Beans, Rice, and A Slice of Heaven

Father: Kids, lets have beans and rice this Friday! It's healthy and yummy, what do you think?
Children: Yay! Sounds good daddy.


[Next Friday]
Father: Kids, do you want to have beans and rice again? It's Friday!
Children: Yay! We love beans and rice on Friday!


[5 Fridays from then]
Father: Its beans and rice day!
Children: Oh it must be Friday!


[10 Fridays from then]
Father: What would you like to eat this Friday night? 
Children: We always have beans and rice on Friday! 


[10 Years from that Friday]
Children: It's Friday, we will be eating beans and rice.
Grandchildren: Why? 
Children: Thats how it is. We always eat beans and rice on Friday.


[Fast Forward]
Children: You will eat beans and rice this Friday or get a spanking.


[Fast Forward]
Grandchildren: Beans and rice on Friday is a rule in this household! 


[Fast Forward]
Great Grandchildren: If you don't eat beans and rice on Friday you will not be a part of this family.


[Fast Forward + Exaggeration]
Great Great Grandchildren: If you refuse to eat beans and rice on Friday we will kill you.


Ect. 


        Jason frequently has bursts of brilliant conversation, and he used this analogy to explain some sillinesses of tradition. This Sunday I was honored to attend a church that wasn't bogged down by the "beans and rice"church drama that has become a staple meal for many Christians. This morning Jason, Ezra, Judah, Garrette (a soon to be missionary to Taborah, Tanzania) and I went to a little church I will call A Slice of Heaven. This was a simple and beautiful church that met around the rocks and trees of a member's yard-ish area. This was a church where everyone stood up and gave a personal weekly update as a part of the service. This congregation had a hand shaking closing where every baby or babu participated in a family recognition. There were men dancing and children clapping. The cooking reports were just as important as the fundraising announcements. There wasn't an arguing about instruments, theology, communion styles, or leadership because this family was practical in actively living out God's love towards each other. In a sense, they didn't carry the baggage of christian drama.


    Tradition can be incredibly dangerous when we forget why we do what we do. What was a preference might become an absolute, and what was a historical hiccup might become a choking hazard for the future. I think that family-esque churches are becoming endangered partly because of mass divisive habits. I by no means am saying that I understand the motivation behind each Christian practice, nor do I think tradition is "trash" in anyway- I am just wondering what we would find if we retraced our steps. Beans and rice is a cuter way of putting this point because homosexuality and abortion make for a messier meal. With "controversial topics" our "thinkers" are suddenly switched off by our feelings and biases. Learning about the formation of non-Western churches has helped me question my auto-assumptions and views on tradition. All that said, I have no conclusion, just an adjusted lens and an excitement for new perspectives from here on out.