New 'wineskins'

(Mark 2.15-22)

Problems with pride and wineskins. There is an interesting story told in the gospel of Mark chapter 2. The story is of Jesus eating at Levi's house with lots of tax collectors and 'sinners' and, of course, his disciples.

The rub was two-fold:

a) Jesus was eating with tax collectors, 'sinners' and his disciples

b) Jesus was eating with tax collectors, 'sinners' and his disciples.

The 'company' was all wrong...and then there was the problem of 'eating' when the rest of the religious community was fasting.

I've heard people speculating as to why the rest of the religious community might have been fasting, as though that may have had significance to the situation. I think that the reason why others were fasting is totally irrelevant to the discussion.

That side-track is merely more evidence that we strain over the same type of arguments today as those that were stumbling blocks to the religious community back in Jesus day.

We can additionally complicate the conversation with discussion as to which and what 'wineskins' are best for carrying and serving the 'living water' today. It becomes a matter of 'pride and prejudice.'

"My wineskin is better than yours" may not actually ever cross our lips, but the thought and sentiment is frequently there. It might be anything...whether or not there are liturgies and traditions or there's a 'worship band.' Whether they are worshiping in a renovated shopping center or in a downtown spire-topped 'church,' or, a 'cowboy' church or trucker's chapel or with a 'Christian' motorcycle 'chaplain.'

The question about wineskins isn't really to be framed by which is better or what is right, but rather by an understanding as to what taste of new wine God has for each one of us and whether or not each of us is willing to be a new and unique wineskin for that new wine.

Carrying old wine in an new wineskin doesn't make any more sense than carrying new wine in an old wineskin. God has a taste of new wine for each of us. A new and refreshing touch from the Holy that is to be carried by each of us in the humility of us as new creations is what Jesus wants - and wanted the teachers of the law to realize back then.

Our preferences of worship and structure are merely personality issues (socio-cultural expressions) that should never get in the way of our message of "life and that more abundantly."

Relax, let God be God and don't compare wineskins.