What Church traditions are not Biblical?

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otseng
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What Church traditions are not Biblical?

Post #1

Post by otseng »

This topic was inspired by Traditions of men. Originally I was going to start this thread in the HH room, but perhaps some non-Christians would have some good insight to share also. Then I was going to put it into the Random Ramblings, but I can see this topic headed towards areas of debate. So, I'm putting this here.

I pointed out one example in the other thread of a tradition that is not Biblical, the tradition of the "altar call". Nowhere in the Bible does it mention a preacher asking a congregation to close their eyes, hold up their hands for prayer, and then walk forward to the altar to get prayed over.

So, the questions for debate are:
What Church traditions are not Biblical?
Which of these should the Church stop doing? Why?
How should it be decided for a church to continue a tradition, even if it is not Biblical?

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bernee51
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Re: What Church traditions are not Biblical?

Post #2

Post by bernee51 »

otseng wrote:
What Church traditions are not Biblical?
which church are you talking about?

bernie

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Icarus
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Post #3

Post by Icarus »

Membership requirements I think are not Biblical. It is more to boast and track than it is to "prove" you are a Christian.

I also think the Lord's Supper is not done the way it was meant. Wafers and juice I think are the easy way out. I think the intent was for people to actually eat together and to get to know one another. It should be revamped. It could be done in small settings or in a whole church setting.
What I believe in my heart must make sense in my mind. –Ravi Zacharias

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otseng
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Re: What Church traditions are not Biblical?

Post #4

Post by otseng »

bernee51 wrote: which church are you talking about?
I was thinking primarily of Protestant churches, but it could as well include Catholic and Orthodox.

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Post #5

Post by ENIGMA »

Perhaps it would be a bit quicker to try to find traditions that are....

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Post #6

Post by otseng »

ENIGMA wrote:Perhaps it would be a bit quicker to try to find traditions that are....
Perhaps. But, it would be much more interesting to see all the things that people can point out.

Well, as I was sitting in church today, I was thinking about this question. As the pastor led everyone in prayer, everyone dutifully closed their eyes. Then I was wondering, where does it say that one should close their eyes during prayer? Where did anyone close their eyes in the Bible while praying?

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Re: What Church traditions are not Biblical?

Post #7

Post by AV1611 »

otseng wrote: So, the questions for debate are:
What Church traditions are not Biblical?
Which of these should the Church stop doing? Why?
How should it be decided for a church to continue a tradition, even if it is not Biblical?
Hi,

Paedobaptism is unbiblical,
An ordained clergy is unbiblical,
Saying the Lord's Prayer in church is unbiblical,
Women not covering their head
is unbiblical,
Dancing in church is unbiblical.

If it is not in the Bible then is should not be done...:roll:

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bernee51
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Re: What Church traditions are not Biblical?

Post #8

Post by bernee51 »

AV1611 wrote:
If it is not in the Bible then is should not be done...:roll:
so no eating shell fish and a,whole heap of other things...

and then there is Leviticus...

# Baby girls are twice as dirty as baby boys. 12:1-8
# What to do if "he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean." 15:8
# What to do "if any man's seed of copulation go out from him." 15:16-18
# Menstruating women are unclean to God. 15:19-30
# God's law for wet dreams. 15:16-17, 32
# Uncovering the nakedness of your mother, father, aunts, uncles, etc. 18:8-18
# Don't look at any naked menstruating women. 18:19
# Homosexuality is an abomination to God. 18:22
# Don't mix seeds when sowing a field or wear a garment with mixed fibers. 19:19
# If you have sex with a slave woman, you must then scourge her. 19:20
# Don't round the corners of your head or mar the corners of your beard. 19:27
# Children who curse their parents, adulterers, and homosexuals must be killed. 20:9-12
# Woman with "familiar spirits" must be stoned to death. 20:27
# The unchaste daughters of priests must be burnt to death. 21:9
# Handicapped people must not approach the altar. 21:16-23
# Cursers and blasphemers must be stoned to death. 24:16, 24
# God's instructions for buying slaves. 25:45-46
# God will "send wild beasts among you, which shall rob your of your children." 26:22
# "And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat." 26:29
# God places a dollar value on human life; with women worth less than men. 27:3-7

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Post #9

Post by seventil »

Can we assume that we're not listing any Old Testament traditions (like above) - since the teachings of Jesus Christ nullified them all?

I'm curious about this subject as well.

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Post #10

Post by otseng »

First, let's limit it to actual traditions found in the church. Though there are things to be found in the OT, it doesn't address traditions that the church actually practices.

As for whether the church should follow the OT laws, that certainly is an area for debate. Though I'm not sure it should belong here.

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