Ancient Truth vs. Modern Wisdom

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) (Acts 17:16, 21 NIV)

Why is it we feel, as a culture, a craving for new that has us abandon the wisdom of the old. With every generation it seems a knee jerk reaction to swing the pendulum completely the other direction demanding reform from the thinking and structure of the previous generations. It's as if we are always trying to fix the past with some new idea for the future. While this works for technology and innovation it doesn't quite translate equally when in regards to theology.

The Athenian Jews at the synagogue bought the myth hook line and sinker that new ideas about God were more valuable than all of their history with God. New ideas about God usually leads to an idol we build as an attempt to make God who we want Him to be. So as culture becomes more right or left wing so does God seem to become; as if our views of politics could frame Him in. So when what culture values shifts, so does God. So instead of some fixed point as the North Star defining life he becomes subject to whatever life we decide we want to live.

What if this was seeping into our prayer life and habits? When we pray, we pray for the things we desire, convinced somehow in our hearts, that God should care about what we care most about and grant that. No wonder our prayers have lost their power. It is so hard to pray as Jesus taught us, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.". But what if that is when real power is released?
But that would require a full surrender of self. And that is where the battle for our souls is waged.

I see that turning at GraceRiver. I see us becoming that powerful source for "thy kingdom come thy will be done". I am seeing surrender becoming the new way of life for us as a body of faith. It is so cool to be a part of that with you. Spiritual Presence and Powerful relationships as a New/Old way of life.