On Habit and Heart - Tradition and Traditionalism in the Church

After the final hymn, the congregation began to move towards the front door. Pastor John stood in the Narthex, shaking hands and greeting the members. One churchgoer, a long-time member, approached him with a concerned look on his face.

"Pastor, I noticed something wrong in the service today," he said.

"Really? What was that?" Pastor John asked with a curious smile.

"Right after the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie, we didn’t have the Gloria in Excelsis."

Pastor John replied, "You are right—we didn’t. What did we have there instead?"

The member paused for a moment. "I think it was a hymn, if I remember correctly."

"Yes, it was a hymn that performs the same function," the Pastor replied.

"But it wasn’t the Gloria in Excelsis," the member insisted. "I think we must follow tradition, otherwise we would be wrong."

"You are right, it wasn't," Pastor John acknowledged. "But you know, this reminds us that we need to be aware of the risks of  mixing up tradition and traditionalism.

"What is that?"

"Do you have some time? Come on, let's grab a cup of coffee and sit down for a chat."

In church discussions there is an observable trend voicing the need to return to stricter observances of past traditions. This call for rigorous adherence to specific practices and rituals is often presented as the one  way to recover reverence within church life. While tradition undoubtedly enriches and roots the faith experience, the problem arises when the transition from tradition to traditionalism happens. An approach that becomes intolerant with variety can sometimes reflect more than an apparent desire for reverence. Excessive forms of traditionalism may reveal in some cases deeper motivations, such as an attempt to address or avoid unresolved spiritual struggles or a desire to project an image of repentance.

In a Lutheran context, Tradition refers to the practices and forms of being Church handed down from our ancestors, grounded in the teachings of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Tradition includes elements such as liturgy, hymns, creeds, church organization and structure, which serve to communicate the Gospel, shape the faith community, and connect believers to the church's History. Tradition is valuable in the Lutheran faith as a means, not an end, providing continuity and a certain level of unity across time and place.

Martin Luther himself valued tradition to the extent that it aligned with Scripture and supported the proclamation of the Gospel. For Lutherans, then, tradition is a tool for fostering faith, upholding sound doctrine, and nurturing the spiritual lives of individuals within the community.

Traditionalism, on the other hand, refers to an excessive or rigid adherence to traditions, often prioritizing the forms and practices themselves over their intended purpose— to lead people to Christ. Traditionalism occurs when the means (i.e., specific practices or rituals) are elevated to an extent that they become an end in themselves, detaching from the Gospel-centred message, meaning and value. This approach can turn tradition into a static and intolerant standard, where ritual and practical observances receive more attention that in deserves in the core mission of the Church.

Sound theology warns against traditionalism, as it risks turning the living faith of the church into a mere exercise of outward piety, which Martin Luther called "work-righteousness." Traditionalism may lead individuals to believe that rigid adherence to tradition can secure God’s favour, which can lead the Church to drift away from the Lutheran emphasis on justification by faith alone, through grace alone. As Jesus reminded the Pharisees, “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men” (Mark 7:8, ESV), warning against the dangers of prioritizing human customs over divine truths.

Tradition points to longstanding practices, rituals, and teachings of the church, valuing them as expressions of faith that connect believers to the historical and communal dimensions of Christianity. However, when the wrong emphasis is applied, traditionalism emerges and lead the Church to hold on to these practices as substitute for the identity of the Lutheran Church - The Word, and the Sacraments that flow from it - , focusing more on outward observance than inward transformation and the teaching and confession of the Church. In this view, traditionalism risks overshadowing the core tenet that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, rather than by works or rituals. Jesus criticizes outwardly pious practices that lack genuine love or humility, saying, "These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Matthew 15:8, ESV). 

Excessive traditionalism can also represent a framework in which individuals find a structured way to either confront or avoid inner battles. People struggling with past regret, moral uncertainties, or insecurities about their standing might immerse themselves in traditional practices as a coping mechanism, hoping that adherence to ritual could provide absolution, or at the very least, protect them from themselves. This echoes Martin Luther’s own struggles before the Reformation, where he subjected himself to strict penances and observances, trying to find peace through works rather than through God’s grace.

This strict adherence, however, can fall short of biblical spiritual practice. Faith, even though is accompanied by external works, is essentially inner transformation brought by God’s grace. Luther emphasized the importance of faith rooted in Christ alone, teaching that “we are justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28, ESV). He viewed such works without faith as empty, calling them “dead works” that neither save nor transform a person’s heart. When traditions are used to avoid genuine reflection, traditionalism weighs and replaces grace with a sense of duty or fear. In worst case scenario, it fosters a sense of arrogance or spiritual superiority against those whose practical church life actions doesn't match theirs.

This approach to faith can also reflect a desire for self-punishment, as opposed to the Grace-centred message of the Gospel. As Paul wrote, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV). Rigorous traditionalism often denies Grace and Justification. Luther’s understanding of confession and absolution calls believers to approach God in humility and honesty, trusting in His forgiveness rather than relying on rituals to earn His favour.

Tradition serves as a meaningful and Gospel-oriented framework that enhances and supports faith. Traditionalism distorts this purpose, prioritizing ritual over relationship with God and obscuring the core message of grace by focusing excessively on form rather than substance. Tradition needs to be employed with a heart of humility, so that Word, teaching and faith take precedence over rigid observance, pointing us back to the Gospel of Grace and Hope in Jesus.

"Thanks pastor.  I have to admit that I still have to think more about it though" the member said after a thoughtful pause, stirring his coffee. "But I'm glad we had this conversation"

Pastor John smiled warmly, leaning forward. "That's okay, I appreciated our conversation too. And I appreciate your commitment to the traditions of our faith. But sometimes, we need to do what we just did - talk about important topics so that we don't become too focused on the form so that we miss the essence, and therefore, the purpose—the glory of God and the service to our neighbour. 

Tradition does not bind us to the past only. Rather, it invites us to be on the same page as those who formatted it along the centuries in their own time - to be the Church in the present."