Frederica Mathews-Green writes, “The temptation to dress the faith in today’s fashion guarantees that it will look out of style tomorrow; only the eternal can reach every time and culture.” Guinness warns, “…by our determined efforts to redefine ourselves in ways that are more compelling to the modern world than are faithful to Christ, we have lost not only our identity but our authority and our relevance. Our crying need is to be faithful as well as relevant.”
Newer is not always better. Sometimes, God says that a rediscovery of old truths and ancient methods is the most relevant move we can make (Ps. 78:1-8; Jer. 6:16; 1 Jn. 2:7). The most relevant Being in the Universe is known as the “Ancient of Days” (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22; Micah 5:2). This means you can still reach the younger generation, regardless of your age, since God’s effectiveness is in no way hindered by His age (He is eternal!). We also must not brand tradition as always being bad. We are commanded to “hold firmly to the traditions” of Scripture (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15). The root problem is never that one is too old or too traditional; the trouble is when human traditions are placed above the Word of God, like the Pharisees did (Matt. 15:3, 6). We must allow the truths of Scripture to be ‘always reforming’ us.
Transforming the World – Radical relevancy
I am convinced that God has not called us to court the world, but rather to confront it in love. This was the goal of the Old Testament prophets, of John the Baptist, and of Christ and His apostles. Paul both understood and confronted his audience with the gospel (e.g., Acts 17:16-34). He expected Timothy and Titus to preach with the same boldness (e.g., 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Titus 2:1-15). It should come as no surprise that bold, authoritative preaching is distasteful to postmoderns. When has an unbeliever ever said, ‘Hmm, today I’d love to hear a convicting word from Almighty God that requires me to radically change?’ Just because they don’t like it doesn’t mean they don’t need it.
Nothing is more relevant to the true needs of people than the Word of the living God! It has been rightly said, “To be always relevant, you have to say things which are eternal.” God’s words are eternal: “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Ps. 119:89).” “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa. 40:8)!
When we faithfully teach the Bible, the message is timeless; there is no need to fear that it will ever be past its ‘sell by’ date.