In this episode, Dr. Clark considers the doctrine of tradition in Scripture, in the ancient fathers of the church, and in the Roman Catholic Church. Everyone has a tradition, but what type of authority do traditions have over our theology, piety, and practice? The Roman Catholic Church teaches that its Sacred Tradition is an equal source of revelation to that of Holy Scripture and contains doctrines handed down orally to be guarded, interpreted, and taught by bishops and the Pope.  

Presbyterian and Reformed churches believe in the right use of tradition. Rightly understood, we are not cut off from the Christian past. Our theology, party, and practice were confessed before us, and we understand that it was transmitted to us by others. So, it is a tradition that we have received from those who came before us and is always subordinate to Holy Scripture.

American Evangelical Christianity is in crisis. The story of how it got here is an important part of this series, but there are several reasons so many evangelical Christians are discontent and looking for something else, something with historical roots, with a sense of tradition, with a sense of transcendence, with reverent worship, and with a deeper view of the sacraments. It is the conviction of the Heidelberg Reformation Association that the answer to the longing for more lies not in Rome or in the Eastern Orthodox traditions but, as it were, in Geneva. In this series we will explore the history, theology, piety, and practice of Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox traditions, and we will compare and contrast those two traditions with historic Reformed theology, piety, and practice.

This episode of the Heidelcast is sponsored by the Heidelberg Reformation Association. You love the Heidelcast and the Heidelblog. You share it with friends, with members of your church, and others but have you stopped to think what would happen if it all disappeared? The truth is that we depend on your support. If you don’t make the coffer clink, the HRA will simply sink. Won’t you help us keep it going? The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All your gifts are tax deductible. Use the donate link on this page or mail a check to Heidelberg Reformation Association, 1637 E Valley Parkway #391, Escondido CA 92027.

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• Resources On Roman Catholicism
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• The HB Media Archive
• The Ecumenical Creeds
• The Reformed Confessions
• Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
• The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2025)
• Remembering the Reformed Confession: Our Theology, Piety, and Practice (Heidelberg Reformation Association, 2026).
• Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008).
• What Must A Christian Believe?
• Why I Am A Christian
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The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

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  The Heidelcast is the official podcast of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. With more than 800 episodes, the Heidelcast has been in production since 2009.

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