The bottom line is this: we have become so caught up in tradition that we have lost sight of what God designed when He instituted the Church. Converts to The Way sought each other out and found blessing in meeting to worship together weekly, just as they had met weekly in the synagogues. As iron sharpens iron, they sharpened each other to the strengthening of their faith and the deepening of their understanding and relationship with God.

In such a growing community it became beneficial, even necessary, to have elders. These elders were to be righteous men who “knew their stuff” and could be looked to for advice, judgment, and a good example. As the Messiah had come, there was so much to talk about: how does this change things, what we are in a new covenant? Quickly there were factions, such as the Judaizers. They wanted (or rather, believed) that the Old Testament law should be largely maintained. Although acknowledging the incorporation of the Gentiles into the covenant, a lifetime of traditional adherence to Old Testament law made them think that the Gentiles should now have to follow this law as well.

Paul had other idea. By a more consistent application of the principles of the covenant, he realized that not only were the Gentiles not to be bound to this law, the Jews were not to be either. Paul realized that it was not works that accomplished anything, but faith, hope, and love. All good works, flow from these. This was the triumph of Liberty in Christ over Slavery to Tradition.

When we preach tradition as law without regard to the principle and respect for liberty, we are dishonest. When we say that a particular way of doing something is the only allowable way, we deny the truth that God has left us with principles to live by. There are many implementations of these principles, and they all become tradition with regular use. The error comes when we forget that they are traditions. When we examine a tradition, we ought not grade it against our own; we should examine it in light of Scripture. Is such and such a style of worship, or format of liturgy, pleasing to God? What is it really that God is looking for?

Jesus left us with two commandments: love God, and love your neighbor as yourself. We derive all other law from these. “And what does God require of you, but that you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?”

Israel at the time of Amos had forgotten what worship was about. They did not show love as they exploited each other. Their sacrifices, albeit properly administered, were done without regard to the principle that inspired them. They missed the mark – and so do we.

We do not always worship as we ought. We attend church out of tradition and to appease our consciences, not because we love God and want to worship Him with our fellow believers. Staying home would be preferable o this strange fire we bring before God! We sing psalms, not from the heart, but because of a superstitious notion that God is really looking for us to repeat someone else's inspired words. True worship come from the heart, and only by the aid of th Holy Spirit. When we are moved by the Holy Spirit to praise God and worship Him, we are divinely inspired. It is not a specific configuration of words that God is looking for: it is a contrite heart with genuinely love Him and wants to praise Him. Psalms are useful insofar as we are able to sing them from the heart, and as examples for how to praise God. Without them we may well be clueless how to formulate our songs. But if its a mindless repetition that God looks for, then we have already failed by translating them into English.

Liberty is a gift from God. We may not flaunt it, but neither may we outlaw it. It is dishonest to make lists of rules and restrictions, no matter the perceived benefit, if it denies the truth of Christian Liberty. Let us not cling blindly to the traditions we've grown comfortable with. The are desirable, yes, but we cannot allow them to sever the bonds we ought to share with other Christians. We all run the race, and we would do well to remember that even they who lag behind, are still running that race. Condemnations do nothing to build up the church. Les us all be as iron sharpening each other, and seek to apply the principle God has given us to live by.