Is Old Always Bad?

Meat really stinks when it gets old…yet aged beef is good because it’s tenderized.

Grapes can turn into raisins or even wine with the right aging process.

Trash is old stuff…an antique is trash turned older.

Some things get better as they get older. Of course, there are many other examples of things that turn just plain bad, stinky and good for nothing with age.  In the church world, there has always been this battle between things new and old. Even in the first century, some Christians were quarrelsome over using the new Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint.  Christians were also quarrelsome when some felt that their widows, the “new school” Greek-speaking Jews, were being neglected in the giving out of food against the “old school” Hebraic Jews.

In today’s culture, new church plants are the craze. Young guys come out wanting to share the Gospel in their own unique style, only to be blocked by old school mentality as the wrong way to do it.  These guys are left nowhere to go but to start out on their own. In this same realm are experienced pastors. Experienced pastors become frustrated with church members as they try to change the way things are working (or actually not working) so that they can continue to grow the church with new converts.  Experienced pastors are left no where to go but to start out on their own.  What happens is that these “old school” churches end up trapping themselves by only seeing the same people all the time, which inevitably leads to decline.  Naturally, anywhere from 4-10% of people will leave a church due to job change, life situation or even death. So a church without growth will eventually need to shut down. Many small churches in America are experiencing this right now.

However, these new church plants are excited about their new growth and continue to focus on reproducing more growth.  It’s all about reaching those who are “far from God.” Yet I wonder if eventually these new believers will become the older believers that existed in the churches that young guys and experienced pastors ran away from? Will all older believers desire more “training,” more structured opportunities and other environments that seem to block or tie up time for new growth?

I believe the biggest issue in this two-sided battle is that “older” and “newer” believers get out of touch with the other generation, not because they don’t want to connect, but because they just don’t know how.  Believers often get trapped with life issues such as being busy with the kids, marriage struggles or even divorce, job loss or too much work, medical issues, etc.  Believers have a hard time just getting their own spiritual growth back on track, let alone becoming a leader, a mentor, a help, a community to each other. It’s as though both “older” and “newer” Christians become those who are “far from God.”

And maybe that’s the assumption we carry in this old versus new debate.  Rather than trying to understand all people and see how all of us need to help one another grow in a relationship with God, we place stereotypes on people as new and old.  Sometimes, the old school gets a bad rap as being a stumbling block for the church. Other times, they live up to the stereotype.  Sometimes, the new school gets a bad rap as being scattered, unorganized and immature. Other times, they live up to the stereotype. Lets face it, growth is going to be messy, but the messy is necessary.

In Summary: “New” seems exciting and free and just works, but struggles to reinvent the wheel with no cash. “Old” seems too hard to deal with, but holds lots of wisdom, experience and cash.  We can’t forget to see all people as people, not as a stereotype. Both old and new could be “far from God.” We have to take the time to understand our urgency to reach all people where they are at and help them to a better place, so that they can be better equipped to do good works for God.  Greeks and Hebrews can grow together. They must. I’m just not sure it’s happening enough.