New Wine and Wineskins

As I keep looking at the times when John the Baptist appears in the New Testament, the next one is his followers questioning Jesus. They’re concerned that Jesus is partying it up while John’s disciples are more focused on fasting and prayer. In their mind, it’s clear who is more devout and faithful.

I touched last week on how divisive the church can be, with the desire to be with the denomination or approach that is viewed as most successful or closest to God or the “Truth” or otherwise the best with the inside scoop. Jesus points out that His and John’s purposes are different, as different as old and new wine. Both have their place and are needed for certain people and occasions. However, as He points out, putting new wine into an old wineskin will cause the skin to burst and it will be wasted.

I’ve looked at some online commentaries about this parable and there are numerous interpretations, everything from new wine being the new Covenant in Christ and old wine being old views of faith before He came, to new wine being new ideas and energy like the fermentation process that causes it to bubble up and that would cause an old wineskin to split as it expands.

It seems to be all about recognizing the limits of things, both the old and new, and being wise about when to embrace each. There is still value in old wine, and people may prefer its predictable taste. However new wine can energize and surprise because it’s still coming into itself and is vibrant in another way. Some may read the parable as saying out with the old and in with the new, but I don’t agree. I think it’s encouraging us to discern well and see the gifts in both. Where our culture seems anxious to judge and ditch what is deemed ‘old’, we lose much if we abandon our history and, working in a museum the saying is true - if we don’t know and understand our history we are doomed to repeat it.

It’s a fine line to walk in ministry, particularly in an aging congregation. What choices will affirm the old wine and keep some bottles at the ready to ensure that it’s taste and flavour aren’t forgotten? and what choices will make way for new wine with subtle or strong bouquets that will expand ministry? Getting rid of all that has been important and successful in the past is a mistake, but continuing to only drink the same brand gets boring and tedious. It may be reassuring to some, but it isn’t enticing to those who don’t know or enjoy it.

There needs to be room for the tending of new vineyards, the crushing of grapes at harvest and the fermenting and care of what is produced. These all take effort and can seem daunting to those who have been doing it a long time, but without the investment there is little for outsiders to grasp onto and partake in. Old wine shows what the past produced, but we still need to be producing fresh fruit.

We need sensitivity in these days - sensitivity to the flavours and undertones of what we are serving our established family in our congregations who know their favourites, and what we are serving those who are thirsty and not used to this kind of wine at all. They may have only ever had beer or something else and haven’t acquired a taste for our brand. They may have had other wines and disliked them and expect ours to be the same. It takes courage to try something new, especially with others watching. If our wine comes from who we are right now - the realities we are trying to address in ourselves and the world, and the faith we have received and are striving to live out and grow - that will come out in the fruit we produce and ultimately our wine. It will draw people in who are seeking and wanting something fresh and authentic, even as they may be able to respect vintages from years and even decades ago.

Annual reports are being written and annual meetings are coming. Often these are rubber stamping of reports and recommendations made by leaders who everyone assumes know what they’re doing. It often varies little from year to year, sticking with the tried and true ideas and approaches, with little discussion so that people can go home sooner. Annual meetings tend to not be places that celebrate new wine and the making new vintages that are refreshing and needed by those parched from life’’s realities.

Ironically, recent studies show that our alcohol intake is in general too high for our health. We need to cut back to two or three drinks a week where many average that in a day. This is all the more reason to choose what wine best brings us life and to treasure both those bottles that remind us of who we are and what we’ve done in the past and those that inspire and encourage us into new experiences of Christ, the one who turned water to wine and who used wine as a symbol for His sacrifice on the cross, His love poured out for us.

May we be ready to do the work of creating fresh and delicious wines that draw outsiders into our fellowship. May we be careful with what we serve, aware of the needs of others being more important than their liking what we offer. May we feel and experience Christ deeply in our ministry so that we are moved to celebrate His presence and provide hospitality in His name.