Traditions 2

I want to continue on the discussion that we began in previous posts on the subject of traditions. It has recently come to my attention that there are those in the Apostolic Movement who are are preaching and teaching the credenda that if there is anyone among the congregation who does not follow the traditions of that congregation that they should be shunned, ignored... basically, the rest of the congregation should have nothing to do with that individual. The Text that they have used to back this contention is 2 Thessalonians 3:6. So that we are all on the same page, I'm including exact quotations from both the KJV (the translation that is most often being used to back this teaching) and the ESV.

KJV

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."

ESV

"Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us."

First, let's look at the biblical definition of the word tradition. Tradition comes from a koine Greek word which is transliterated paradosis. Paradosis has several definitions, but the one that contextually applies in this usage is as follows:

1. a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing, i.e. tradition by instruction, narrative, precept, etc.

• objectively, that which is delivered, the substance of a teaching
• of the body of precepts, especially the ritual which in the opinion of the later Jews were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written Torah, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence.

By the context of Paul's usage of the word paradosis we can glean that he is referencing a previous teaching that ties directly into this particular letter to the Thessalonian Community. Also—by the context—we can see that Paul used paradosis in its singular voice, referring to a specific tradition or ordinance rather than generally all previously taught traditions. Paul is obviously reminding the Thessalonian Community to remember his previous teachings in regards to individuals who are not willing to work and provide for their families and the Community. In reading the remainder of chapter 3 you'll see that contextually Paul is specifically dealing with laziness.

Paul was not giving the instruction that individuals who do not follow any of his other teachings should be avoided. He was writing to a group of people who lived as a community, providing for the needs of their individual families, and those of the collective; an action in which Paul himself participated during his stay in Thessaloniki. He was specifically dealing with the issue of people not pulling their weight in the collective, then spreading discord through their verbiage.

People who are too lazy to get involved are normally wonderful arm-chair quarterbacks.

For anyone to cherry-pick verse 6 of this Text and establish a teaching or instruction that if an individual does not follow the traditions established in a local congregation they should be shunned or excluded in any way from the Community is adding to the Text, not to mention a huge stretch hermeneutically.

I would like to again reiterate the fact that the Paul instructed the 1st Century Community to not abolish the traditions taught to them simply because they were traditions (2 Thessalonians 2:15). However, a practice to which Paul continually adhered was to identify traditions as just that, traditions, and not as doctrine. The danger is not in traditions but in deifying our traditions as doctrine.

Another stretch that is often made is to assume that the traditions established in a local congregation apply collectively to the entire Body. Who are we to assume that our opinions and ideals are that close to God's doctrine? As we've discussed previously in other posts, Jesus condensed everything given by God to Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament to two commandments: the Shema (Deut. 6:4) and the fact that we should love this one God with everything in us, and that we should love our neighbor in the same manner and with the same veracity in which we love ourselves (Matthew 22:40). Is it possible that now is the time to teach this rather than our own private interpretations of the Text? By the way, is the Text open to any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20)?

The time has come to collectively examine our traditions to honestly see if they are bringing individuals closer to God or blocking their path to God. This is not rebellion nor lack of submission to the God's delegated authorities. Peter admonished pastors to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock, (1 Peter 5:2-3, ESV).