This week we talked through the parable that Jesus tell at the end of Luke Chapter 5 (the podcast is now posted here - or you can find it through itunes). The parable essentially conveys to those around Jesus that He represents something new that can not be added to the old, or contained by the old. We then talked about how often we try and keep our old ways of viewing God, ourselves, and each other while "accepting" the way of Jesus, when in fact Jesus can not coexist with much of it. Something must give.
Steve was kind enough to let us in on his story and the ways in which the old had to go away in order for the "new wine" to be present in his life. (You can hear his story in the podcast) I wanted to open this up for you to reply to this post and tell something about your story. Did something we talked about connect with your story? Have you found that you had to exchange your old ways of looking at God, yourself, and others in order to enjoy the "new wine"?
I posted the parable below and would love to hear from you about this topic. (click on the comments below)
Luke 5:36b-39
"No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If
he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new
will not match the old. 37And
no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will
burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be
ruined. 38No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "
Man, what a powerful message last night!!! I just want to thank Steve for sharing...for opening up something so personal to share we our church family. Somewhere along the way we Christians have forgotten the importance of sharing, confession, and just being vulnerable (which I’m sure is a hindrance when trying to receive the “new wine”). Confession seems to be that subject that most Christians completely disregard and treat more as an optional thing. How refreshing to hear honesty…to hear, see, and experience the journey along with someone that is taking on the “new”. I commend you Steve. You have encouraged and inspired me, more than you know!!!
ReplyDeleteThis whole topic of taking on the “new” is at times frustrating to me. It’s so hard to “de-program” your mind, to be open to seeing things a different way. Sometimes I feel guilty for seeing scripture in a different light; like I’m disappointing all those Sunday school teachers, wondering off the common path of thought. I feel like I have been programmed since birth to be a law-abiding Pharisee…and in some ways I feel that I am just now experiencing and seeing the true character of Christ for the first time. Have I really misinterpreted scripture for this long? Have I blatantly just accepted what was handed to me without question? Am I that shallow and un-expecting in my walk with Christ? I’m seeing attributes of Christ that I’ve never seen before AND seeing attributes of the Church that I’ve never experienced before. Wow!!! My old and new are colliding in a major way!!! This journey is scaring me to death, but I LOVE IT and wouldn’t trade for anything!!!
I totally connected with the 'new wine' message . I was raised in a very faithful church-attending family. And like Lindsey said, I just accepted what I was told without question. But then again, I always questioned things in the back of my mind, but would usually just ignore those thoughts. When I began college, that all fell apart. I was not attending my home church regularly and was finally exposed to different ideas about Christ and was basically forced to actually think about what I believed and why. Well, that was the beginning of the end for what I had been taught. At first I would try stuffing these new ideas into my old way of thinking, but just like scripture says, it would break open. After trying that a few times, i realized i would have to rethink all of what I had been taught. And it was a beautiful, if not difficult, season of life for me. But I am certainly thankful for it.
ReplyDeleteSteve - you're brave for sharing that with us - no one likes to talk about the bad spots of life. Mike - thank you for your wisdom; not many can gracefully illustrate "boring" scripture in such profound ways.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in atheist house abundant in bipolar violence. It wasn't until I spent time other families that I realized it wasn't normal to be hospitalized due to beatings from parents.
I had a few close friends, also atheists. We started a band to spite Christianity; even burned a bible on stage at a gig one evening. We all cut ourselves, burned each other... it was a twisted form of love - one that expresses love in forms of hate.
A classmate invited me to church, and I went because I was tired of my dark paradigm. I sat in the back, fiddling with my sleeves to hide cuts. People talked to me, which made me nervous - living in hate does things like that. They were genuine, they gave me hugs. They asked if I wanted to talk. I had found the new wine.
It took a whole lotta work/time/loneliness/uncertainty to unwind what I thought life consisted of; the new wineskin was accepting/mimicking the absolute forgiveness and real love of Christ.
I know I don't reflect Christ: I swear, flip off bad drivers, hang up on mom, fart on my husband.
I also know that this skin is a whole lot better than the old one. Being able to love others as they are is way more fun than unconditionally hating them. As the song goes, the shadow proves the sunshine. In my case, hate proved love.
For a long time I have tried to find that friend(s) with whom I could share the "bottom of my bucket" and know they would not run the other direction...but would stand by me as I journey through the process of restoration. In this journey I have learned that (sorry for the corny phrase) openess is to wholeness as secrecy is to sickness. So I was so thanful to hear Steve's story of God and to be a part of a group that risks confession. Like Steve, I know that much of my freedom is hindered by lies that I unconciously believe about God and myself. What happened Sunday night encouraged me so much..and drove me into confession, recommitment, woship and ultimately resulted in peace and joy that only Christ can bring. The wine is sweet! Thanks to all at Ekklesia for being sincere seekers. It has been so encouraging to me to be surrounded by so many who are sincerely wrestling in the arena of faith.
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