Why do churches of Christ sing a cappella in their worship? Is it because they have always done it that way and, rooted in their tradition, they are unwilling to change? Or, is it because they are rooted in the teachings of Scripture?
Why do churches of Christ require immersion in water of a penitent believer in order to accept someone is saved? Is it because that’s just the way they’ve been taught for years and, rooted in their tradition, they are unwilling to see it any other way? Or, is it because they are rooted in the teachings of Scripture?
Why do churches of Christ only allow men in leadership roles (in their worship services and in their organization of elders, deacons and preachers) and not allow women to fill these positions? Is it because they are stuck in the past and, rooted in their tradition, they are unwilling to accept the advancement of women in our culture? Or, is it because they are rooted in the teachings of Scripture?
Why do churches of Christ teach anything? Why do churches of Christ believe anything? Why do churches of Christ practice anything? Why do churches of Christ even exist? Is it just tradition? Or, is it rooted deeper than that?
If any religious group is teaching something because “that’s what we’ve always taught,” they ought to seriously and honestly examine it. If any religious group is practicing something because “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” they ought to seriously and honestly examine it. If teachings and practices are rooted merely in tradition, then those teachings and practices are rooted in men rather than God. Considering that “the way of man is not in himself” and “it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23), we all need a higher authority, a deeper purpose and a stronger foundation than man-based religion.
Why do churches of Christ sing a cappella in their worship? Because that’s what Scripture authorizes (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; etc.). Why do churches of Christ require immersion in water of a penitent believer in order to accept someone is saved? Because that’s what Scripture authorizes (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16, etc.). Why do churches of Christ only allow men in leadership roles and not allow women to fill these positions? Because that’s what Scripture authorizes (1 Tim. 2:8-14; 3:1-13, etc.). This is not about tradition! It’s about Scripture!
God warns Christians of being deceived by persuasive words and commands them to be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith” (Col. 2:7). Let that be our aim!