The New and the Old
Andrew makes a good point about our understanding of church renewal and decline, “There seems to be an inherent danger with just giving something a certain timespan and then ‘writing it off’.”
GK Chesterton agrees, “Men invent new ideals because they dare not attempt old ideals. They look forward with enthusiasm, because they are afraid to look back.”
The Bible knows nothing of our preoccupation with the new at the expense of the old. If the Scriptures have a bias it is towards the old. God’s people are called to return to the old ways, the ancient paths. They are warned about mirroring the values and norms of the contemporary world.
The ‘new’ that is promised has nothing to do with the latest social trends but everything to do eschatology—the end times. A new reality has broken into history. It is the world that belongs to a tired old age. It may look cool, powerful and attractive but it will not last.
We are called to return to the first things, to where it all began. How do we get there? By turning away from an age that is passing away and living in the new reality that Christ has established.
It’s a decision, a way of life that we must choose every day. No matter how old or young we may be.
With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
