Holocaust survivor Joshua Kaufman and WW II vet Sgt. Herman Zeitchik

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught…” 1 Th 2:15

“Crack! Bang! Boom!” I woke to the sound of firecrackers as Chinese celebrate their New Year with lion dances, burning incense, pasting lucky sayings on their doorposts, and specialty foods. We had our “reunion dinner” as a family, and carried our fruit, especially our “golden” oranges, to visit friends. Such are some of the traditions of this festive season.

Toting some pineapple tarts home, I turned on the State of the Union address by President Trump. Interspersing policy achievements and barbs to his opponents, Trump aroused sympathy and sentiment by pointing to our own nation’s traditions. Rallying around the colossal successes of our military in averting evil, or asking the hero Buzz Aldrin who planted the American flag on the moon 50 years ago to stand, the deepest impression for me was the introduction of two men who first met on a cattle car destined for destruction in Nazi Germany at the end of the Second World War. Amazingly, Joshua Kaufman stood to represent two horrific survival stories: of the recent Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, and as a young man who would have perished in the Holocaust if it was not for the timely arrival of American troops to rescue him from the gas chambers. Among those soldiers, and now sitting next to Kaufman, was Sgt Herman Zeitchik. One year after Zeitchik had climbed over the bodies of countless fellow warriors on the beaches of Normandy, he had climbed onto Kaufman’s train where Joshua’s family and fellow prisoners’ fears had given way to cheers, crying in jubilation, “It’s the Americans!”

It’s good to recall, to recount, to reflect. Over the last three weeks I have completed the biographies of two British giants of history: Spurgeon and Churchill. Spurgeon, often called the greatest preacher of all time, had filled the largest stadiums of England in the 1850’s-80’s. His written sermons circled the globe in multiple languages, and even had a significant impact on the emancipation of the slaves in America. As Charles’ light faded, Churchill arose to become perhaps the greatest leader of the 20th Century. The “British Bulldog’s” role in the Second World War loomed so large that it may not be an exaggeration to say that had he not come to power when he did, Europe would have fallen to the Nazis, threatening the very survival of our Western values and traditions—what Churchill frequently referred to as Christendom.

Scripture too highlights the absolutely necessity of remembering the things which have been passed down to us from our forefathers. Moses’ writings oft repeat the warning, “lest you forget” (eg. Dt 6:12) . How about David’s words, “Now consider this, you who forget God…” (PS 50:22), or “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them you have given me life” (PS 119:93). Peter says that he wrote his epistle “to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Pet 1:13). The Hebrews writer exhorts “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured great struggle with sufferings” (10:32) I’m sure glad each of them pressed us to actively remember. I’m so forgetful!

And then there was Paul. Clear as he was that the traditions of men, which Jesus had so vehemently denounced, would lead to destruction, he also elevated the place of positive traditions in the life of the churches he had planted. He warned them to “stand fast and hold on” to the traditions they had been taught. He commanded them to withdraw from every brother who had walked away from these traditions (1 Th 3:6). He methodically gave detailed instructions for keeping the Lord’s Supper, inaugurating his teaching with “we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God” (1 Cor 11:16; 23ff). He constantly quoted, and referenced the Old Testament. He showed he understood that the fruit you bear up is directly a consequence of the roots that are planted down.

A healthy people understands and embraces its traditions. Families which identify and celebrate positive traditions which have been carefully transmitted from generation to generation set themselves in a position to prosper. These customs and the values they enshrine are anchors that keep peoples from drifting into dangerous seas, or towards rocky shores. President Trump artfully included snapshots of tradition to great effect in his SOTU. Any man, any people, who deftly cast this anchor in the turbulent waters of progress will benefit and stabilize all that they touch. May we be warned.

I miss Fox News’ Watter’s World, when Jesse would ask questions of random people on streets, college campuses, or outside events. It always struck me how ignorant this generation has become of the most basic and prominent aspects of our history. Despite having access to unlimited knowledge on demand, indeed, in the very palms of their hands, awareness of and appreciation for our past have reached an all-time low:

“Who discovered America?”
“Uh, Abraham Lincoln?”

“Who fought in the Civil War?”
“I don’t know, I’m not much of a history guy.”

“Who was the first president of the United States?”
“I have no idea!”

“What body of water is on the east coast of the US?
“The Red Sea?”
“Lake Erie?”

As the people of God, we must do better! The construction crew working on a high school next to our property spent two years on the ground and foundation. It seemed as though nothing was being accomplished. But in the past six months all the six story buildings have been completed. The chair I am sitting on would be worthless without legs. We will never leave a legacy without basking in our history. We will never advance as a culture if we neglect our past.

Who are the Joshuas and Hermans you need to identify and honor in your life? Have you paid attention to your root system recently? Does your boat have an anchor? When God wanted to strengthen the faith of His people, He moved upon the writer of Hebrews to recount the great and courageous deeds of our forefathers (Her 11). He connected us with our history. He urged and inspired us to stand fast and hold on to our traditions.