Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

360 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

V. The Apostle Paul often includes to the churches an appeal to the tradition for support in both doctrinal and ethical practices.

The apostolic tradition was the yardstick and plumb line of authentic faith, genuine Christian love, and authentic demonstration of Christian hope in the church’s faith and practice.

1 Cor. 11.16 – If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God (cf. 1 Cor. 1.2; 7.17; 15.3).

1 Cor. 14.33-34 – For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

VI. When a congregation uses received tradition to remain faithful to the “Word of God,” they are commended by the apostles.

The apostles not only expected the churches to receive the traditions of faith and practice that they had given to the people of God, they were instructed to maintain and defend them, to hold fast to what they have been given, and to stand firm upon it for what it truly was, the authoritative word of God.

1 Cor. 11.2 – Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

2 Thess. 2.15 – So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 2 Thess. 3.6 – Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

The Founders of Tradition: Three Levels of Christian Authority

Exod. 3.15 (ESV) – God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”