Jesus has some harsh words about those who would criticize his followers for not following their traditions. The traditions themselves are not bad. The traditions likely started from a good and right practice. Washing hands and washing food, aside from being a good idea from a cleanliness and health standpoint, can be a powerful reminder, a symbolic act of awareness that there is a need to be cleansed not only physically but spiritually as well. But if the reminder becomes the rule and it no longer reminds us of anything, then it is useless.
We well celebrate Holy Communion in a few minutes. If it were a rule that in order to be a part of this church that once a month you had to eat a little square of bread dipped in grape juice and we never let it remind us of Jesus' sacrifice and the new covenant that he made then it would have no value.
Traditions are good. They connect us not only to the past but help to put us in a right frame of mind to have an unobstructed unique experience because we don't have to worry about extraneous details. We follow the tradition and anything new that happens is easily recognized and appreciated. Sometimes traditions get challenged and changed.
What if you grew up in a house that has always supported one political party and you find yourself after much critical investigation supporting the other?
Do you compromise what you to believe to be absolutely true in order to maintain a civil relationship with family, friends, and acquaintances, r do you stand in what you believe, risking that you may be wrong and risking the resentment and alienation from those that you love most. If we are honest, another consequence of being steadfast is that you may start to resent those who stand against what you believe. Is this really the choice? We live in a world where there are is a wide variety of ways of living, ways of thinking ways of being and believing. This is post-modern culture. No one group is given a free pass on claiming that they have the corner on the market when it comes to the “right way” of living. No longer is the Christian message received as normative throughout our culture.
Does this mean we shrink back and blend in with our neighbors? Do we round the sharp corners of our faith? Do we deny the more difficult teachings of Holy scripture?
I was raised by parents who's ideals were formed during the collapse of the “Modern” world view that said that there was one best-way of living. I was taught tolerance. I was taught open mindedness. To me that means that you can disagree with someone without belittling them. You and disagree with out someone and still respect them. You can disagree with someone and still be in relationship with them. Disagreements on political issues can divide a family; they can end friendships. Why does this have to be? This says that your political philosophy is more important than the relationships you are willing to sacrifice.
My grandfather died in 1996. I remember that he was closely associated with one of the political parities I don't remember which. I do remember that he took great offense when someone suggested that he supports the other party. That's all I remember of his politics. What I really remember is my grandpa loved his family. I remember his strength. He was both physically strong and steadfast in his beliefs. I remember that near the end of his life he saw an advertisement for a nice study bible and he ordered it so that my grandmother would have it when he was gone. Was my grandfather a dedicated Republican or a loyal Democrat? I don't know. I don't want to know. I don't really care. His political affiliation was NOT the defining characteristic of my grandpa and its not my defining characteristic.
I want to be defined by my life in Christ and Christ that lives in me. We are between times. Yes we are between the resurrection of Jesus and His second coming but but this week we are between the end of the RNC convention and the DNC convention and there is an awful lot of tribulation out there. If your are on Twitter or Facebook you know that many people are campaigning for the candidates they support and often times it gets kind of ugly. I hear less about Republicans and Democrats then I do about Conservatives and Liberals. I have friends who are both. I know faithful pastors who are both. My good friend and fellow pastor Mike is the most conservative guy I know pastors a church in rural Michigan. He loves Jesus, takes the bible seriously and genuinely cares for people. My good friend Dwayne is the most liberal or has he describes himself “radical” guy I know, served several years on the south side of Chicago and is doing a church plant in Bellwood, IL. He loves Jesus, takes the bible seriously and genuinely cares for people.
Both my friends celebrate Christmas and Easter. Both lead inspiring worship services. Both my friends have family that they love very much. But I can say with a strong degree of confidence that come November they will not be voting the same way as each other. So how can a self proclaimed Conservative and self proclaimed radical be so similar?
Because we follow a God who first transcends all human divisions. And second uses our differences to speak a wider truth than we can see from our limited points of view.
We are called to be both conservative and Radical. The danger of being just conservative is that we may get lost in our traditions. The danger of being just radical is that we wont have any guiding principles for our zeal.
We are called to be both conservative and Radical.
Be conservative in holding on to your faith. But be radical in sharing it with those whom you wouldn't normally expect to talk to.
Be conservative in keeping God's commandments but be radical in forgiving those who do not.
Be conservative in using resources on yourself but be radial in your generosity to others.
Be conservative in keeping the scriptures close at hand but be radical in living them out.
It is the paradox of God that these two ideas are linked. If you want to be mature in the faith you must have the faith of a child. The first will be last and the last will be first if anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position; he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.
We come to this table hungry. Whatever our political persuasion, whatever our place in community, whatever our station in life. Around this table we stand as equals. We are all children of God, accepting the invitation to gather for a family dinner.
So, how is it with you today? Be prepared to be challenged, to be ridiculed and even ostracized for what you stand for. But count it as a blessing and an opportunity. A blessing to grow in love for people who offer you difficulty and an opportunity to grow and to see the bigger picture.
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