GOD'S LOVE AND CHURCH TRADITION

 Isaiah 58:9-14; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17

Introduction

The Church is often faced with the tension between holding on to tradition and manifesting the boundless love of God. At times, traditions provide order, discipline, and continuity, but when they overshadow love, they risk becoming burdensome rather than life-giving. Today, we reflect on God’s love and Church tradition, two realities that are not enemies but are meant to work together to glorify God and bless His people.

God’s love is His steadfast, self-giving, and redeeming affection for humanity, revealed supremely in Jesus Christ. So that as soon as we believe in Him, we've reached out to His saving arms (Rom. 5:8; John 3:16). God’s love is not just a feeling but a covenant commitment to restore, liberate, and guide His people.

Jesus Christ constituted the church in Matthew 16:18 when He said, "...on this rock I will build my church, and gates of Hades will not overcome it.” He keeps adding to the church day in and day out (Acts 2:41, 47).

Tradition refers to teachings and practices handed down, whether from God through His prophets and apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15) or human customs (Mark 7:8).

Church Tradition here is basically the ecclesiastical framework created to guide and guard the Church. It is the faithful transmission of the gospel, the ordering of worship, sacraments, and community life to glorify God.

It is what normally gives identity to the church, making it unique from all other social gatherings. Church tradition includes liturgy, creeds, hymns, sacraments, structures, and customs that shape our corporate identity. This ecclesiastical framework can be studied and turn people to be performers for applause to the status quo instead of genuine ministry unto God. When it loses sight of God’s love, it risks becoming rigid, oppressive, or self-serving.

Church tradition can degenerate into being the most dangerous enemy to the core of Christian faith, I mean hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is acting, putting up a show to a human audience. It is actually acting righteous when you are really not. 

The question is, is the church today focused on its traditions to the neglect of God's love?

Jesus and Traditions

The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, which was set aside for God. Nowhere do we read the abomination of being healed on this day. The usual clash between Jesus and the Pharisees on the Sabbath has not been whether to observe the Sabbath but over how to observe it. 

The Pharisees had primarily defined the Sabbath in negative terms. They say it prohibited all work (Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). To them, even the casual action of the disciples in picking of grain constituted a kind of work (Matt. 12:1-2); Jesus' healing of the woman is also a kind of work. Interestingly, they describe this action as “not lawful” (Mark 2:24), even though such a specific application of the fourth commandment is lacking in the Torah. The problem is their interpretation of the law as authoritative and binding.

Jesus regards the Sabbath positively. The day of freedom from work is a gift for humanity’s good. “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Both the Sabbath and the house of God (with its contents) are described as “holy” in Scripture. Sabbath is a sacred time, and the house of God is a sacred space.

God's Love Overrules Tradition

As usual, Jesus visits one of the synagogues and teaches the people. He encounters a woman who had been crippled by a demonic spirit for 18 years. "...She was bent over and could not straighten up at all." Luke 13:11. Jesus then speaks to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Luke 13:12-13.

 

This is the practical demonstration of God's love to the world we read from John 3:16. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declared His purpose on earth quoting from the Prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me... to proclaim good news to the poor... to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free...” Luke 4:18-19. Here, tradition, Sabbath observance, is not discarded but fulfilled in love.

One would have expected applause and thanksgiving to God alongside the woman, "immediately she straightened up and praised God." Luke 13:13.

This was not the case; they were angry, furious, and indignant, saying, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” Luke 13:14.

Oh!, after all these 18 years, I can now straighten up in joy, and that is not important to you, my leaders... the woman may have thought. The leader of the synagogue clings to rules, tradition, status quo; Jesus embodies God’s love that brings freedom, dignity, and restoration. Love is the true interpreter and fulfillment of Church tradition.

Jesus immediately spoke about their hypocrisy over the commandment within their own interpretation; meanwhile, they untie their animal and give them food and water on this same Sabbath. God's love for humanity is above the doctrinal patterns of the church, which shifts our focus.

God's love is not demonstrated to us based on how we follow human traditions against His Word. The Love of God supersedes any church tradition we hold to. Isaiah speaks on God's love before coming to the sabbath (Isaiah 58:6-13).

Churches may have some traditional system to enroll people into leadership as Presbyters, Catechists, Ministers, Evangelists, etc., as a guide. Meanwhile, God lovingly has a way of using everyone just as He said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. ” Jeremiah 1:5. This brings us to the point to say that, if your church does not enroll you into a certain position/office, the works of God in you do not cease.

God teaches us today that, "...you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly" (Hebrews 12:22). Therefore, rejoice and humble yourself for God's usage.

* God’s Love Gives Meaning to Church Tradition

Church traditions without love become empty shells. The Sabbath, fasting, and service practices are meant to reflect God’s compassion, not to burden people.

* Church Tradition Preserves God’s Love Across Generations

Church tradition keeps alive the memory "anamensis" of God’s saving acts such as Baptism, Passover → Eucharist, Psalms → hymns, prayer, creeds, → confession of faith.

Through tradition, God's love is remembered, rehearsed, and passed on.

* When Tradition Conflicts with Love, God's Love Must Lead

Jesus demonstrates that love is the higher law. Healing, feeding, and deliverance take precedence over ritual rigidity.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

* God’s Love Transforms Tradition into Witness

Our traditions, service styles, liturgies, community practices, doctrines, dressings, etc., must be living testimonies of God’s inclusive love.

A tradition that excludes, oppresses, or discourages is not aligned with Christ. The Church must constantly reform traditions in the face of Scripture so that love shines through.

Reflective questions:

1. Do I cling to religious rules while neglecting compassion? 

2. Am I quick to judge others’ practices while forgetting love?

3. How do our Church life, leadership, and customs embody God’s love? Are they welcoming, liberating, and life-giving?

Conclusion

God is actually giving us a more peaceful presence, unlike the days of Moses in Exo. 19. The ecclesia must never be conclusive in knowing it all, thereby building a solid wall against God's love to humanity. So long as we see in part (1Cor. 13:12), we must always make room for God's illumination in every situation without raising the church's traditions above the expression of God's love at any particular time.

Shalom aleikhem...