Apostolic Tradition: This is the End; I Promise

All right, as a final installment in this series of posts, I wanted to try and address some possible objections to the things I have been saying. I would have wanted to entertain some objections from honest-to-goodness objectors, but since none have presented themselves, I will have to imagine for myself what some of their counter-arguments might be. Sorry if some of these seem a little ridiculous.

1. Our church’s pattern of worship and government is already based upon the apostolic tradition. The kind of evaluation you’re suggesting is no longer necessary for us.

It is wonderful to be part of a tradition that was self-consciously founded upon the teachings of the apostles, but I can’t imagine it could hurt any of us as churches to continually re-evaluate our practices in light of scripture. Perhaps it might be found that we did not begin with such clear conformity as we might have imagined. Perhaps it might be found that, though our beginning was sound, we have strayed over time. Whatever the case, I can’t see how it would ever be safe to place so much confidence in our secondary standards, that we no longer subject our practices to the direct scrutiny of the word of God.

2. The scriptures aren’t all that specific about the practical details of church life. There are certain gaps which we have to fill. Because of this, no one will ever be able to agree as to exactly what constitutes apostolic practice.

There is certainly some truth to this. The point is to at least begin with what we do have, and make sure none of our gap-filling contradicts or hampers what it is we do know we’re supposed to be doing. Furthermore, our inability to attain perfect uniformity in the application of this tradition is no reason not to try. Consider the doctrinal, rather than the practical matters of scripture. Very rarely will two persons share precisely the same dogmatic theology. The solution to that problem is not to let every man invent his own theology, but rather to continue to seek the truth in humility.

3. It is good to have some variety from church to church. You seem to be demanding uniformity.

The lack of detail in the apostolic record does allow for a significant amount of variety from church to church. But is variety really that important of a biblical virtue? Remember that Paul said on multiple occasions that he was giving the same commands to all the churches of God. Clamoring for variety, for variety’s sake, seems to me to be the quickest path to error, error in doctrine as well as in practice.

4. The particulars of apostolic practice are no longer relevant for churches in today’s modern society.

Perhaps this is so. The first century church lived in an age in which truth was considered completely relative and pluralism abounded. It was an age in which men were without hope, immorality was rampant, and family structures were dissolving. It was an age in which Christianity was being opposed on every side. Perhaps, in light of the vastly different conditions we face, it would be better to completely jettison apostolic practices and make up everything new on our own.

5. I was talking about the fact that we have cars and iPods now.

Oh. Well, of course that makes all the difference in the world. Bring out the mud-wrestling worship team!

6. Don’t your suggestions amount to legalism?

It is true that what might begin as a pure desire to gratefully keep the commands of God can sometimes turn into a prideful over-obsession with the adhering to the minutest details the law. However, it is never the commands of God that get us into trouble, it is the misuse of those commands. Just as the antidote to gnat-straining is not camel- swallowing, the solution to legalism is not to completely ignore the law of God. The commands of the apostles have been given to the churches for their blessing. I find it difficult to believe that a mere call to obey the words of Christ can be reasonably classified as legalism.

And so, a final recap of what I’ve been attempting to argue: I believe that the practical commands of the apostles, as they are recorded in the scriptures, represent the abiding and authoritative words of Christ to His churches today. I believe that it is only right that churches evaluate their practices in the light of this standard and labor to conform to this inspired tradition. I believe that great blessings will follow if we begin and continue to do so.