Patches and Wine Skins

The gospel writer, Mark, presents interesting images in his remembrances of Jesus being confronted by some Pharisees.  On image is about a patch being sewed on old clothes and the other points out the futility of putting new wine in old worn wine skins.  (Mark 2:21-22)  The first one brings to mind a personal remembrance of my mother ironing square denim patches on blue jeans with worn out knees.  Though I have no experience with wine and wine skins, it is an image which even a teetotaler like myself can understand.  New things that speak of life will not fit in old worn out structures.  

It has always seemed that one of the most daunting tasks facing the church is the work of creative thinking, the kind of thinking which can be characterized as outside the box.  When the church starts planning and thinking about the future, it becomes so easy to create new names for new programs that are more like what-we-have-always done than something so new it will not fit into the old structures for ministry. It is hard for the church planners within us to turn loose of what seems to be working.   Our unwillingness to turn loose of what is past really can be an hindrance for the church as it seeks to embrace the not yet seen of tomorrow.  

For the church to turn loose can also be spoken of in terms of letting the Holy Spirit be more of a guiding factor in the equation of going forward.  I have wondered often what would happen if we could close the book on every program we have set in place and prayerfully and expectantly wait on the Spirit to lead us forward.  The bottom line question which continues to be raised is one of wondering what the church's ministry would look like if we were intent on putting new wine in new wine skins instead of those worn out from yesterday.