Tradition or the Text?

Throughout history, traditions have played a significant role in shaping religious practices, but when these traditions begin to overshadow the text’s teachings, it raises important questions. In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, we find examples where tradition has, at times, taken precedence over Scripture, leading to practices that diverge from the original message of the biblical text.

One significant example is the practice of praying to saints. In Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions, seeking the intercession of saints is common—those who have passed away and are believed to be in heaven. While this practice is deeply rooted in these traditions, it does not align with the New Testament, where Jesus Christ is identified as the sole mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). The New Testament teaches that believers have direct access to God through Christ, without the need for intermediaries. Despite this, the tradition of praying to saints has become so integral to these traditions that it is often seen as essential, even though it lacks explicit biblical support.

Another example is the veneration of Mary, particularly the doctrines of her perpetual virginity, immaculate conception, and assumption into heaven. These teachings have been developed and formalized within Catholic tradition over the centuries but are not found in the New Testament. While Mary is undoubtedly honored in Scripture as the mother of Jesus, the Bible does not ascribe to her the elevated status or elaborate doctrines that later tradition imposed. In Catholic practice, however, these beliefs have become central, sometimes eclipsing the foundational gospel message.

In the Orthodox Church, using icons in worship presents another case where tradition has taken precedence over Scripture. The veneration of icons is a crucial aspect of Orthodox worship, where these images are considered to be conduits to the divine. While deeply embedded in Orthodox tradition, the New Testament does not support this practice, emphasizing worshiping God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) without using intermediary objects. The early church’s opposition to using images further underscores the divergence between this tradition and the biblical text.

Lastly, the practice of confession to a priest in the Catholic Church illustrates how tradition can develop in ways that diverge from New Testament teachings. According to Catholic tradition, believers must confess their sins to a priest for absolution. While the New Testament encourages confessing sins, it does so in direct confession to God (1 John 1:9) and mutual confession among believers (James 5:16), without establishing a priest as a necessary intermediary. Despite this, the tradition of priestly confession has become a fundamental aspect of Catholic practice, often taking precedence over the more direct approach to forgiveness presented in the New Testament.

These examples demonstrate how traditions have led to practices deviating from the New Testament’s core teachings when elevated to the level of Scripture or beyond. It is crucial to continually return to Scripture, allowing it to inform and, when necessary, correct our traditions. When tradition overshadows Scripture, there is a risk of losing sight of the gospel’s central message, which is simple, direct, and centered on Christ alone.

~PW 🌮🛶

Sources:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1992). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
• Pelikan, J. (1971). The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol. 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100–600). University of Chicago Press.
• Ratzinger, J. (2005). Introduction to Christianity. Ignatius Press.
• Ferguson, E. (2009). Church History, Volume One: From Christ to the Pre-Reformation. Zondervan.
• Ware, K. (1997). The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity. Penguin Books.