Do Not Move the Ancient Landmark

There is a continual desire among men to improve on God's words and ways, not because they are found inadequate, but because they are considered antiquated: the church is not culturally relevant.  This is not a new trend.  Fifth-century churchman, Vincent of Lérins, sought to keep the church on a true course by giving the following warning against pursuing novel teaching by pointing to the solidity of the past and what was and is universally held to be true:

But here some one perhaps will ask, "Since the canon of scripture is complete, and sufficient of itself for everything, and more than sufficient, what need is there to join with it the authority of the church’s interpretation?"  For this reason,—because, owing to the depth of holy scripture, all do not accept it in one and the same sense, but one understands its words in one way, another in another; so that it seems to be capable of as many interpretations as there are interpreters.…

Moreover, in the catholic church itself, all possible care must be taken, that we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all.  For that is truly and in the strictest sense “catholic,” which, as the name itself and the reason of the thing declare, comprehends all universally.  This rule we shall observe if we follow universality, antiquity, consent.  We shall follow universality if we confess that one faith to be true, which the whole church throughout the world confesses; antiquity, if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is manifest were notoriously held by our holy ancestors and fathers; consent, in like manner, if in antiquity itself we adhere to the consentient definitions and determinations of all, or at the least of almost all priests and doctors.

A Commonitory, 5-6

What happens when a section of the church goes off target and pursues a different teaching—so common today among those claiming to be God's elect?  Hold fast to what is resolved and certain from the past.

What then will a catholic Christian do, if a small portion of the church have cut itself off from the communion of the universal faith?  What, surely, but prefer the soundness of the whole body to the unsoundness of a pestilent and corrupt member?  What, if some novel contagion seek to infect not merely an insignificant portion of the church, but the whole?  Then it will be his care to cleave to antiquity, which at this day cannot possibly be seduced by any fraud of novelty.

A Commonitory, 7

And lastly, what happens if the ancient church was mistaken at some point?  Go to the decrees and creeds.  What if the decrees and creeds do not address the matter?  Study those who were considered faithful and hold fast to what was generally accepted in accordance with scripture.

But what, if in antiquity itself there be found error on the part of two or three men, or at any rate of a city or even of a province?  Then it will be his care by all means, to prefer the decrees, if such there be, of an ancient general council to the rashness and ignorance of a few.  But what, if some error should spring up on which no such decree is found to bear?  Then he must collate and consult and interrogate the opinions of the ancients, of those, namely, who, though living in divers times and places, yet continuing in the communion and faith of the one catholic church, stand forth acknowledged and approved authorities: and whatsoever he shall ascertain to have been held, written, taught, not by one or two of these only, but by all, equally, with one consent, openly, frequently, persistently, that he must understand that he himself also is to believe without any doubt or hesitation.

A Commonitory, 8

Fourteen centuries later William D. Conybeare echoed this sentiment when he wrote:

Yet assuredly, we should greatly mistake the intention of our church, did we imagine that she called on us to neglect the information which the venerable relics of Christian antiquity have preserved to us, in recording the sentiments of the primitive ages of the faith.  Our holy mother would never encourage us to depreciate the high and honorable claims of the first standard-bearers, and foremost champions of our religion.  The true line taken by our church appears to be this.  She knows nothing of tradition as an independent rule of faith; but genuine and primitive tradition she anxiously seeks to discover, and when found she honors, not indeed as a rival mistress, but as a faithful handmaid of scripture.

An Analytical Examination into the Character, Value, and Just Application

of the Writings of the Christian Fathers during the Ante-Nicene Period, 6-7

What God's people have received was given to establish and keep a holy and elect people.  It is our honor to faithfully share the Lord's good word to the next generation, that they might pass it to their children.  May we not forget this.

[The Lord] established a testimony in Jacob
        and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
        to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
        the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
        so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
        but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
        a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
        whose spirit was not faithful to God.  (Psalm 78:5-8)