It is my observation that in each generation there are those who are faithful to God, His Word, and the Gospel, and are used mightily by the Lord to accomplish His Kingdom purposes.
In each generation there also are those who lose sight of the priority and primacy of God’s Word and the Gospel and get caught up in man-made and man-centered methodologies and emphases. Ironically, this group is also used by the Lord to accomplish His Kingdom purposes (see Philippians 1:15-18).
Each generation also has a younger generation that believes it has a “new” and superior insight into God and His Word. Some in this generation show respect to their predecessors even while venturing off into new ways of doing ministry; they are faithful to God, His Word, and the Gospel, and are used mightily by the Lord to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. Others arrogantly disdain the stance and ministries of the former generation; they lose sight of the priority and primacy God’s Word and the Gospel and get caught up in man-made and man-centered methodologies and emphases. Again, ironically, the Lord uses both groups in this generation to accomplish His Kingdom purposes (again, see Philippians 1:15-18).
It was true of my father’s generation, it is true of my generation, it will be true of my sons’ generation, and it will likely be true of the generations to follow. And for one generation to despise and judge the other is not only unbiblical, it is further ill advised because the former has been the latter, and the latter will one day become the former. May we pray that we all come to a biblically mature way of thinking that joins the Apostle Paul in praying, “In this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice” (again, see Philippians 1:18).
Well stated…
Excellent insight.
This comes in play when dealing with contextualization. A definition from 1938 might be helpful: “An indigenous church, young or old, in the East or in the West, is a church which, rooted in obedience to Christ, spontaneously uses forms of thought and modes of action natural and familiar in its own environment. Such a church arises in response to Christ’s own call. The younger churches will not be unmindful of the experiences and teachings which the older churches have recorded in their confessions and liturgy. But every younger church will seek further to bear witness to the same Gospel with new tongues.”
This is along the same lines as our discussion. I’m feeling this more and more that we are not very skilled at balancing tradition and orthodoxy. I love the New Chosen People. I was reading it to mom the other night.
Well-written, John. Truly a wonderful little series…I’ve shared it with others.