Tradition, Holiness + Worldliness

In one way or another, my time in Oklahoma revolved around three intersecting issues: holiness, worldliness and the place of tradition. Given that I was visiting a Nazarene University, it is not surprising that those issues would emerge. The Nazarenes are pretty hardcore on certain elements of holiness--like many groups that have emerged and formed themselves around this particular issue, their view of holiness is largely behavioural--they have issues with alcohol and dancing particularly apparently. Yes, I was in a potential "Footloose" situation.
    What to do about and with tradition is a topic of some concern for many of the people I met and engaged with. I was reminded of Picasso's comment that the

best way to honour tradition is by "having children and not by wearing your father's hat," an insightful comment and a clue for how institutions might deal with their own pasts. The tendency is always to maintain what worked, or what was applied in the past, but surely there was context in those decisions, contexts that may or may not apply today, this is what needs to be addressed. Here is a school that bans dancing, but has tattooed and pierced students everywhere. The would probably have an easier time proof-texting a scriptural prohibition of those actions, but the 'tradition' doesn't address them so therefore they slide right by, maybe with just a little disapproval.
    I was asked to address the ways on which popular culture affects a lot of these issues. What I said was generally well received and considered helpful I think. There were a few dissenters, and the issue was usually cast in a worldliness/holiness vein. To me, issues of holiness as easily addressed when it comes t the Gospels, Jesus redefined holiness, much as David did in the Old Testament--in the biblical text holiness is in flux, it is always current and in a state of flux--"what is holiness and how is it manifested?" is not etched in stone. As for worldliness--we worry about dancing and care less about the poor, or war, or the marriage of Christianity and capitalism--it is barely worth addressing the issue when it is raised in these situations, because it is always used in a combative and resistant manner--it is a strong-arm against the world, and it never holds.
    I found a lot of resonance with my thoughts and that is hopeful.

Comments

[Chuck Eddy]

I like what you're saying about an approach to tradition that takes into account the context in which the tradition was formed. It seems that not a few leaders of institutions want to retain the foundational values established by their founders regardless of whether or not such values have any meaning in the minds of the following generations. They seem to want to preserve the old story as it was told by the founders and find it threatening that later generations would dare to question, or worse, add to the story. This can be particularly frustrating when one's loyality to an institution is questioned as a result of suggesting new perspectives.