Restricted by the Parameters of our Traditions

Acts 18:18 "Before he sailed, he (Paul) had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken."

The above verse raises several questions about Paul. Why did he, the apostle to the Gentiles, the one who spoke about Christ having "canceled the written code, with its regulations . . .He took it away, nailing it to the cross," get caught up in an OT vow? How could the author of Colossians 2 be one who is forced to go to Jerusalem to complete what appears to be a work of the flesh?

Before we totally slam Paul for this vow (which is done in the several commentaries I have read on this passage) , let's take note of the context. Paul had come to Corinth on the heels of a very dark depression. He had been beaten, jailed and mocked - and the fruit of his ministry was small. At the beginning of Acts 18 we find him all alone in Corinth after a 53 mile walk from Athens - and it appears that he was ready to call it quits. But God, as God does, raised him up by bringing him friends, support, ministry and above all else, an intimate vision. (Read Acts 18). He was so encouraged that he ended up spending a year and a half in the cesspool of Corinth, watching as a vibrant church emerged from the stench.

So, how do you express thanks in such a situation? For Paul, it was by the only means he knew - within the traditions he was raised in. We all engage in these types of things simply because we do not know any better way. Paul’s upbringing had been solely in the Jewish traditions, and one of the means of showing your love to Him was the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6. It was a tangible means of expression of separation to God where you gave up wine, didn’t cut your hair, and stayed away from dead bodies. By the time of Paul, though, it could only be fulfilled with a 30-day period of purification in the Holy City of Jerusalem. So the taking of this vow that forced him to Jerusalem. Whether he would have gone there or not didn’t matter – he had to go to fulfill his vow. We are always restricted by the parameters of our own legalism.

That's why I caution so much about the traditions of the church. Not because I don't like them - many are beautiful and helpful. I bring them up because traditions are man-created, therefore by nature they are restrictive. Paul was entrapped by the restriction of his vow - off to Jerusalem, whether he wanted to or not. That's what traditions do, they force us to do things, whether we want to at that moment or not.

Embrace the traditions of your denomination (as long as they are Christ-centered and Biblical) - but do not get locked into them to the point that they start determining your actions. Watch carefully at your church and see if they are the 'guiding lights' of your worship service or church decisions. We serve a God who explodes boundaries, so let's be careful we don't put up man-made restrictions.