Patching Doesn’t Fix The Problem

Luke 5:33-39

The news constantly reminds us of the Muslim suicide bombers who, to earn a better position in heaven, commit suicide. Less fanatical Muslims stop and perform ritual prayer five times a day. A traditional Navajo sprinkles corn pollen to the four directions every day. Other groups offer food or burn candles daily to obtain blessings of the Gods. The lack of similar zeal is often questioned by Christian leaders and unbelievers. The people in Jesus day had the same questions.

“And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?” (Luke 5:33)

The Pharisees were known for their level of religious activity, and after John’s imprisonment and later beheading, his followers became more religious as well. Jesus pointed out that it is something like a family when their Dad is home. They seldom talk about him, but their love or lack of love is demonstrated by their treatment of him. When the husband and father leaves, even those who don’t really care are saddened by his departure.

“And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.” (Luke 5:34-35)

Although she always gave a great show of loving her husband, a woman I know was always so caught up in what she was doing that she could seldom find time to spend with him. People were impressed with the way she kept house and all her efforts and did not understand he felt that he didn’t really matter to her.

When his job required him to be away from home for several months, she spent a lot of time making him feel that she really missed him and couldn’t wait for him to return. She had everyone in the church convinced she really missed him, constantly asking for prayer for his safe return and talking about how she missed him. The letters and phone calls he received convinced the husband that she really cared for him after all.

When he returned home after several months of traveling, she didn’t even stop washing dishes to give him a kiss, or take time away from her normal activities to spend a few hours with him. In just a few hours, he felt that he was not welcome, and before long she divorced him, because her attitude had not really changed.

In the same way, it is easy to appear wildly in love with God when we are far away. When he is present with us however, we have to yield to his wishes and desires, and this requires giving up our old ways. Often the religious activity conceals a lack of real relationship with God. Just as the woman convinced herself and others that her love was real, we convince ourselves that ours is. When reality comes in, the pretense breaks down because there is no yielding.

“And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.” (Luke 5:36-38)

Real change requires more than just adding a patch to the outside. Adding a religious activity such as fasting, church attendance, or prayer, while it may seem like a lot, does not produce real change. Without a fundamental change, disaster is assured. Far too much energy is spent in churches to sew on a patch, rather than developing a relationship with God. The more we have enjoyed the old, the less we are willing to be changed.

“No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” (Luke 5:39)

Perhaps this is why some of the worst sinners frequently become some of the best Christians. They want to be changed. They don’t think just adding some patches to their behavior will be good enough, and they aren’t satisfied with what they have.