Tradition
With Grandma, at my childhood church Bedtime Theology with the 9 yo… 9 yo: So what’s the thing about the holy water? ( Remembering a recent conversation with a Catholic family member ). Me: Well, they believe that the water is holy, special, and you can use it for things like blessings and remembering your baptism. 9 yo: We don’t believe that? Me: Not in the same way, we just use regular water for things like that. There are some traditions that aren’t in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t say that we have to bless water in a certain way to make it holy. 9 yo: Are there other traditions that people do that aren’t in the Bible? Me: Well, the order of the church service isn’t specifically laid out in the Bible. 9 yo: Is there any church that just follows the Bible and not any traditions? Me: I don’t think so. The Lutheran traditions of my childhood grounded me in identity and community. There was infant baptism, summer Vacation Bible School, communion only after completing ...
