Nostalgia is a powerful part of the human experiences. I'm not an old man, but, even now, paging through our family picture albums or watching family videos from 10 years ago stirs up such such longing for a return to the time when my kids were running through the house, that I get depressed for hours! Interestingly, those same pictures that make me so morose make my wife thankful that our kids are all grown up. She was a full-time Mom and remembers that era in our family life quite differently than I do! Both of us agree about one thing, however; we can't relive those joys, so we'll find the joys that today offers!
Some people are attempting to navigate their way into the future while staring into the rear-view mirror called the 'past!' They are largely missing the present because they are remembering the past. Every experience of the 'now' is evaluated in the light of 'then.' There's a big problem with living that way. Memory is highly selective. We rewrite history to fit our perceptions, our needs. So, as we remember the 'good old days,' we tend to forget the difficulties and recall the moments of joy. Try to think back just 10 or 20 years. Memory is mostly limited to big moments of joy - birthday celebrations, Christmas, family vacations, or the awful moments of breakups, financial loss, or death. But the ordinary moments - the flat tires, broken appliances, frustrations, arguments, sun rises, unremarkable days... they have disappeared into the mist of memory.
I find that some Christians fall into the trap of nostalgia in their faith walk, too. They bemoan the state of the church, criticize the youth program, and/or long for the preaching of some by-gone pastor or teacher. "It's not the way it used to be," they say. They're right! Change is inevitable!
Churches that work to stay exactly the same - and many do - slide into isolation and gradually die. Some of you are objecting, "Jerry, Christianity is ancient. Traditions are important." And you're right. The Bible assures us that "Jesus Christ is the same; yesterday, today, and forever." The ritual celebrations of Communion and Baptism are valuable rites that preserve continuity in the Christian community. However, the ways that the Gospel is communicated; the forms in our worship will all change over time. Each generation's innovations in Christian worship has provoked the ire of the previous generation! The church organ was a scandal in the time of Bach. Few evangelical Christians who defend traditional worship today realize that the hymns of Isaac Watts provoked splits and great commotion in the 18th century American church!
Are you missing out on what God wants to do in your life TODAY, because you're attempting to recreate the spiritual experiences of another time?
Do you fondly remember a decade when God was so close to you? Rejoice in that! Don't try to erase yesterday. What He did for you and with you yesterday is foundational for your walk with Him today, but those things are the past, and He's doing a new thing in you, in me! Ask God to help you to see and appreciate today.
If you think the Church has gone a little 'off the rails,' pray for those who lead, asking the Spirit to make His Presence known - and be ready for God to do a new thing - in you, in your church, in this world!
Here's a word from the Word -
"No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be torn, and the patch wouldn't even match the old garment. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins." (Luke 5:36-37, NLT)
"Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. He has won a mighty victory by his power and holiness." (Psalm 98:1, NLT)
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