How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. – Job 8:2

Today's Scripture Reading (July 6, 2021): Job 8

American scholar and Christian theologian Jaroslav Pelikan, in "The Vindication of Tradition: The 1983 Jefferson Lecture in the Humanities," argued that "tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. And, I suppose I should add, it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name." We all act according to the traditions we have built into our lives, even if those traditions are new ones that we have created to help us live. None of us live without tradition, and there is nothing wrong with traditions we have built into our lives. They often represent the work of those who have gone before us, allowing us to build on their traditions, making our lives and society better. But one of the problems with traditionalism is that it holds to ancient traditions even when they no longer function properly; in other words, traditionalism divorces action from effectiveness. It keeps us doing things simply because it has always been done that way.

But another problem with traditionalism is that it is often filled with arrogance. For those stuck in the rut of traditionalism, politeness often seems to be an unknown commodity. Traditionalism is simply a blunt tool used to beat down any ideas that seem to be new or different. Traditionalism often creates a loud noise, and in the process of making its argument, it ridicules any who have fallen out of its wisdom. Pelikan is right; "it is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name."

Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite seem to be complete opposites. Eliphaz may have had some wrong ideas, but he also treated Job with a modicum of respect and courtesy. Bildad is brash and rude, as he starts off his criticism of Job by calling the prophet a "blustering wind" or an "empty windbag" to whom there is no need to listen.

Mike Mason in "The Gospel According to Job" makes this observation;

If Eliphaz strikes us as the most refined member of this group, comparatively flexible and sophisticated, then Bildad the Shuhite comes across as the staunch, ramrod traditionalist, the one who sees all issues in black and white and who prides himself on his straightforward, no-nonsense approach.

Bildad represents the traditionalist element, and like modern-day prophets who are stuck in traditionalism, he rejects any need to be politically correct. But we live in a society together with others who may believe differently. That means that when tradition, and especially traditionalism, meets what we might consider to be more liberal ideas, we have a responsibility to at least be polite as we engage with each other,  as we have a fruitful discussion of what it is that we believe.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Job 9