Friday, October 17, 2008

Not Bound by Tradition

2 Cor. 13:11-14 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. [12] Greet one another with a holy kiss. [13] All the saints greet you.
[14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.



Greet one another with a holy kiss. I tend to like traditions. Traditions can be good. They can serve to teach. They can create a rhythm of life, making it peaceful and giving it order. Of course there can be bad traditions. Traditionally getting drunk on Friday night, might not be the best of traditions. Then there can be traditions that are neither good nor bad. Or perhaps the context and culture determines whether a tradition is good or bad. Traditions don’t need to be thrown out. But once in awhile they should be scrutinized. We are not bound to them. And for that I am thankful. Giving my elders a kiss, holy or otherwise, before communion is not something I care to do. In our society I think it would have some wrong connotations. Perhaps the handshake is better.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agreed.

Sometimes wearing gloves might not be a bad idea either.

Es ist das Heil said...

If you were an ELCA, a kiss might be appropiate!

apollo819 said...

es ist das heil..

Thats gross dude..lol I am with Steve, that sounds like too much DNA swapping for me.
Playing football, we use to straight are each other on the shoulders. Now as long as we don't knock each other down, we should be able to physically greet at arms length.

Hey Bror,

Is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, the same as 23 after Trinity? Subtract a week? Still trying to figure out the calender for "To Live with Christ".
Sorry for the stupid question.

Es ist das Heil said...

apollo819:
Yeah, sorry, that is gross!
I can't believe they condone that stuff. You ought to check out their website and see all the other stuff they believe! Luther would role over in his grave!!
I don't think God is very happy with them either!

Bror Erickson said...

Apollo,
i wouldn't sweat it too much. But yes I believe you are right it would be the twenty third Sunday after Pentecost minus a week. Easier just to start with Advent. But....

apollo819 said...

Oh I plan on reading it more than just once...although, I am trying to still get through all those "Books of the Bible"....haha