The Tyranny of Traditionalism

Devotional, Monday, May 12, 2025

The week of the fourth Sunday of Easter

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s  Gospel reading:

6:1One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 2But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ 3Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?’ 5Then he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary readings (BCP, 960)

AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44

Wisdom 1:16-2:11,21-24;  Colossians 1:1-14;  Luke 6:1-11

David's Reflections

Jaroslav Pelikan in his published lectures, The Vindication of Tradition, talks about the tyranny of tradition over insight.  He remarks about that tension with a  trenchant line:  "Tradition is the living faith of the dead;  traditionalism is the dead faith of the living." *

Today’s Gospel, with its parallels in Matthew and Mark, pits Jesus' insight against the tyranny of the tradition of his peers within the religious leadership.  The basic controversy centered around Sabbath observance.  His contemporaries sought to protect the commandment about keeping the Sabbath holy and resting in response to the Scriptural account of God's having rested on the seventh day from the work of creation. (Gen. 2:1-3)

Their intent was admirable, to honor the teaching of Scripture with oral traditions that ensured obedience to the teaching of Scripture.  But, their execution actually resulted in their violating the spirit of the commandments they were attempting to honor.  Contrary to their tradition,  which sought to protect the Sabbath observance, Jesus understood that to feed the hungry on the Sabbath or to heal the sick was consistent with the nature of the Sabbath itself. The full coming of God’s kingdom would usher in perpetual sabbath; therefore, whatever one did consistent with that final sabbath honored it.

Jesus brimmed over with insight about Hebrew Scripture and the traditions that had arisen around it, and he saw clearly that some of the traditions had degenerated into traditionalism and were exerting tyranny over the lives of people. In this instance, the tradition violated the true meaning of sabbath as fulfillment of God’s kingly rule.

In the Anglican tradition, worship in the vernacular of the people and music that resonates with the culture are basic to our history.  In the sixteenth century the English of Elizabeth was the vernacular, everyday language of the people.  The hymn tunes and rhythms of the music were culturally relevant; some made use of bar tunes. In our day, the English of Elizabeth is not the vernacular.  I do enjoy the Eucharist expressed in that language, but I am a life-long Christian with an historic interest in Anglican worship.  That holds for classical church music as well.  Those of later generations than mine or with little or no church background may well feel they’ve entered a time warp if they happen into a service wrapped in 16th and 17th. Century language and music with tune patterns of previous centuries.

If I become captive to the Elizabethan language of Rite 1 or to only classical forms of church music from a previous era and reject all other forms I am under the tyranny of traditionalism.  And I would be violating of the Anglican tradition itself.  That would be to experience the tyranny of tradition over insight.  It would be to loose sight of the awesome newness of Jesus, the reality that following him means letting go of everything that hinders his mission in the world.

To have the security of tradition as my hedge against change is to run the risk of setting the insights of Jesus’ newness against tradition and thus lapsing into traditionalism. Could such a lapse mean that I am trusting my devotion to the past to enhance my favor with God, salvation by dogma? If I just maintain my devotion to tradition God will bless me? Such a misplaced devotion puts me at odds with the newness of the Christ I seek to serve. It substitutes a form of merit for God’s undeserved grace that comes to me whether my practice of tradition is right or wrong.

We have much to learn about reaching new people from the church planting movement and from established churches that are experimenting with new forms of liturgy and newer tune patterns in their music. I favor prototyping and learning from our failures. I also favor dialogue with those outside the faith community to learn how to be more fully interactive and responsive.

Jesus’ teaching encourages us to dispense with old wineskins and old garments, welcoming the vibrant life of God that will bring newness, newness consistent with the missional urges in the biblical faith communities. We can model after Jesus’ creative way 0f honoring the past while orienting ourselves primarily to God’s onrushing newness.

* Jaroslav Pelikan, The Vindication of Tradition (New Haven,  CN:  Yale UP, 1984), p. 65

Collect of the Day, The Fourth Sunday of Easter

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;  Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 225)

Collect of the Weekdays of Easter

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given your Church the great joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Give us also the greater joy of the kingdom of your elect, when the flock of your Son will share in the final victory of its Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p.  63)

A Collect for the Renewal of Life

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 99)

A Collect for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (BCP, 100)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 6:1-11

6:1One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. 2But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ 3Jesus answered, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?’ 5Then he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’ 6On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. 8Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’ He got up and stood there. 9Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?’ 10After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was restored. 11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer