Soul Sabbath: Moving Forward by Looking Backward

I am struck by a bias or prejudice that we seem to be particularly prone to in our Western culture, a type of temporal-centricity.  I am referring to our penchant for the latest and greatest, to our susceptibility to want the “new and improved” model.  In fact, there seems to be a general assumption that what is said, thought or done most recently is necessarily an advance over what has been done previously.  While this may be the case in some instances, with dish soap for example, we need to remember that there is no essential relationship between truth and time.  Truth is timeless, after all. 

What concerns me is that, as those who seek God, we seem to fall into these same types of biases.  We, also, seem to chase the latest and greatest, whether that is books, teachers, worship trends or congregational organizational patterns.  Again, some of these changes are good and warrant our interest and attention.  I do think, however, that we would be well served by a caution against confusing the contemporary nature of something with its truth or value.  What is more, there is substantial biblical and spiritual advice for us to look to the ancient paths, the good ways, with the promise that this will lead to soul rest. 

The advice to look to our foundations highlights one of the potential motivations for seeking the latest and greatest; it shows us the basis of our prejudice for the new, which is our thirst for novelty and change.   It also gives us a prognosis of the result of chasing the new, that of a weariness in our souls.  Why is that?  I think in large part it has to do with the center of our identity.  Part of the allure of the new is that it promises to complete us in some way or another; it promises to address some felt lack or need.  We seem convinced that all we need is more information or a better technique.  This keeps us restlessly moving from one thing to another.  Scripture counsels, however, “Ask for the ancient paths.”  An ability, however, to rest in the ancient pathway requires a deep confidence in God's revelation and His provision for the self.  Out of this develops a settled sense of self.  This seems to me to be one of the key features of soul sabbath: knowing what God has done and provided (from the foundations of the world) and knowing (accepting) who I am in light of this truth.

Oz Lorentzen

Director at King’s Fold