Seeking the Old Path-6/28/2012

"Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.'  But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’"  Jeremiah 6:16

There is an old saying among preachers and biblical teachers that states, "If it's new it ain't true and if it's true it ain't new."  Perhaps they are borrowing from the writer of Ecclesiastes when he said, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.  Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look!  This is something new?'  It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time" Eccl 1:9-10.

As a society, we are obsessed with the newest, latest, greatest thing from news and information to technology to gadgetry. Who among us does not have or want the latest cell phone for example? More relevantly, people are constantly developing new philosophies of God (or god figures), religion and worship.  Should you ever have the time or interest, look up "religions" like Creativity Movement, Nation of Yahweh, Church of All Worlds, Universe People and the more well known Church of Scientology.  Though these organizations are easily dismissed (despite the growing number of adherents to some), far more dangerous changes are being made in churches all over the world today.  One example of this is in 2003, the Episcopalian Church of the United States of America became the first mainstream religious organization to consecrate an openly gay non celebate bishop (see Rom 1:26-28 and 1 Cor 6:9-10).

Beloved, the word of God and all that it teaches is tested, tried and true.  We serve the Ancient of Days who is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Our God is not fad driven nor subject to the whims of fickle humanity.  It is we that must conform ourselves to Him and not the other way around.  While I will agree that their are new approaches to delivering the message (we now have print, microphones, air conditioned houses of worship, television, radio and the internet), the message does not change.  Let us seek the old and good path and walk in it.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee