Living in New Wineskins While Savoring Old Wine
How to find a church for your family to thrive in while enjoying ancient church traditions at the same time.
I am grateful to be alive in the 21st century, a time when I can study the sweep of history—from ancient civilizations to the modern day—and marvel at the unfolding story of humanity. From the highest peaks of reflection, I see the beauty of God’s work across the centuries. What a privilege to ponder it!
Yet, while I love to climb these mountains of history, I live in the valley of daily choices. One of the most challenging decisions is choosing a church tradition for my family. With deep respect for the richness of many Christian traditions, I feel torn: how do I select one community where we can truly belong?
Jesus himself addressed this tension, offering wisdom that resonates today. In the Gospels, when asked why His disciples did not fast like the Pharisees or John the Baptist’s followers, Jesus responded with a parable about new wine and wineskins. In Matthew 9:17, He says, “New wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” Mark 2:22 warns, “No one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins.” But it is Luke 5:38–39 that provides the most balanced guidance: “New wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
This teaching captures the heart of my approach to navigating the collision between cherished traditions and the needs of the next generation.
“New wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” I have dedicated my life to making new wine—through evangelism, disciple-making, and raising children and grandchildren. This new wine represents the faith of the next generation, and I prioritize creating a container that allows it to flourish. Too often, I’ve seen people cling to their personal religious preferences at the expense of younger believers, forcing new wine into old wineskins that cannot hold it. Our tastes must come second to building communities where new wine can thrive.
Yet, Jesus also acknowledges, “No one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” As I mature, I find my palate increasingly drawn to the depth and richness of ancient Christian and Jewish traditions. Jesus affirms that this is natural and good. The old wine—its time-tested wisdom and beauty—has immense value.
My intention, then, is to live with the next generation in new wineskins while savoring the old wine. I refuse to choose one at the expense of the other. I will not force new wine into old wineskins, risking its loss, nor will I claim that new wine surpasses the old. Both have their place, and I am grateful to Jesus for illuminating this tension and guiding us through it. By embracing both, I hope to lead my family into a vibrant Christian community that honors the past while nurturing the future.