Hollywood, Traditions and the Church

Today at church, the streets were blocked off for a traditional parade that will commence tonight down the streets of Hollywood.  Our church cannot have services tonight in Hollywood because of street closures.  As I was walking leisurely across Hollywood Blvd. to church because of the street being blocked off from traffic, I was reminded of the old days of this parade. 

The Hollywood Christmas Parade used to be a big deal.  Big stars used to ride in convertibles and on floats.  As I would watch the parade on television when I was a teenager, I remember thinking that if I ever go to Los Angeles I would go to that parade.  I’ve been to the Rose Bowl parade, and I’ve even volunteered with the floats, but not the Hollywood Parade.  It’s not worth it anymore.  That’s what made me think. Keeping a tradition because it is a tradition, even when it’s dying, isn’t worth anything. 

The floats I saw were a disaster and looked like they were put together in a few minutes.  Having worked on floats with the Rose Bowl parade, I know the many days and hours that work goes into the beauty of those floats.  I even saw that in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade the floats were being brought in the night before fully decorated.  The Hollywood Christmas Parade does not do these things, as I watched people decorating floats this morning. It needs to die or change, just like many traditions in our churches.

It’s hard to let go of a tradition.  Nostalgia sets in and we reminisce of the good old days when life was simple and fun.  We have a choice.  Change it or end it. Change is difficult, but it is necessary for growth.  Growth causes change.  Look around at your traditional event or activity.  Is it dead or done with a tired attitude of it having to get done?  If so, it’s time for a new tradition.  When we let go of one tradition, we can start a new one.  It has to start somewhere. 

As much as we struggle with tradition and change, we might want to be reminded that we have adjusted to technology, especially if you are reading this.  As we enter the Christmas season, some of us have many traditions that we’ve had in our families for years.  There’s nothing wrong with holding on to a family tradition, but if we want to make life better, we can always start a new tradition. There are always new traditions to start that can increase giving.  There are groups helping those in need and we can partner with those groups and realize that the Christmas season truly can be one of joy and peace. 

Traditions are not bad.  In fact, some traditions are worth keeping, but if it is dying or just a mess, it does not belong in our lives.  It is clutter.  It is noise.  It is not love.  Jesus didn’t hold onto traditions that did not glorify the Father.  In fact, he broke the traditions of the Pharisees.  Maybe, it’s time that our traditions of the Pharisees die in our churches and we open our doors to allow in Jesus.