Credo 8-22-2020
I plan
to continue with some insights from William Coffin. I, also, plan to not write
anything tomorrow as a sabbath. I will be moving on in the book on his comments
about life in general and about the church. First this quote from the chapter
on Social Justice and Economic Rights. Coffin was always concerned about the
marginalized, particularly the poor. There are several statements about being
the richest nation in the world with the number of homeless and those who live
in poverty. But this quote stood out not just about economic disparity but
sometimes for the church and for each of us. “Believers know that while our
values are embodied in tradition, out hopes are always located in change (pg.
59).”
The talk
of tradition brought to mind the Wesleyan Quadrilateral: scripture, tradition, experience,
and reason. Sometimes, I think we can overvalue tradition and at the same time
one does not want to throw it out. Tradition does inform us as to who we are whether
church, nation, and even family. Who I am comes in part from family of origin
as does everyone’s. Truth is seen through the lens of the
Quadrilateral. In my Wesleyan study bible, this what was written as a Wesleyan
Core Term. “Tradition is what is passed down through generation of believers
for the instruction of doctrine and life, belief and practice. For Wesley tradition
is on the criteria (the others being Scripture, reason, and experience) by
which we judge our interpretation of the truth of the gospel. When Wesley
speaks of tradition he means, above all, the ‘early church,’ the pre-Constantinian
church, and he particularly esteems the Greek theologians. Though his thought
on tradition has some likeness to restorationist views of pietists and
Anabaptists, he came to understand that even the ‘primitive’ church was not
free from false doctrine and unfaithful practices and thus had to be
subordinated to the norm of Scripture. Tradition, in Wesley’s eyes, is be no
means simply a history of Christian though. It is also a record of holy lives. The
lives of saints instruct our faith and give us courage and stamina to remain in
faith. Tradition is alive and pertinent as to our struggle to be faithful disciples
of Christ (1406).”
As important
tradition is, it is equally important that tradition be examined. There was a
book Generation to Generation by Ed Friedman. The premise is based on family
systems theory and that we are shaped by the previous generations of our lives.
This also applies to all institutions whether church, government, cultures,
etc. To grow, we must become aware of the forces that have shaped us. We do not
have to live unexamined lives that are trapped in previous traditions but
through hope can reach out to a better tomorrow. Our challenge is how to do the
work of examination and not just repeat what we have learned. This is the great
insight of Wesley. What can we learn from the Scriptures, what is our
experience, and what do we reason, informs us and helps to determine what
traditions are worth keeping and teaching and what are ready to do the nasty
word change.
Shalom
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