Old/New Truths
Ok, so yesterday I saw an service van for a locksmith company. The slogan they had on the side of the van said, “Old World Integrity, New World Technology.” That was an interesting slogan and one that stayed with me all day. I was thinking about how the world of being a locksmith must have changed over the years. The locks we use are better today. The ability to replace them has probably gotten faster and easier. I would imagine getting locked out of your house isn’t as big of a deal as it once was. Hey, I remember about 10 years ago driving to three different locksmiths before I found one that could make an extra car key for me. I could have probably walked over to that van yesterday and they could have done it then and there. So, they want people to know they have taken advantage of technology.
However, they want people to know they haven’t abandoned integrity. When you hire a locksmith for something, you are placing trust in them. Trust in a good product. Trust in a completed project. Trust that they aren’t setting you up for fraud or making extra keys to later steal from you. You want to know that they have a history of integrity and are committed to maintaining that integrity.
Then, I started thinking about Connection Church. When we started, I wanted to take advantage of new world technology: sound system, video displays, technology with the kids area, etc. We wanted to present the best experience possible on a Sunday morning. We want people to feel comfortable and think that what we do at Connection is relevant. However, I want people to know that we are presenting a very old and time-tested truth: Jesus is Lord. I want to be faithful to this 2000 year old message, and honor the people that have been before me. So, while we seek to be relevant and “cutting-edge,” I still want the old message of Christ to come through. After all, people are trusting us with their souls, a little more important than a spare key!
I thought this was fitting because on Sunday, our message is called Remembrance where we will examine the Lord’s Supper and celebrate communion together. We’ll have video, new music, and a different way of doing things. However, it will be the same meal that has been celebrated for centuries. So, hopefully we’ll enjoy some old world integrity with some new world technology!