Articles > Systematic Theology > The Authority of the Bible > Objections to Culture and Traditions as Authority

Part XI: Objections to Culture and Traditions as Authority

I. Introduction

a. The ultimate authority for the Christian ought to be the Word of God.

i. There can be no other ultimate authority.

1. This outline will consider the case against two alternative authorities that are usually marshaled against Biblical authority. These are:

a. Authority on the basis of Culture

b. Authority on the basis of Traditions

2. Culture and Traditions: Definitions and relationship

a. Definition

i. Culture: A fixed or fluid social unit with networks of beliefs concerning social expectations, values and explanation of the world.

1. Henry Van Til famously described culture as "religion externalized".

ii. Tradition: A network of beliefs concerning social expectation, values and narratives that claims to have historical antecedent and explanation of the world.

b. Relationship

i. Similarities

1. Both are networks of beliefs concerning social expectation, values and explanation of the world.

ii. Differences

1. Tradition usually invoke continuity with the past

2. Culture usually has a sense of the present.

b. Methodology

i. False ultimate authority ought to be exposed.

1. Nature of ultimate authority

a. Sometimes people are not conscious of what their ultimate authority is

b. Other times their authority is not explicitly stated.

c. Still other times people are inconsistent.

2. The task of exposing false ultimate authority. In evangelism, counseling, discipleship and apologetics Christians must:

a. Bring to awareness the assumption of previously subconscious ultimate authority

b. Get one to state explicitly their ultimate authority

c. And attempt to demonstrate any inconsistencies concerning their ultimate authority

c. After exposing these false authorities, the task is to demolish it

i. See 2 Corinthians 10:5

II. Objection to Culture as Ultimate Authority

a. Verses against cultural authority

i. Christians' identity in Christ transcends ethnic culture

1. The two different group of people in redemptive history (Jews and Gentiles) are now one in Christ

a. See Galatians 3:26-29 and Ephesians 2:14-16

b. This leads to a new foundation in our life

i. "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20)

ii. The basic principles of this world is against Christ

1. "See to it that no one take you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

a. "The basic principles of this world" is how the Bible describes the foundational belief that is man made, which correspond with our concept of culture.

b. Because the basic principles o this world is against Christ, Christians must reject it.

iii. In Christ, Christians already died to the basic principles of this world

1. "Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules" (Colossians 2:20)

a. Believers no longer submit to the rules of the basic principles of this world

iv. In Christ, slavery to the basic principles of this world is of the past.

1. "So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world." (Galatians 4:3)

a. Notice the past tense of the verse

v. Christians must beware of being enslaved again to the basic principles of this world

1. "See to it that no one take you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

vi. Objection: "You can not tell another culture what is right and what is wrong."

1. In Philemon 8, Paul the Jew establishes that he can order the Gentile Philemon to do what is right.

2. Much of the Epistles is an example of God's commandments through Jewish writers to Christians in a Gentile culture.

b. Further Objections

i. Which culture should be the Authoritative standard?

1. There are so many cultures and sub-culture in any given time and also in the past; which one should be authoritative? And why?

ii. Can cultures be wrong?

1. If cultures could be wrong, then cultures are not the authoritative standard for another authoritative standard is measuring it.

iii. The Problem of relativism

1. Culture changes

2. Cultures contradict with one another

III. Objection to Tradition as Ultimate Authority

a. Why previous objections to Cultural authority applies to Traditions as well

i. Note that in the introduction of this outline, how cultures and traditions are similar and are different in terms of temporal origin (Tradition associated with the past, culture usually associated with the present).

ii. Tradition can either be a part of a culture (as in one's cultural heritage) or else a type of culture ('traditional culture', whatever it might be)

b. Verses against tradition as authority

i. Matthew 15:1-9

1. Context: Jesus argues with the Pharisees about why his disciples don't wash their hands before they eat

2. Note verse three, "Jesus replied, 'And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?'" (Matthew 15:3)

a. One ought not to break God's commandment for traditions sake.

3. Note verse six, "Thus, you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition." (Matthew 15:6b)

a. Do not for the sake of tradition, nullify God's Word!

4. Note verse nine, quoted from Isaiah, "They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Matthew 15:9)

a. Traditions origin is with man, and leads to vain worship

ii. Mark 7:1-13 (Mark's account of Matthew 15:1-9)

1. Note verse eight, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the tradition of men." (Mark 7:8)

2. Note verse nine, "And he said to them, 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your traditions!'"(Mark 7:9)

a. God's Word is more authoritative than tradition!

iii. Colossians 2:8

1. See to it that no one take you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

c. Further Objections

i. Which traditions is the ultimate authority?

1. Since there are so many traditions, which one should one accept as ultimate authority, and why?

a. For example, Roman Catholics argue their traditions must be accepted because it's the original church, but various Eastern Orthodox churches and African Coptic churches give the same argument as Roman Catholics!

ii. Can traditions be wrong?

1. If so, then something else other than tradition is the ultimate standard.

iii. The problem of relativism

1. Traditions contradict one another

When one survey especially church history, one may find citations supporting one's position and another find citations against it.