I do a lot of writing. It’s my profession, but I also write just because I love to write. There are plenty of tools these days for writers, including thesaurus options that mean you don’t even have to pick up a book. But I quickly realized last week, while attempting to sub another word for “traditional,” that we can’t always trust those tools. Especially these days. Check out this screenshot I grabbed after pulling up the trusty thesaurus option in Microsoft Word:
Okay, “old-style,” I can understand, especially if we’re talking about a nice copy of Grandma’s recipe for Traditional Spaghetti Sauce or something like that. But all those other ones? A fluke in the system, maybe? It would almost have to be. Or at least, you’d hope so.
Oxford defines traditional as
“long-establish, used in accordance with tradition, or customary.”
A few of Merriam-Webster’s definitions include “derived from tradition, handed down from age to age, or adhering to past practices.”
Cambridge Dictionary defines the word as “following or belonging to the customs or ways of behaving that have continued in a group of people or society for a long time without changing.”
And one of my most favorite dictionaries, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, defines “tradition” (because “traditional” isn’t in the Bible) as: “a handing down or handing over” or used as another word for “ordinances.”
The synonyms in the above screenshot remind me of what the WORLD thinks about traditional things. Traditional options are now outdated in today’s world, and believers who follow them are considered outdated too. But doesn’t it make sense?
In 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Paul tells us, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” That’s good stuff. And as far as I’m concerned, NEVER gets outdated!
Then again, it sure wouldn’t be the first time I was called old-fashioned or dated, lol. I live my life differently than a lot of folks, and I’m okay with that! I’d rather be outdated with God than current with this untoward generation any day of the week!
Wow! That just blows my mind, Stacey! You are so right about being traditional does not mean what it used to if we are looking through the lenses of the world’s perspective. Hey, if being traditional is outdated, I guess you can call me old-fashioned, too. And if that’s wrong, we sure don’t want to be right, right? Lol. Your posts always make me think deep. Love ya friend!
Yes, Ma’am, lol!! I don’t wanna be right if “traditional” is wrong! 🙂 Thank you, and love you too, Sis! <3