Jesus taught us that “new wine needs new wineskins." The experience of history says that continues to be true. The experience of history also tells us that what Jesus went on to say in that context was that people prefer the old wine. Nearly all that we know who have been birthed in old structures prefer to stay in those old structures, or revert to type once the charismatic leaders who show them new ways move on.
Biblically, we all know that the church began in homes. Historically it stayed there for the first 2-300 years, with few exceptions. Now worldwide, it appears that the Holy Spirit is taking the church back to simplicity. Can the complex (traditional) become simple? I don’t know. In the rest of life the complex only becomes simple as it breaks down, wears out, and dies!
Maybe we can make the choice that Jesus urged when he said, “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.” If we will die to self-glory, our kingdoms, our control, maybe what we will see is what Samson alluded to when he said, “Out of the strong, came forth sweetness.” What a blessing it would be if this time around the “old” did not condemn or seek to destroy the “new," but rather welcomed it! May it be so.
Excerpt by Tony Dale of House2House
