A Year in Luke/ActsНамуна

Tradition is really important for humans. We remember the family or cultural traditions we grew up with, and our faith has traditions that we practice, like singing worship when we gather, requests for prayer, or Communion. However, when traditions become institutionalized, they can lose their purpose and power very quickly. This results in a dry atmosphere and creates a disconnect between those trying to ensure the traditions are kept and those wanting to experience something new. We have seen from history that even the traditions of the church can fall into this dichotomy.

What we can learn from this passage is that listening and innovation are so important for the church to continue to transform the world. Tradition is good, and there are some practices that Christians have done and will continue to do until Jesus returns, but there are also aspects of the community that might change. This does not mean that every suggestion is going to be the right way forward, but we see in Acts that the apostles were willing to listen and were bold when it came to making important decisions.

Let’s meditate today on how we can balance keeping important traditions with flexibility to change.