“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:191

Embracing the New, Honoring the Old

This verse from Isaiah rings with the promise of God’s ever-present renewal, His constant movement and work in our lives and in His Church. It’s a verse often quoted to herald in new seasons, fresh moves of the Spirit, and innovative expressions of faith. But what of the “old things”? Are they simply discarded, left behind as relics of a bygone era? Terms like “revival”, “outpouring” and “move of God” have become unpopular and subject to derision among those who feel they have a grasp of the things of God that requires nothing more than what they already are in possession of in terms of understanding of God’s word and what they think He is doing in their midst.

A Family Legacy of Balanced Faith

My parents, Roy and Ruth Walden, were young marrieds in the mid-1950s, raised and deeply rooted in the 30s and 40s Pentecostal movement. Then came the Healing Revivals of the late ’50s, and Mom and Dad, though grounded in their denomination, were drawn to this fresh outpouring of the Spirit.

“Mom and Dad were born in fire, but they didn’t want to die in the smoke of a waning movement therefore determined to stay anchored in their traditions but still in hot pursuit of all that God was doing both in and out of the movement they were a part of.”

By the time I was born in 1960, the Healing Revivals had shifted to the Latter Rain Revival and were giving way to the burgeoning Charismatic movement. I vividly remember those cottage prayer meetings, filled with people from all walks of life – coming into the meetings clutching miniature reel-to-reel tape recorders alongside their cigarettes and martinis! It was a fascinating mix of the traditional and the unconventional, a testament to the unifying power of the Holy Spirit.

My conservative Pentecostal parents navigated this scene with remarkable grace. To be sure, there were extremes and excesses. Yet, there was no judgment in my parent’s eyes, only genuine curiosity and respect with a great love in their hearts for the people and a longing for whatever the Spirit of God was doing, whether it fit their denominational paradigm or not. They were determined to be part of what God was doing, while also bringing the wisdom and stability of decades of Pentecostal tradition, rooted in the Azusa Street Revival. They embraced the new but always remained anchored in the old.

This legacy of balanced faith has profoundly shaped my own walk with God. I became a pastor in my early 20s when the Pentecostal/Charismatic move had progressed into the mainstream, giving way to the “Word of Faith” movement under the influence of men like Kenneth Hagin, Sr. During those early years, I stayed open to the new thing that God was doing, taking the good and leaving behind those things that were problematic and, in some cases, non-scriptural. Thanks to my parents’ example, I’ve learned to embrace both the ancient landmarks and the fresh wind of the Spirit, understanding that true faith is a journey of both continuity and renewal.

Discerning the Authentic

Is God still doing “the new thing?” Certainly, but at the same time, there is much that gets branded as “the center” of what God’s Spirit is bringing about when in fact there is confusion between that which is authentically originating in the anointing and presence of God and that which, while spiritual, is more derived from the realm of the emotions and religious sensationalism. On top of that, we are several generations removed from these historical moves of God without anything indisputably replacing what God has done in the early decades of the 20th century. The understanding of the anointing and the difference between anointing and emotionalism has waned. The very concept of the anointing and the presence of God, while termed so to describe phenomena and that which drives the crowds, still prompts me to hear God say strongly, “don’t call this darkness light.” Just because the crowds are gathering doesn’t mean that God is involved at the level others insist He is. 

Remove Not the Ancient Landmark

How can we discern authentic movements of the Spirit from fleeting fads? Solomon wisely warns us, ‘Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set’ (Proverbs 22:28 KJV). Jeremiah echoes this sentiment, urging us to ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths…and ye shall find rest for your souls’ (Jeremiah 6:16 KJV). These verses highlight the vital importance of engaging with the historical currents of our faith.

 

The “ancient landmarks” are not merely dusty relics of the past. They are guideposts that illuminate our present journey. They include the profound theological insights of Augustine, who wrestled with questions of grace and free will, and the passionate reforms of Martin Luther, who rediscovered the centrality of Scripture. They encompass the fervent prayers of the Great Awakenings, which transformed entire communities, and the bold witness of the early Church martyrs, who laid down their lives for the Gospel.

To neglect these landmarks is to risk spiritual amnesia, to lose our bearings in the ever-shifting landscape of contemporary culture. Without a deep understanding of Church history, we become susceptible to repeating past errors, embracing shallow theology, and chasing after fleeting spiritual trends.

God is indeed doing a new thing, pouring out His Spirit in fresh and dynamic ways. But this new wine needs the wineskins of tradition to contain it, to give it form and purpose. By studying the lives of the saints, delving into the writings of the Church Fathers, and exploring the rich tapestry of Christian history, we gain a deeper appreciation for the enduring truths of our faith. We learn from the successes and failures of those who have gone before us, and we discover how God has been at work throughout the ages.

Let us not dismiss the “old paths” as “dead religion.” Instead, let us walk those paths with open hearts and minds, seeking the wisdom and guidance they offer. For in remembering where we have come from, we gain a clearer vision of where we are going.

The Pitfalls of Novelty

The evangelical community, in its pursuit of the “new,” has sometimes fallen into the trap of novelty for novelty’s sake. The utter focus on the supremacy of the presence of God in our meetings, the anointing and body ministry, often gives way to church as entertainment. We chase after the latest trends, the most entertaining programs, the most emotionally charged experiences. We’ve become consumers of religious experiences, seeking to be “fed” rather than to be challenged, stretched, and transformed.

But true faith is not about fleeting feelings or momentary excitement. It’s about a deep, abiding relationship with God, cultivated through prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments. It’s about being rooted in the historic Christian faith, grounded in the creeds and confessions that have shaped believers for centuries. The valuation of the “new and exciting” has produced an elitism and high-mindedness that rejects time-honored traditions of the church, even considering groups such as the Lutheran church, Presbyterians, Methodists, as being “nominal” churches, meaning “name only.” Many even hold the opinion that Catholics aren’t even “really Christians” at all. These elitist viewpoints are obscene, born of pride, bound by sectarianism, and foster disunity from which the Spirit of God withdraws, leaving us to our pageantry, galas, high-powered productions, and light shows where the subtlety of God’s presence is completely overshadowed.  

The Church in Jeopardy

The danger of neglecting the “old things” is that we lose our connection to the rich heritage of the Church. We become susceptible to fads and heresies, tossed about by every wind of doctrine. We forget the wisdom of the saints who have gone before us, who wrestled with the same questions and doubts we face today.

The Path Ahead

Thankfully Jesus Himself spoke directly to these issues in Matthew’s gospel:

[Mat 13:52 KJV] 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe [which is] instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure [things] new and old.

The passage speaks about those leaders who have the wisdom to respect what God has done, yet fully embrace what He is currently saying and doing in the church. A wise householder and scribe in the kingdom brings out of his treasure (heart) things new and old: This is the key image. The householder has a storehouse of valuable things, both new and old. He knows how to draw from both to meet the needs of his family.

Jesus is saying that a true disciple, like a wise householder, knows how to bring forth both the “new” and the “old” from the treasury of God’s Word. This means:

“Old”: Understanding and valuing the Old Testament Scriptures, the foundation of the Christian faith.

“New”: Embracing the new revelation brought by Jesus and the teachings of the New Testament.

This verse highlights the importance of balancing tradition and innovation in the Christian life. We are to be grounded in the “old” – the unchanging truths of God’s Word – while also being open to the “new” things God is doing in the present.

In Reflection:

 How have we, as a church, prioritized the “new” over the “old”?

 In what ways have we neglected the ancient landmarks of our faith?

 How can we rediscover the beauty and depth of traditional Christian practices?

 Are we seeking to be entertained by our faith, or transformed by it?

 How can we create a church culture that honors both the new wine of God’s Spirit and the wineskins of tradition?

Call to Action:

Let us not be afraid to embrace the “old things” – the liturgy, the hymns, the creeds, the spiritual disciplines. Let us drink deeply from the well of Christian tradition, allowing it to shape and inform our faith. And let us be open to the new things God is doing, allowing His Spirit to breathe fresh life into our hearts and our churches.

Let us remember that the new wine of God’s Spirit needs the wineskins of tradition to contain it, to give it form and structure. Only then can we truly experience the fullness of His transforming power.

Pray This Prayer with Me:

Heavenly Father,

 

We thank You for Your ever-present renewal, for the fresh moves of Your Spirit that breathe life into Your Church. We acknowledge Your constant movement and work in our lives, even when we struggle to perceive it.

Lord, we confess that we sometimes become complacent, clinging to the familiar and resisting the new things You are doing. Forgive us for our fear of change, our reluctance to step out in faith.

 

Open our eyes to see Your hand at work in our midst. Give us the courage to embrace the new wine of Your Spirit, even as we cherish the wineskins of tradition. Help us to discern the authentic from the fleeting, the true revival from the passing fad.

 

We pray for a spirit of unity and humility within Your Church. Break down the walls of division and pride that separate us. Grant us a deep love for Your people, regardless of their background or denomination.

 

Fill us with a passion for Your Word and a hunger for Your presence. May we be transformed by Your Spirit, not merely entertained by religious experiences.

 

Lead us, Lord, into a deeper understanding of Your ways. Teach us to walk in the old paths while embracing the new things You are doing. May our lives be a testament to Your faithfulness and Your power to make all things new.

 

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.