In what ways can we ensure our worship aligns with biblical principles, not tradition? Setting the Scene: Mark 7:2 and the Friction Between Scripture and Tradition “and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.” (Mark 7:2) The Pharisees’ charge wasn’t about hygiene; it was about elevating a man-made ritual to divine status. Jesus’ subsequent response (Mark 7:6-9) exposes the danger of letting tradition outrank God’s word. Principle 1 – Inspect the Heart Before the Hands • Mark 7:6-7: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me… they worship Me in vain.” • God looks first at the inner posture (1 Samuel 16:7). • Genuine worship springs from love for Him, not mere conformity to inherited habits. Principle 2 – Let Scripture Judge Every Custom • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: all Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient. • Acts 17:11: the Bereans “examined the Scriptures every day” to test teaching. • Any practice that cannot be clearly rooted in, or is contradicted by, Scripture should be discarded or revised. Principle 3 – Keep Christ Pre-eminent in Worship • Colossians 1:18: Christ is to “have preeminence” in all things. • John 4:23-24: the Father seeks worship “in spirit and in truth,” centered on Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, anchored in revealed truth. • When Christ is central, peripheral traditions fade to their proper place. Principle 4 – Obey What God Explicitly Commands • Matthew 28:19-20: baptize and teach everything Jesus commanded—non-negotiable. • 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: observe the Lord’s Supper as He instituted it. • 1 Samuel 15:22: “obedience is better than sacrifice.” God prizes faithful compliance over elaborate but unauthorized forms. Practical Steps to Stay Biblically Aligned • Read whole books of the Bible regularly; note what God actually prescribes for worship. • Compare every congregational practice with clear Scriptural directives. Ask: Where is it written? • Keep traditions that illuminate or facilitate obedience (e.g., meeting times, music styles) but hold them loosely. • Invite accountable feedback: elders and mature believers measure practices against the word. • Teach congregations why we do what we do, grounding explanations in chapter and verse. Guardrails for the Long Run • Gospel focus: return often to the cross and resurrection—the heart of biblical worship. • Community humility: be willing to reform cherished customs when Scripture points elsewhere. • Continual reformation: “always reforming” not by novelty, but by deeper conformity to the unchanging word of God. |
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