Maybe at some point in our history, we became embarrassed by the word Christian and we started using the word traditional.  At first it was understandable. In Christian America tradition was Christian.  However today the word tradition is a dead word and it ought to be trashed.  I am afraid that too many Christians have avoided the word Christian (and therefore the word Christ) from use in their vocabulary in order to make the Christian message more palatable to the world.

I have had it with the word “tradition.”  It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Sadly, I have come to abhor the word.  We hear it all the time: “We need to return to traditional marriage;” “We have lost our traditional values;” “Traditional America is in decline.”  Actually, you can become a member of the right wing Traditional Values Coalition by visiting their website.

I much prefer the word Christian to the word traditional.  It’s time to change the word traditional back to Christian or just leave me out of the conversation.  If I cannot enter the conversation with the name of Christ, then in my opinion I am already a loser.

How did it ever happen anyway?  How did the word tradition replace the word Christian?  I remember many years ago as a young child when America was dominated by the Christian religion.  I remember the Bible being taught in the public schools.  I remember when there was no local newspaper delivered on Sunday because of the Sunday Blue Laws.  I remember when homosexuality was considered sinful.  Local stores were closed on Wednesday Evenings out of respect for the Wednesday night prayer meetings at the local churches.  Actually, I remember when the local pastor received a discount on his clothes at the local clothing store. Today, I think he would be charged extra!  That’s what I mean by Christianity being the dominant religion in America, not that everyone or everything was Christian, but the major influence in politics, education, in the public square – in the culture in general – was the Christian Faith.

But somewhere we lost that influence.  The dominant religion in America changed.  My generation lost the Faith.  We lost the battle for the crown rights of Jesus Christ over all of life.  We need to take responsibility for this and I do not think Christian history will treat us kindly.  The story of how this happened is long, and there is no room here to discuss that matter.

Irrelevant Pietism captured Presbyterianism. Thus in general Presbyterian spokesmen have lost the public pulpit to Baptist leaders.  Christian naturalism (Roman Catholicism) eventually captured Fox News.  Indeed it is a long story!

Maybe at some point in our history, we became embarrassed by the word Christian and we started using the word traditional.  At first it was understandable. In Christian America tradition was Christian.  However today the word tradition is a dead word and it ought to be trashed.  I am afraid that too many Christians have avoided the word Christian (and therefore the word Christ) from use in their vocabulary in order to make the Christian message more palatable to the world.

When someone asks me if I believe in traditional marriage, I tell them no!  Then kindly, I tell them that I believe in Christian marriage. If someone asks me if I believe in traditional values, I tell them no! Then kindly, I tell them that I believe in Christian values.  If someone asks me if I am a Democrat or a Republican, I tell them neither!  Then kindly, I tell them that I am a Christian.  All of politics is religious and I apply the Christian Faith to all political issues.  Sometimes, I sound like a Democrat; sometimes, I sound like a Republican; and sometimes I sound like a Libertarian, but that is only because the Christian view that I hold is incidental to their political categories.

I think the next time I hear someone use the word traditional, I will just roll over and die.  I can’t stand it anymore.  I’m not traditional.  I’m a Christian!

Larry E. Ball is a Honorably Retired Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and a CPA. He lives in Kingsport, Tennessee