I read this in a book recently.

"One of the lasting influences of the Crusades is the necktie as a symbol of Christianity. Those leaving on the Crusades were often given a scarf as a remembrance by those left behind. When the Christians went into battle in the Holy Land, they knotted the scarves around their necks, enabling them to tell friend from foe. Over time, the Crusaders' scarves became today's neckties. Although most christians are unaware of the historical significance of the necktie, many Muslims are. That is why the leaders of many Arabic nations wear open-necked shirts today."
(Intercultural Communication pg. 10, paragraph 3)


I know that there are many different stories about where exactly ties come from and their cultural significance, that is not why I put this in a post. This makes me think about what I am holding onto as sacred but in reality is merely tradition. I am not a tie guy personally and I never held that wearing a tie on a Sunday morning is mandatory. What aspects of Christianity, beyond the super obvious (music styles, dress, buildings, paid staff) do we hold as sacred when in reality it is just tradition. One that comes to mind is the Sunday morning sermon. Is the way that the teaching presented in the majority of churches tradition? Are there more meaningful ways to teach and communicate information that are not done because the tradition of a Pastor preaching for 30 minutes become sacred? And just because things are tradition, does that make them bad?

Like most things the idea of tradition in the church makes me think about small groups and how those groups can incorporate what the real essence of the church is. Obviously there is teaching involved, but what is the best forum for the teaching? There will be community and the living out of the "one anothers", but what exactly does that look like? If a small group can capture the essence of what church is supposed to be, aAre weekly small group gatherings enough or should believers be a part of a larger body worship on Sunday mornings and a small group gathering of the saints at another time? If someone were to be only a part of a small group, would they develop seperatist attitudes that would be a catalyst for division among believers? Would that person also miss out on the beauty that is the macro church by focusing only on the micro church? Just some questions that I have been asking myself lately.