that it is out of the heart come the things that define us.
Some of the most hope-filled words our Lord ever spoke were as He closed the Sermon on the Mount with the Parable of the Two Builders:
“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and puts them in to practice is like a sensible man who builds his house on rock. Down came the rain and up came the floods, while the wind blew and roared upon that house, and it did not fall because its foundations were on rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Notice Jesus emphasized everyone who hears these words of mine. As we build our lives, marriages, families, and churches, are the words we are hearing those of our Lord Himself? Or are they traditions of men that we have heard so often that we assume them to be His words?
Checking For Yourself
A few years later the Apostle Paul was teaching in Berea and he commended those believers because they:
“Accepted the message most eagerly and studied the Scriptures every day to see if what they were now being told were true.” (Acts 17:11)
The Bereans eagerly heard Paul teach by day, returned to their homes at night, and searched the Scriptures for themselves to be sure what he was teaching them was right. And he praised them for it! The implications for us today are huge.
Our families and friends are ready to offer their advice on how they would deal with any problems we may have. In the information age, we are bombarded with answers to every question—from marriage to ministry; from raising children to building churches; from intimacy to ice sculpting, and invariably they all sound good.
Many will claim to be written by Christian authors and quote Scriptures as proof for their premise. This doesn’t even include the dozens television broadcasts, the books published on every subject. How do we know what or whom to believe?
The Bible is Our Compass
It’s a good idea to follow the example of the Bereans—taking any advice we receive and go back to the Bible to verify it for ourselves that He said it. The best advice we will be given whether by family members or friends, from counselors, the internet, or books, will start with chapter and verse of Scripture presented in context. From there, it’s easy for us to go back and read it for ourselves.
For many topics, there will be specific instruction. Where there is not specific instruction, there will be overarching principles, such as mercy, grace, and love. These guide us in making wise choices. We can read the passages before and after, and look up the references to other Scriptures. The Holy Spirit promises to help us to understand and apply the principles to our specific lives and situations.
Learning to search and study the Scriptures for ourselves is the surest way to be certain that we are truly in God’s will for our lives. The Pharisees twisted and added to God’s Word to serve their own purposes. The Devil misquoted God’s Word to trap Adam and Eve. He took Scripture out of context in a failed attempt to manipulate the Lord Jesus.
Like a good compass, the Bible will always point us in the right direction, but we must know how to use it and use it well.
The Burden of Tradition
The Jews of Jesus’ day were buckling under the weight of the burdens placed upon them by the religious leaders. Most of this was based upon tradition and their laws. It was to these people that the Lord gave His wonderful invitation:
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on My yoke and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Often in life, the stress, anxiety and pressure take such heavy tolls on our lives. Marriages and families are due to burdens that the Lord never intended us to carry. Our efforts to live up to standards others have placed on us.
Notice in that passage, Jesus invited us to come to Him, to a person. To take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. For that to happen, we must take everyone else’s yoke off. That can only happen through our personal, one-on-one relationship with Him that develops as we choose. Through a thousand choices a day, to continue in His Word.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you are faithful to what I have said, you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)