Basic problems with keeping Old Wine in New Wineskins | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Jesus used the image of wine to convey a basic concept of who he was and what he was here to do. You may remember that his first miracle was at a wedding feast when the host ran out of wine and Jesus turned water into "the best wine (when usually a host serves the best first)." Jesus was here on earth to represent God with BOTH new wine and new wineskins . . .

    Unfortunately, everyone brings their previous thinking and acting when they join the flock.

    For example: The first Disciples were James and John, the sons of thunder. They had their nickname from their quick tempers. Although they were two that Jesus sought, they were not, by any means, perfect. Jesus invited them "warts and all" as he does each of us.

    The word, "PERFECT" is poorly understood by most church folks today. Most of us define it as "without blemish and following all the rules to perfection." Someone said the trouble with too many of us is being tied up in NOTS --- thou shalt not do this or that ad nauseum. I grew up in that environment. My father believed in living what you preached. Part of his country Baptist conservatism was to be at church every time the door opened.

    One of his favorite stories was at his first big church where the town leaders decided it would be great to hold a dance and skating party each Wednesday for the youth with little to do before the era of TV and video games. He was a stickler for Baptist Prayer Meeting as a sacred activity. He asked a few town leaders in his church if they realized such a good activity could be held on Thursday evening as well as Wednesday --- in conflict with his Baptist Church's activities. He was proud that they had not thought of the conflict and quickly moved it to make him happy.

    When I wanted to play 8th Grade football --- practice was each evening during the week. He had consented to my participation UNTIL it was clear there was a conflict with Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting "sacred stuff." It mattered not that football was not year around. It mattered not that I had my new cleats and could not wait to put them on and play. He wrote a curt letter to the Coach and copy to the DeKalb County Superintendent of Schools that his son must either go to church or NOT play football. The next day at school that somewhat immature coach made it a big show to return my money to me in front of all the boys. He was actually worse than my father over obsessive behavior! The end result was my embarrassment and my good athletic abilities sidelined to the point other boys got the positions and notice. I could not break in as a senior in baseball.

    You see, the whole deal was an old wine in new wineskins thing and my father was unwilling to adapt to a more busy school era when extra-curricular activities interfered with church activities. Next came Superman on TV each Wednesday evening. My buddies would all be talking about the show and I had no clue. That was so onerous on me I faked being sick one night to see it for myself. You can only force so much Depression-era living on a child born in 1946 when things were changing.

    When the new of the wine conflicts with the old of the skin, you have to look twice at what is really important --- going to church or being "in the world but not of the world."

    When I entered ministry in 1970 kids and families were more than busy with extracurricular stuff. I quickly found that a Wednesday Family Night drew 10 times the crowd than the old folks meeting to hear another sermon and be perfect in attendance at all church activities. I encouraged people to participate any other night of the week with civic activities --- while we could put it all together on one night and then you could do the whole thing!

    The biblical concept of PERFECT has to do with τειϊός (telios) --- for those who don't know Greek

    The word means "fulfilling your ultimate purpose" rather than being "without blemish." A good word picture is an old piano. It is beat up and missing some strings and pads. If you hire a piano expert to fix it and renew the felts, then it can play with the same beauty intended when it was made in the beginning. I practiced on such when I took piano lessons.

    To bring this image and playing sports back together for a full picture of social relationships in my family, my parents moved from attending church in deference to sports --- to playing music which would not injure you like football. Piano was OK, but playing outside with a bat and ball was way more exciting for this young lad.

    My confrontation of wine and wineskin came my senior year in high school. I finally got up enough courage to tell my parents flat out "I want to earn a baseball letter before I end my time---period." They consented and the coach was excited to get a left-hander to pitch or play first base. It still was not what I dreamed it to be because I went in with no coaching or training at the level now accomplished by my classmates. I pitched my first game and got nervous. I "blew up" as they say. A guy hit a grounder to the first baseman and I had no training on how to go over and cover first as he threw the runner out.

    Missing your right time to put the right wine in the new skin can mess up a good batch of wine!

    Here is the thoughtful question:

    As America enters its 2nd century of the "Great Experiment in Democracy," have we lost our ability to be a union of imperfect humans immigrated here from all over the world with the dream of "freedom and justice for all?"