What is the importance of piety?

[St. SteVen]

If I were a Christian church LEADER overseeing a congregation of people, I would not dress in that manner nor surround myself with such extravagance.

Would you feel differently if you grew up in a church like that?

These are externals we are discussing.
What if those dressed this way were doing God's will every minute of every day?
Would you criticize their dress then? I hope not.

 

[St. SteVen]

Well, they created traditions that did not exist under the apostles. Not all traditions are "good" traditions.

We can agree on that point.
The "fish" hats have GOT to go! - LOL

 

[BreadOfLife]

Well, they created traditions that did not exist under the apostles. Not all traditions are "good" traditions.

Such as?

 

[St. SteVen]

Such as?

I have to draw the line at lutefisk for Christmas dinner. - LOL

I think "good" and "bad" in traditions is in the eye of the beholder.
Not that they are necessarily good, or bad, in themselves.

 

[Patrick1966]

These are externals we are discussing.
What if those dressed this way were doing God's will every minute of every day?
Would you criticize their dress then? I hope not.

No, I wouldn't criticize them. I'm not their judge. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with dressing nice, either. In keeping with what Jesus said, a church leader should be humble and their dress should reflect their humility, but if a church leader wants to ignore Jesus and go do their own thing they certainly can and many do.

 

[Patrick1966]

I think "good" and "bad" in traditions is in the eye of the beholder.

I personally would refer to the Bible. If it's not Biblical, then it's not a tradition in which I can engage or teach to others.

 

[Patrick1966]

Such as?

ISIS's tradition of throwing gay people off of rooftops comes to mind.

 

[BreadOfLife]

I have to draw the line at lutefisk for Christmas dinner. - LOL

I think "good" and "bad" in traditions is in the eye of the beholder.
Not that they are necessarily good, or bad, in themselves.

I know you were joking - but Ludefisk is a cultural (Norwegian) thing - not really a "Catholic" tradition.
I think people tend to conflate the word "tradition" with all forts of things.

 

[St. SteVen]

No, I wouldn't criticize them. I'm not their judge. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with dressing nice, either. In keeping with what Jesus said, a church leader should be humble and their dress should reflect their humility, but if a church leader wants to ignore Jesus and go do their own thing they certainly can and many do.

Well...
Isn't what you are saying a bit contradictory? (I'm saying this in love)
On one hand you say "I wouldn't criticize them."
On the other hand you say, "... if a church leader wants to ignore Jesus and go do their own thing..."
Isn't that criticizing them? (again, loving correction, if needed) Sorry.

Can you resolve your position on this?

 

[BreadOfLife]

ISIS's tradition of throwing gay people off of rooftops comes to mind.

How is that a Catholic Tradition??

 

[BreadOfLife]

I personally would refer to the Bible. If it's not Biblical, then it's not a tradition in which I can engage or teach to others.

#1 - Do you even understand what a "Tradition" is??
#2 - WHO told you that all Traditions must be written down in Scripture?

 

[St. SteVen]

I personally would refer to the Bible. If it's not Biblical, then it's not a tradition in which I can engage or teach to others.

I think we need to understand what is important to them and NOT criticize, but rather try to understand them.
Again, imagine if you were raised in that environment.

Like you, I wasn't. (assuming)
So, yes... we look to scripture. But they do as well. So...

 

[St. SteVen]

I know you were joking - but Ludefisk is a cultural (Norwegian) thing - not really a "Catholic" tradition.
I think people tend to conflate the word "tradition" with all forts of things.

Right. Yes, joking.
As you can see from my other responses, I don't have a problem with church tradition.
I was trying to be a peacemaker and smooth the way here. Only partially successful. (sigh)
I'm not the enemy.

 

[BreadOfLife]

Right. Yes, joking.
As you can see from my other responses, I don't have a problem with church tradition.
I was trying to be a peacemaker and smooth the way here. Only partially successful. (sigh)
I'm not the enemy.

Yes, my response to you was more for those who might actually believe that Ludefisk or tacos or other cultural things are Catholic traditions . . ..

 

[St. SteVen]

Yes, my response to you was more for those who might actually believe that Ludefisk or tacos or other cultural things are Catholic traditions . . ..

Thank you.
"Tacos"? - LOL

Let's work on your spelling. Lutefisk. (I'm from Minnesota)

 

[BreadOfLife]

Thank you.
"Tacos"? - LOL

Let's work on your spelling. Lutefisk. (I'm from Minnesota)

Sorry.
I worked with a Norwegian from that area - but he never spelled it out for me . . .

 

[Patrick1966]

Well...
Isn't what you are saying a bit contradictory? (I'm saying this in love)
On one hand you say "I wouldn't criticize them."
On the other hand you say, "... if a church leader wants to ignore Jesus and go do their own thing..."
Isn't that criticizing them? (again, loving correction, if needed) Sorry.

Can you resolve your position on this?

No worries my brother.

I wouldn't criticize a pastor for wearing a $10K Italian suit, but I can discern that they are not dressing in humble attire, as Jesus did.

 

[Patrick1966]

I think we need to understand what is important to them and NOT criticize, but rather try to understand them.
Again, imagine if you were raised in that environment.

Like you, I wasn't. (assuming)
So, yes... we look to scripture. But they do as well. So...

Well, I was a Catholic for 50 years and thereafter I concluded that the RCC teaches false doctrines and that many of their "traditions" are of man and not of God.

 

[St. SteVen]

No worries my brother.

I wouldn't criticize a pastor for wearing a $10K Italian suit, but I can discern that they are not dressing in humble attire, as Jesus did.

Great, thanks bro.

I was thinking while reading your post that Jesus was the son of a carpenter. (furniture builder?)
Moses, on the other hand, was royalty. (initially, anyway)

If the pastor in the $10K Italian suit is preaching to a congregation full of $10k suits... probably appropriate.
What Jesus was wearing is probably irrelevant. IMHO

 

[St. SteVen]

Well, I was a Catholic for 50 years and thereafter I concluded that the RCC teaches false doctrines and that many of their "traditions" are of man and not of God.

Will you partner with me to build bridges instead of walls?
There is no good reason to alienate our fellow Christians that HAPPENED to have been raised in a different environment than we were.
WWJD?