LOOKING AT TRADITIONS
By
Jerry Falwell
The other day I ran into a Scripture that I had not seen before. Paul is describing the things that led him to faith in Jesus Christ. As he describes his religious background, he includes the traditions that he observed.
And “I” profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:14).
There are many traditions in our churches—things that we do—that become influential in our salvation.
Today I want to instruct the young about the traditions in our church. I want them to know why we do the things we have done, and I want them to learn some of the lessons we have learned from some of these traditions. Many of the young people (a) don’t appreciate what we do, (b) won’t do what we have done, and (c) don’t understand why we do what we do. I want to use the phrase, “Traditions,” to preach Christ to you.
Now this is an unusual sermon, because most Baptists do not put much stock in traditions. I appreciate the Presbyterians with their great worship traditions, and I appreciate many other traditions, but we Baptists do have some traditions.
I. DRESSING UP TO COME TO CHURCH
There was a day when our generation was taught that Saturday night was the time to take your bath to get ready for church the next morning. Easter was a time to buy new church clothes so we could wear them to church the rest of the year. Sunday morning was a time when we wore our best clothes to church. A saved man who works in construction will buy one or two suits and wear them to church. That’s why women will get a “Sunday goin’ to meetin’” dress, especially for church.
A. THE DAY OF CASUAL WEAR.
We see our emphasis going to casual wear. Many of our executives no longer wear a suit and tie to work. That’s all right, and each business must make its own rules and create its own traditions. Even at Liberty, we have dropped the “tie rule” for classes and Chapel. The main reason we did it was for recruitment, we didn’t want the tie as a barrier for reaching some great potential young people who didn’t understand our tie rule, and didn’t understand what Liberty could do for them.
A. B. BIBLICAL REASONS WHY WE DRESS UP
1. When God was first organizing His people into a nation to follow Him, He invited them to come to Mt. Sinai. God wanted His people to be respectful, clean, and reverent when they came to Him. So, “the Lord God said unto Moses, Go unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes and be ready against the third day” (Exodus 19:10-11). Since God is holy and pure, He wanted His people to be as holy and pure as possible when they came to Him. So, they had to wash their clothes, i.e., the Saturday night bath.
CLEAN ON THE OUTSIDE REFLECTS CLEAN
ON THE INSIDE
2. Reverence is reflected in your clothing.
If you are going to see the President of the United States, you would wear your best clothing, and you would make sure that you are clean and proper. Where else would you make sure that you are clean and dressed up?
• On a job interview
• Before a trial judge
• On your first date
• At your wedding ceremony
3. Clothes make a man.
I couldn’t say that clothes make a person, because I found out over the years running camps, leading all type of Christian organizations; that it’s the inner man that makes the difference. But we hear the phrase, “Clothes make the man.” What does that mean? First, the inner man usually reflects his character and excellence by his outer clothes. But in a second step, when you dress up a young person, he will usually act according to the clothes he wears. But not always. Put a tuxedo on a little kid in a wedding, and he still will play and get it dirty.
4. Four rules about clothes.
#1. God accepts you no matter what you wear. God doesn’t look at your clothes, He looks at the sincerity of your heart. Thomas Road Baptist Church will have their doors open to anyone, regardless of what they wear and regardless of how clean they are. The house of God should be open to any and all. However, if you are a child of God, I expect higher standards of you.
#2. Filthy rags are a picture of our lostness, sins, and alienation from God. “All our righteous are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). This means that none of our good works can do anything to save us. No matter how good, it is not good enough for God.
#3. Clean garments are a picture of salvation. “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil” (Isaiah 1:16).
The saints that return with Jesus from Heaven are pictured as “arrayed in fine linen, clean white” (Rev. 19:8, 14).
#4. God deserves our best, both inward and outward. This does not mean expensive clothes, but whatever is your best, give it to God. This does not mean a certain kind of clothes, i.e., a suit or a white shirt and tie. But it does mean that you present yourself to God in your best, and you make sure it is clean and reverent to the Lord.
II. HATS ON MEN IN CHURCH
We’ve had a tradition in Christianity that men should never wear a hat in church. The older men have been quick to tell a young boy, “Take the hat off in church.” If a young man had a hat on a Thomas Road Baptist Church, an usher would respectfully ask him to remove it in the church service.
However, today young men wear hats in many places where we’re not sure it’s a building, i.e., in the Vines Center, atriums, large eating areas, such as the food court at the mall.
Beyond our churches, where in society do we expect a man not to wear a hat?
• In court
• At a wedding
• In an elevator
• Funeral home
• Guest in a private home
Removing your hat is showing reverence to God
The Bible says that removing your hat is reverencing God. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God. Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head” (I Cor. 11:3-4).
While this verse does not say not prohibit wearing a hat in church, it says that you should not wear a hat when you are praying. However, the church is a house of prayer. Therefore, we have followed the tradition that when you enter the church building, your whole life is a prayer to God; therefore, remove your hat.
And how do you honor God by removing your hat? “For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God”(I Cor. 11:7).
SIX PRINCIPLES ABOUT HATS
• Wearing a hat is a “guy thing,” there is nothing wrong with the caps the men wear today.
• There are many events and places where you wear hats such as in hallways, atriums, etc.
• Wearing a hat or going bare-headed does not reflect your spirituality, nor does it determine whether you can approach God, or not.
• You can pray at any place, with any clothing, in any condition.
• Don’t wear a hat when you are praying.
• Because Christian churches feel that this is a house of prayer, out of respect for God and to those in the church, remove your hat when entering the church.
WHY WE WEAR A HAT?
• To keep off the sun and rain.
• For team identification (sports)
• Needed for sports, i.e., helmet.
• Cultural expectations
• Health reasons
III. TATTOOS AND BODY PIERCING
It seems like when I get to watch television, I’ve seen several news reports about people getting tattoos or body piercings. It used to be that people who got tattoos were:
• Sailors
• People from other cultures, i.e., natives who pierce their lips
• Identification with non-Christian religions
A. Bible Teaching.
The Bible has some things to say about body piercing and tattoos. “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28).
Let’s examine why God said this. When God said we shall not make any cuttings, He did not mean:
• Cutting in surgery or stitching up a wound
• Amputation of a limb to save a life
• A servant was marked with a pierced earlobe to show identity (Lev. 21:6)
“Then his master shall bring him (the devoted slave) unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exodus 21:6).
So we see that sometimes it was appropriate to make marks in the body and sometimes it was not. What is the difference?
1. Israel was prohibited from marking their body as a religious commitment to a false god. There have been many false religions that require people to cut, mark or mutilate their body in worship of a false idol or god. People would then wear that mark with pride as identification of a foreign religion.
There have been people who are masochistic, who punish their flesh to serve God. There have been people who beat themselves with a whip, or cut themselves as the priests of Baal cut themselves when begging/praying to Baal for water, “And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them” (I Kgs. 18:28).
2. Therefore, any cuttings, piercing, or tattoos to identify with demons, Satan, a false religion is wrong for a Christian. God wants you to mark yourself in your heart, not your body. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
2. Earrings. God seems to allow some earrings in Scripture. Notice that the old servant Eliezer gave a “golden earrings of half a shekel weight” (Genesis 24:22) to Rebekah when she was invited to become the wife of Isaac and the heir to Messiah. After Job was recovered from his trials, his family came and honored him with a banquet, money and gave him, “an earrings of gold” (Job 42:11).
3. Be careful of tattoos and body piercings because the world is doing it. It seems that many young people are having themselves pierced all over their body, including their tongue and other places. Why are they doing it?
Some as a lark.
Some to be “cool?”
Some to identify with rebellion against society.
Some do it for egotistical rebellion, “I will be master of my own life; I will be master of my own soul.”
Some are doing it to identify with an Eastern religion.
Some young people are doing it to identify with demons, Satanism and the dark side of the Lower World.
4. Because tattooing and body piercing are questionable, I advise a Christian young person to stay away . . . abstain . . . and develop a strong testimony to tell the world of your separation from identifying with evil practices. Be a strong testimony of identifying with Christ.
IV. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR CHRISTIAN YOUNG PEOPLE
A. Do only what you know is credible and acceptable with God. We need to be as obedient to God as we can. Notice the three causes of disobedience in the following illustration.
1. A mother says to her small son, “You may play outside, but don’t get dirty;” maybe the boy didn’t intend to get his clothes dirty, but he did. He couldn’t help it.
The mother says go to the store and get bread, but he doesn’t obey her; he goes outside, plays, gets his clothes dirty. He not only has not lived up to his mother’s expectations, he has disobeyed his mother. He has displeased his mother by not obeying her.
The third occasion, the mother says, “Don’t go outside.” But the boy deliberately disobeys. This is the greatest sin of all.
What has God said to you about earrings? God has said, first live your life but don’t be like the heathen round about you. If earrings are a sign of serving demons, don’t wear them. If wearing earrings will harm your testimony for Christ and soul-winning, then don’t wear earrings. After all, there are some things in life you don’t have to do; and wearing earrings is one thing you don’t have to do.
2. You must not do what God says is wrong. The commandments of God are not grievous. He does not take away all the “fun things to do.” Some people say, “If I am going to become a Christian, I will have to give up all pleasure.” That’s not so. God is not a mean father who “locks you up in a closet all day” and tells you, you cannot wear earrings. But rather, like a wise father, God knows some things will harm you. When he says don’t walk close to the busy highway, he doesn’t want you to get hit by a car. And when God says don’t identify with the things of Satan, He doesn’t want you to be sucked into his evil influence.
3. You must obey your conscience. Some of you say, “My conscience doesn’t tell me that earrings are wrong.” There are three things you need to know about your conscience.
First, if your conscience tells you “it’s wrong, then when you compromise your conscience, you harm yourself.
Second, some things that your conscience tells you are acceptable, are in fact, wrong. It’s because your conscience has been “seared,” which means you have put a scab on your conscience. There are many men who have committed adultery, thinking it’s alright because it’s pleasurable. But God has said, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Third, the rule “Let your conscience be your guide,” is only true half the time. If your conscience agrees with the Bible, obey it. If your conscience disagrees with the Bible, don’t listen to it. While your conscience was pure at birth, it may be educated to think that sin is all right.
4. Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not think that just the inner man is all that God is concerned about. You cannot separate your outward body from your walk with Christ. How you treat your body reflects how you treat spiritual things and your love to God. Do you want your body to be an advertisement for the world, or do you want your body to be an advertisement for God?
5. You must not adversely influence other people with your actions. When Cain killed Abel he asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Many people think they can do what they want to. But that’s not true. A Christian has an obligation to his testimony to positively influence other people, and not be a negative influence to harm them. John Doane said, “No man is an island.” We live in the human community where every action we make influences other people.
The Bible teaches us not to be “a stumbling block.” Paul said, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak” (I Cor. 8:9). So what should you do?
QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Will your tattoos make others love God more, or will they fall away from God?
• Will wearing a hat in church be a strong Christian testimony to others?
• Do the clothes you wear to church draw others to God or do they turn them off?
CONCLUSION
This sermon deals with just three areas of our tradition. I’ve tried to look on both sides of the issues to strengthen the church. I’m not preaching at anyone person about their actions or what they wear.
In the final analysis, each individual must walk before God humbly, reverently and obediently. It’s my role to help you understand what God requires of you.
SUPPOSED YOU’VE SINNED
I’m not trying to make you feel guilty if you have a tattoo. But suppose you are considering a tattoo that doesn’t bring honor to God, but actually represents rebellion against God. What should you do?
a. Recognize your actions for what they represent.
b. Apply the blood of Jesus Christ to any sin, for God will forgive any and all sin.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).
c. Keep short accounts with God since your sin breaks fellowship with God and others; get back on speaking terms with God by quickly confessing any and all sin.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
A farmer told his son that someone was stealing his watermelons, but they could never find out who. The little boy was going down by the creek to eat the watermelon he stole from his father. When the father and son went fishing alongside the creek, they saw watermelon vines growing out of the soft dirt. Conviction struck the boy and he had to confess, “. . . and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
