People who see me as a “computer guy” often make the assumption I am of the opinion, “Old is bad.” They are inevitably surprised this is not the case. I love Tradition. I love the connection it gives me to the long history of God’s people gathering in community and experiencing the presence of the Kingdom through worship. Tradition is, to me, a mystical connection with both the Savior and those who have followed him before I existed. Things which happen to be “old” are notbad. They may be different, but there is a richness in that different-ness which I appreciate. I do have a problem, however, with “tradition.” This is the impulse which beats questioners into submission because it fears change. Contrary to popular opinion, both Tradition and tradition will utter the phrase, “We’ve always done it that way.” The difference between the two comes out only when you ask, “Why?” Tradition will embrace the moment to draw the questioner into the story. In contrast, tradition will respond with statements like, “Why can’t you just do what you’re told?”
Of course, my Roman Catholic and Orthodox friends chuckle any time I call a 150 year old hymn “old.”
