Lead the church to learn from the past, but refuse to let them live in the past. Honor tradition where it connects with Biblical principles, but reject traditionalism where it relies on personal preferences. Someone has said that tradition is the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism is the dead faith of the living! When the fog of nostalgia for “the good old days” rolls in, this is a sure indicator that the church is in decline and needs to be reinvigorated with fresh vision. The more you hear about “how it used to be” the unhealthier the church has become and the more urgent the need for revitalization.
Yet, there is much good we can learn from those who have gone before us. I have often said that if the church is blessed today, we enjoy the fruit of a tree someone else has planted, nurtured with their effort, and watered with their tears. Never fail to respect that legacy, but those days are gone—never to return. The church will move on or slip back.
The next step down from nostalgia is polarization, as people begin to argue for the heritage behind us versus those who look for the hope before us. Both groups may lose sight of the value of one another—the stability of an older generation combined with the vitality of a younger one. If they do not see that worth, then they will devour one another. Usually this ends with the younger departing and the church ages and dies.
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