I’ve been using the term “neo-traditional” a lot in my writings lately, and since someone was curious what it meant and I just wrote a post about not using labels or terms to keep people from understanding, I thought I’d quickly explain it.
“Neo-traditional” is not a term originated by me. I heard it used by Larry Trammell, and I always liked it. As far as I know, he came up with it, but he might have gotten it from somewhere else.
There is a basic evangelical/Protestant traditional system that manny assume to be biblical and therefore inherently Christian. Much of it, however, is not biblical and therefore not the traditions handed down by Christ and the apostles. These are “new” traditions from various sources.
Specifically, “neo-traditional” includes, but not necessarily limited to, most of the following practices or structures, if not all of them:
1. Focus on a separate and dedicated building for corporate worship.
2. Structured worship time (singing praises followed by a teaching/sermon)
3. Tithing
4. A focus on theological or intellectual belief in systematic doctrine over righteous living.
5. A priest/laity division (usually expressed in a professional single pastor)
Although commonly found today, these were not practices or traditions of the early church during the time the letters of Paul, Peter, James, John, and others were written and circulated. Therefore, they are not biblical or early apostolic traditions but were later added or changed and are “new.”
That is what I mean by “neo-traditional”.
Peace.