Good Morning Friends,
Some argue that Jesus came to initiate a New Covenant, not to improve the Old Covenant. Jesus came to give us new life, not to change our old life. And to some extent that is true. Life with Christ is not like putting patches on an old, tattered garment – it is like getting a brand-new outfit. Life with Christ is not like adding some new wine into an old wineskin – it is like getting a brand-new wineskin to receive the new wine of His Holy Spirit. But if this is going to take place, we need to be willing to part with that old comfortable shirt and if the old wine tastes better because it has matured, then we have a challenge.And so, we ask, How Do We Balance God’s Changeless Message When We Live In An Ever-Changing Culture?
Scripture: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 (NRSV)
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NRSV)
Then they said to him, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink. Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, ‘The old is good.’”
Luke 5:33-39 (NRSV)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5:17 (NRSV)
Message: In Jesus and through him something new and amazing had come into the life of the people who experienced him. Fishermen laid down their nets to follow him…people were healed. But the power and the message of his life and love could not be expressed in traditional terms of the Law and Prophets alone. He made the experience culturally relevant. However, Jesus’ entire earthly ministry was viewed as an attempt to take the old way… the Law… and trash it to bring in a new way…grace. The only problem with that thinking is that this was not what Jesus was about doing at all. Jesus is clear that he came not to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. We need to think in a new way applying this to our life in the called-out assembly of God…the Church. The problem is about change and culture. And perhaps there is a better course of action rather than going with the winds of evangelical church culture experienced by many in the 1950’s and 60’s in the United States for now all those converts are in their 70’s and 80’s and dwindling in numbers in the pews. Something new is needed for a bridge to the next generation. In Act 17 Paul beautifully portrays a timeless strategy for evangelism that does not overreact, underreact or counteract the culture of his time. Instead, it is a prayerful choice to consistently have a discerning ethic of engaging culture through Jesus. I have not included it in the scripture selection but look it up. It is about being a bridge. We need to follow Paul’s example and build bridges so that we can preach the Gospel in our own age. Blending the old with the new was a problem for the Pharisees two thousand years ago and it is a problem for the church today as well. We need a bridge much like a bridge in a musical creation. Interestingly the fastest growing genre of music for those 18-36 years of age on the internet is classical music. They previously did not like the delivery system of the music so avoided it as they avoided traditional religion. And perhaps we can learn from what is happening to those beginning to listen to classical music… much of which was designed in support of worship. Perhaps the found sounds of Christ and the voices of music might be a link to discover Jesus anew.
And So, Jesus is a unique bridge. Jesus is the first born of a new creation and is that bridge we need. And even if the American society is moving farther away from traditional religion because of its bad image, Jesus is still relevant and inspiring and beautiful much like classical music. And the interesting thing to me is, even though there are more “none’s” …those expressing no religious belief… than ever, there is also a higher number of people who identify as highly spiritual. They are spiritual, just not religious yet for if they develop a relationship with Jesus the religion will become organic. And that is the point. The Apostle Paul was writing to a young church in Colossae that had a lot of confusion over what it meant to follow God. And Paul set the record straight. He said, it’s all about Jesus. The word “Christian” means “little Christ.” If you want to be a Christian, you’re going to follow Jesus Christ. And Paul told these believers–and us today–that Jesus is preeminent; that is, Jesus comes first.
Pray we realize that Jesus is the means for every generation to be saved. Pray we get to know Jesus, the image of the invisible God. Pray we trust Jesus as the voice of all of creation. Pray we realize that Jesus is the glue of our existence so we can turn over all the chaos in our life to him. Pray we commit our fellowship to Jesus, the only real leader of the Church. Pray we trust Jesus as the standard for eternal life. Pray we realize that the only way we can be right with God is realize that Jesus has paid for our sins. Pray we build bridges of faith between our ever changing culture and our biblical faith in a never-changing Gospel. Pray we be patient and less judgmental for we do not see the full scope of history. Pray our faith is expressed in a loving relationship with Christ. Pray that the music of our collective lives glorifies God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 