Differences of opinion concerning the direction of the church will inevitably rouse great emotion. Conflict often arises because of a shift in a congregation's "modus operandi" or standard operating procedure. People get too comfortable with familiar and any deviation is seen as suspect. Too often, any change is summarily rejected and even branded heretical simply because "we've never done it that way before."
Lacking any real biblical basis for rejecting the new, opponents of change appeal to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah's statement recorded in Jeremiah 6:16. Here, Jeremiah implores, "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient (old) paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Just prior to this proclamation, Jeremiah prophesies of the coming destruction of Jerusalem if God's people do not change. Then in verse 14, Jeremiah decries, "They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace." Jeremiah was speaking to God's children who were relying on their past success, who acknowledged only the need of a minor patch (dress the wound), who only wanted to be left alone to do as they had been doing (peace, peace).
What was God's reply? When you stand at a decision point,
choose the ancient way. Often this is interpreted as an endorsement of tradition and an injunction against innovation. However, Jeremiah's urging to "ask for the ancient paths" is a declaration to cast off tradition and simply seek God; seek not
man's old path, but
God's old path. Choose to do things God's way.
God's people face a daunting task today. People are indifferent to religion in general. Financial problems plague our households along with all the usual suspects such as drugs, alcohol, marital issues, health problems, etc. In other words, Jeremiah would say,
"the wound is serious!" People in our culture are inundated with choices and will only devote their time to a cause that is relevant. Yes, they need God in their lives, but what is the church doing that says to the world, "We have the answers," and most importantly, "We care!" The church should be at the forefront of innovation when it comes to ways of connecting people with Christ.
The telegraph was once the way to send important messages, however, changes in culture and technology deemed this method of communication no longer relevant. While the messages once sent via telegraph still need sending today, they are sent using different techniques and technology such as email, facebook, and twitter. The same is true for the church and its message. While our message has not changed, our way of communicating the timeless message of Christ must change. To insist that we continue down the "old paths" simply because it worked in the past is positioning ourselves with the Israelites of Jeremiah's day crying "Peace, Peace!" A church that persists in traditions that no longer work because it is uncomfortable with trying new methods not only becomes irrelevant; it risks being condemned by its own selfishness.
Certainly, we can learn from our past. Much of what was done in the past in the name of the Lord is praiseworthy and brings God much glory. The previous generations had a passion for the lost, a craving for knowledge, and an insatiable thirst for truth that we would do well to imitate. If we emulate these qualities while employing culturally relevant techniques we not only honor those who have gone before us, we glorify God.
We sing the hymn, "There is much to do there is work on every hand. Hark! The cry for help comes ringing through the land. Jesus calls for reapers, I must active be. Lord, I must not, cannot dare to let them be. Here am I, Lord send me!" This song so eloquently puts forth our mission. The work is immense and the pleas of the lost are deafening. Jesus has called us to take his word to the world. To put forth less than our best effort is near the equivalent of ignoring the call of our Lord altogether.
We do indeed stand at a crossroad and God demands we make a decision. We cannot defer and do nothing; people in our homes, our church, our community, and our world are lost and dying! How do we answer? We "ask where the good way is, and walk in it."
Mitchell
