New wineskins for New wine

Open: the long and arduous process for introducing songs into the Church service in England in the 1700’s. Pastor Benjamin Keach had to gain approval through a congregational vote to have one song sung during the Communion service. It took him 8 years (??) to have music in the weekly service

Transition: We don’t even think about planning a service without congregational singing. Those services without music last year (during Glennie’s absence and when Don Sweet was out) were awkward. I missed having music. Having music in a service, however, was a new and controversial change in methodology 300 years ago. We are now grateful to the generation of believers who were willing to embrace a positive change in how Church was done.

Read the Text: Luke 5:33-39

Background for the Parable

Jesus has been busy ministering to the crowds, teaching about the Kingdom, and healing people along the way. He is beginning to receive criticism for His methods of ministry. The Pharisees don’t like the way Jesus touches lepers (not stated explicitly in this text, but they would never touch an unclean person), they don’t like how Jesus forgives sinners (Luke 5:21); and they don’t like the fact that Jesus associated with tax collectors (Luke 5:30).

In the immediate setting of this parable, they continue their criticism by discussing Jesus’ failing (in their perception) with His disciples. They question why His disciples fail to practice the spiritual discipline of fasting (Luke 5:33)

Principles from the Passage & Parable

Take Joy in the Journey. (Luke 5:33-34)

The Christian life is a celebration. We serve a Risen Savior who has blessed us spiritually and materially. The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for eating and drinking and having a good time while they fasted and practiced being gloomy. It is not sinful to laugh and have fun in the context of Christian community.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Prov 17:22)

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour” (Eccl 2:24)

Recognize the appropriate time and place for the proper countenance (Luke 5:35)

Not everything is fun & games and eating & drinking. There are times and situations which call for serious reflection (Eccl 3:1, 4). We need wisdom to recognize the appropriate response. We can celebrate the glory of the Resurrection at one moment, and then be led to enter a season of repentance and prayer.

Respect the Power and Life inherent in Christianity (Luke 5:36-38)

Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. The Pharisees were guilty of trying to contain Jesus within their tradition. God gave His people the Law which they could not keep. God knew this when He gave it to them. The purpose was to demonstrate their inability to satisfy its demands and to then point them to God for His help. Instead of coming to God in humility and asking for His help the Pharisees developed the “Hedge about the Law” an intricate system of 613 man-made regulations that they could keep. This is religion and it reeks of legalism!

Jesus is telling the Pharisees that He can’t be contained! His way of life is new and powerful and fresh and life-changing! The old patch of Judaism was not adequate for Jesus. Traditions are not bad in and of themselves, but they can become substitutes for experiencing the power of God. Traditionalism can hinder the work of Christ, and Jesus is informing the people that new ways of life and worship are necessary because He is a really big deal!

NOTE: Jesus is discussing the reality that His arrival changed the business as usual approach to God. He is not, however, granting license to do whatever we want as long as we brand it as “christian.” Jesus is dealing with heart attitudes - not specific aspects of a worship service in the 1200’s, the 1700’s, or even in 2022. A survey of Church history will quickly reveal that worship styles and Church practices have changed over time. What is not to change is the Message of the Gospel.

Example: Sunday School was started in 1751 in England and the primary goal was to educate the street children to be able to read. The text was the Bible, and God used the initiative to save many of the street urchins, and the initiative became a movement.

Ask: Why do we worship on Sunday instead of Saturday?

(Biblical expectation with the Resurrection on the 1st day of the week)

Ask: Why do we worship at 11:00am on Sunday?

(Tradition - gave the farmers time to get the animals fed, get cleaned up, and then to walk or ride the wagon to the church house)

Avoid the danger of refusing to change traditions for the sake of the tradition (Luke 5:39)

Jesus is not reversing Himself when He says that those who have drank the old wine prefer it. Jesus is not discussing the quality of wine itself which actually improves over time in the bottle. Those who drink wine will agree that an aged wine is superior in taste over a freshly bottled vintage. That is not what is being discussed in this verse.

Jesus is referring to the traditionalist’s view of refusing to change. People can get set in their ways and will not even consider the possibility of doing Church another way. “If it’s new, it’s not true!” The preference is for the “old paths” regardless of what is being discussed. Such attitudes result in missing out on God’s plan to grow His church in each generation.

Wisdom is necessary along with a deep respect for biblical boundaries and the knowledge of said boundaries. We don’t embrace change for the sake of change, and we aren’t called to be pragmatists - if it works, then it must be good!

What is needed is the ability to discern the voice of God. If the Holy Spirit is leading, then it is good and right to embrace the change. The Holy Spirit will NEVER lead the Church of Jesus contrary to the Word of God. Instead, He will guide in ways that speaks to the culture without abandoning biblical truth.