Psalm 119:52 Remember the Old Ways

I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
Psalm 119:52

My college-age mind was blown in 1975 by the publication of The Problem of Wineskins: Church Structure in Technological Age, by Howard Snyder. This book provided a theological framework for the tensions I'd been struggling with.

I was leaving behind many of the ways the church of my youth had conducted themselves in the world. At the same time I was too firmly rooted in my devotion to the Word of God to discard the "ancient laws" out of hand.

Many young Christians since that time have faced a similar tug-of-war when they step away from the religious strictures of their home and their home church. Many abandon their faith entirely, in ever increasing numbers. One study, by Summit Ministries, found that between 59% of students who described themselves as "born again" during high school no longer described themselves that way four years later. Other studies put that percentage at 70% or higher.

Other studies have found an overwhelming percentage of young people still describe themselves as Christian or as "born again", but hold to opinions on several culture-sensitive topics that are far from the doctrines espoused by the average evangelical church or denomination.

The most commonly talked about difference is in the arena of sexual relationships. Many millennial believers have shifted toward acceptance of alternative sexual lifestyles, across the range from premarital sex, divorce, remarriage, and LGBTQ. They find the weight of societal pressure and personal experience difficult to resist.

Is there a way we can provide young people with a framework to retain their faith and their devotion to the authority of scripture? I think the same principles many in my generation learned from Howard Snyder's book could provide such a path.

Snyder's book is somewhat dated in it's addressing of "current" issues. I didn't agree with all of his ideas back then, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are still things I could pick at. But his premise is a good one, based on the parable of the New Wine and Old Wineskins, in Matthew 9:14-16.

The key concept is found int his quote from Snyder's book:

Every age knows the temptation to forget that the gospel is ever new. We try to contain the new wine of the gospel in old wineskins — outmoded traditions, obsolete philosophies, creaking institutions, old habits. But with time the old wineskins begin to bind the gospel. Then they must burst, and the power of the gospel pour forth once more. Many times this has happened in the history of the church. Human nature wants to conserve, but the divine nature is to renew. it seems almost a law that things initially created to aid the gospel eventually become obstacles — old wineskins. Then God has to destroy or abandon them so that the gospel wine can renew man’s world once again.

We should be teaching young people the difference between the continually new wine of the gospel and the need to continually change the wineskins of our practice as the church.

There's no need to toss out the wine with the wineskins.

There's no need to toss out the "ancient laws" that reflect God's righteous intent for human relationships. But we do need to find new ways to lead with love rather than condemnation as we deal with the LGBTQ community.

I've watched many of my fellow Christians retreat into what they think is "old time religion," but actually just goes back a few generations to old ways of talking and interacting with the world with an us vs. them approach. I've watched other believers lay their allegiance to the "ancient laws" aside. It's not because they've concluded the Bible somehow wasn't really saying those things. They simply find it too hard to stand firm with the Word in the face of the all-invasive culture of the world.

There's a third way. Remember the ancient laws, and find comfort and community in them.