Traditions

Below is a post about traditions.  This post is on the website of the Church I serve at, First Lutheran Church, South Sioux City Nebraska.  http://www.flcssc.org

 

This time of the year can be steeped in traditions.  Sometimes we don’t even recall when or why a tradition was started.   Traditions have their place, to a point.  But just what is that point where tradition no longer carries the weight that it used to.  When I am thinking of tradition, I am speaking more in terms of traditions as it relates to religion.  Tradition in the Lutheran church, at least in the ELCA, since that is the only one I can really speak to, does not determine our theology.  Our theology instead leads into our traditions.

Since Christmas is around the corner, I’ll reflect upon the Christmas service and a couple traditions that can be helpful in keeping focus about what the day and season is about.  A candlelight service is a tradition that goes way back.

There are many speculations to the origins, but we cannot say for sure.  Here is what we can be sure of.  The Jews use candles in Hanukkah, and as we know, the origins of Christians come out of Judaism.  Christmas is celebrated as the birth of Jesus.  However it is not that Jesus was born on the 25th of December, but a time for the celebration.  That celebration time has roots back to the pagan celebration of the winter solstice.  Candles were used in that celebration to remember that, spring would come soon.  Christians used the time of the winter solstice as one means of conversion of the pagans.  Right or wrong, it is what was done and our tradition of candles may reflect out of that.  One of the simplest of reasons may simply be the lack of any other way to light a Church in the early days of the church, at night but by candles and the tradition of candles for the Christmas Eve service is with candles even today.

The last explanation, reminds me of the story a woman who would chop off 1/3 of her ham before cooking it.  When asked why by her daughter, she could only say that, that is what my mother and grandmother did.  Upon further investigation, it is found that the reason for chopping off 1/3 of the ham, was because the pan was not big enough to fit the ham.  Then the tradition continued to be handed down, even though the pan was large enough now.

Back to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.  No matter how it started, there is a symbolism that can be associated with it that helps us focus during worship, on what we are truly in worship for.  The candles illuminate the darkness, as Jesus does to the darkness in the world because of sin.  Jesus himself is the light to the world.  Standing in the back of the church, one could even see the lights progressing towards the altar, where there are more candles, more symbols of the light of Jesus, who comes into the world on Christmas.

I believe the reason, determines the usefulness and validity of the tradition.  If we get hung up on what order the candles are lite, from what source, if we are to light from the altar, backwards or even what order the altar candles or any other candles are ignited or extinguished, then we have overstepped the boundaries of tradition being useful to potentially harmful.

We have communion during the Christmas and Christmas day service.  At some Churches this does not fall into our “regular” schedule of communion but it is a tradition for some, to serve communion on these days.  Some would argue that communion should be offered at all services, and I would agree.  However, that is another topic for another day.  What communion does offer, is an opportunity to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in the transformation of the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus.  In taking the communion, we experience the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ.  We are joined with God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, all those in heaven, those people of the past, the present and all of the people of God around the world in taking communion.  Communion in this case, then I believe, would be a good tradition.  I have heard it argued that communion on Christmas allows those that seem to only attend on Christmas, to receive communion, which happens to be one determiner for those who can vote on church related matters.  If we are offering communion on Christmas, so those that only attend on Christmas, can vote, then I say this is not a good tradition.

I don’t have a particular problem with tradition.  However if it does not effectively connect us in some way with God, then it might be an opportunity for education on the tradition or time to change the tradition .  Hopefully then it can effectively help connect us in some way to God.  We need to always be asking why we are doing what we are doing and asking if it is working.

I am sure I have potentially opened up a can of worms.  However, worms work well for fishing.  Jesus made the disciples “fishers of [people]” and if this can of worms causes conversation, then so be it.  After All Jesus also said, go fishing.  Luke 5:4  🙂