Do Christian Traditions Originate in the Past or the Present?



Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009

by Dennis Wilhoit
Sonrise Bible Studies

Syracuse's new statue honoring Ernie Davis, the first black Heisman Trophy winner was recently pictured with the Nike swoosh prominently displayed on a shoe worn years before the logo existed.  The image prompted one writer to speculate that "the swoosh is the only one monolithic, world-dominating corporate logo with the capability to travel backward in time to imprint itself on people and objects that existed years before its conception.  The Nike swoosh, created in 1971, can clearly be seen on the shoe of Ernie Davis, who died in 1963."[1] OOPS!  Did the artist simply use a modern shoe as a model?  Was he unconcerned with historically accuracy?  Or did he actually see a SWOOSH that was not there?  But, what about all those who saw the statue before it was unveiled?  Did they knowingly go along with a deception?  Or did they also see a SWOOSH, or did they think it unimportant?  The statue will probably be re-cast and the story may survive only as so much useless trivia.

But to the serious Christian the SWOOSH illustrates how easily the Bible may be read backwards to unintentionally sanction non-biblical beliefs and traditions.

And it presents a crucial difficulty for the Christian church, how easily the Bible is read backwards.  It demonstrates how easily unbiblical doctrines, assumed to be essential, are merely a SWOOSH on the pages of the New Testament? 

May a new word be introduced to our Christian vocabulary?  SWOOSH.  It is almost a synonym for tradition.  But those who knowingly follow tradition are not being fooled; they are not self-deceived.  As long as one is informed and honest, a tradition may be beneficial as well as comfortable.  But the SWOOSH is a tradition that is unintentionally added to "the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 3)." 
 
Church:
The word church is used today in ways never used in the Bible.  The Bible does not use church in reference to a building.  The Bible does not use church to describe a place; as in "where do you go to church?"  The Bible does not use church to describe an organization; as in "what church do you belong to?"  Nor does the Bible use church to describe a time; as in "what time does church start?"  Yet, we find these meanings convenient, and no fault will be found if we are honest with our use of the word.  But, it is a mistake to attach a contemporary definition to a 1st century word.  To do so is a SWOOSH!

Tithe:

Some use tithe as a synonym for the Christian contribution.  But be honest.   Old Covenant rules of tithing may not be applied to Christianity.  Tithe and the Christian contribution are never used synonymously in the Bible.
 
Pastor:
 
The word pastor, as with the word church have meanings today that are foreign to the New Testament: Lead pastor, youth pastor, preaching pastor, teaching pastor, worship pastor and on and on.  The pastor of today is a SWOOSH  on the pages of the New Testament. 
Worship:

For most, the Sunday morning worship service is the most important expression of their Christian faith.  But, what New Testament passage (without a SWOOSH  ) describes the first century worship service?  Where does the Bible say that a first century church "assembled" to worship God?  What activities we do on Sunday morning are called worship in the New Testament?

[1] http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/CampusWatchEditor/168031?rss=1

 

  Dennis Wilhoit is a member of the Sunrise Church of Christ in San Diego, CA.  The Sunrise church is going through a period of transition: Questioning Church of Christ traditions, Christian traditions, vision casting, the emerging church, modernity, post modernity, etc.  The Sunrise church is searching for “old answers to new questions,” but ever determined to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 The SonriseBibleStudy web site contains several articles written by Dennis and links to other material the church is thinking about.

 Dennis holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible from Lubbock Christian University and served as a minister with the Churches of Christ for 16 years in New Mexico, Illinois, Kansas and Arizona.

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