"Some Traditions Matter”

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Main Idea:  Good Christian traditions practiced in corporate worship should communicate what we believe about God and His word and not cause unnecessary divisions.

²  Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

Traditions are Good When They Guard Against Bringing Shame Upon Oneself, One’s Spouse, or Christ and His Church

• ^3–6 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her

                  ○ Ephesians 5:22-33

Traditions are Good When They are Governed by God’s Created Order

• ^{7–12 “}For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

                  ○ Genesis 1:27

                  ○ Genesis 2:18, 21-24  

Traditions are Good When They Guide the Church Through Embracing or Rejecting Cultural Norms

• ^13-15 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

                  ○ Matthew 15:1-9

So What?

• Do I have a rebellious spirt towards good Christian traditions grounded in God’s word?

                  ○ 1 Corinthians 11:16

                  ○ Psalm 119:103-105