The Orange Bag
January 7th, 2007I bought a bag of oranges a few weeks ago, while Christmas shopping. That does not sound like a big deal, does it? Actually, it is not — I can pretty much buy a bag of oranges any time I wish. It was, however, Christmas time and I had a flashback to my youth. Every year I got an apple and an orange for Christmas, along with some assorted nuts.
The reason I got the fruit at Christmas was because my parents always got apples and oranges for Christmas when they were young. They grew up in a much less affluent time. Fresh fruit was a huge treat for them.
When my parents bought gifts for their kids, they included apples and oranges because it brought back happy memories of special treats. So, when I saw the oranges, I suddenly had a craving for the “old days” even though, fresh fruit is prevalent and not quite the treat of long ago.
We can do similar things in the church. Do we ever look back to the “good ol’ days” with fond memories? Don’t we want to recreate those things because those memories make us happy and secure today? Maybe those things originally had a particular purpose. Maybe “two songs and a prayer” gave us a sense of “order out of chaos.” Maybe the way we conducted a Bible Class was effective. Maybe a Visitation Program was fruitful.
One of the challenges about church work is finding successful methods in every generation without compromising the integrity of the gospel. There are lines we do not cross. There are truths we are to always uphold. But, “times are a-changin’.”
There is nothing wrong with my buying a bag of oranges for Christmas. There is nothing wrong with many of the things we have done in the past. Our challenge is to be able to be more efficient and effective in our methods of reaching and serving people — without compromising the gospel.
David had a group of men from Issachar who had, “understanding of the times” according to 1 Chronicles 12.32. What are the modern times teaching us? What methods can we use today to share the good news to people who hunger for it?
Your Bible Class may want to explore new ideas. Your Small Group may be a new idea in the making. What worked in the past may not work today. The souls of people matter too much to neglect the times and what is effective today.
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene (perry.greene@southyukon.org)
