IX) THE NEED FOR NEW WINESKINS

Luke 5:36-39
Jesus made a statement, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins.” The reason for this is that when the wine ferments it will cause the old wineskin to burst and both the wine and the wineskin will be lost. Instead, Jesus said, “New wine must be poured into new wineskins.”

Great leaders understand the dynamics involved in change. First, they understand that everything changes. As one person said, “Change is the only constant.” Second, they understand that change can be difficult. If approached arrogantly changes can debilitate an organization. Last, great leaders understand that the old wineskins will not hold the new wine. This is to say that existing structures may not be able to accommodate or facilitate a new vision or mission.

Jesus understood that what He was introducing would not fit within the old Judaistic structures that had bound culture and religion together in a rigid framework of social existence. The old structures had a vested interest in maintaining status quo. The leadership of the established order was in no mood to be replaced as a priest by a carpenter from Galilee. The established structure could not envision a concept as radical as the priesthood of believers.

Jesus had no intention of trying to fit a new paradigm into an old program. Instead, Jesus came to build His church, to create a new structure that was responsive enough to the fermenting of new ideas and fresh vision to allow for change without destroying the framework.

Sometimes leaders are given the task of trying to infuse a new mission or vision into an established organization, such as a church. The vision may be powerful and compelling, but if the structure of the established church cannot endure the process of change, then the end result may be a failure. Chances are that the organizational structure and even the facilities of any organization have developed over time to accommodate an established mode of operation. The need for change may call upon a change in the way the organization operates, but without first addressing the established structures, the introduction of change may do more damage than good.

What is the answer? Jesus said to use new wineskins. Begin with the structures, begin by making incremental changes in the structure and then fill that niche with new wine, new ideas, new mission and vision. It may be a department by department progression until the organization reaches a point of self-sustaining and self-perpetuating change. The changes in structure creates the vacuum into which the new wine is drawn. It may require person to person influence as the leader helps people of influence to see and own the vision for themselves. They then become receptacles for the new wine and they help to propagate the vision through their influence on the lives others.

Great leaders are proactive, that is, they anticipate the changes that will be needed and they begin to build the structures that will sustain that change. In churches we often see an oscillation of growth and decline. It is frustrating, and over time it creates a sense of futility even when things seem to be on the upswing. The people learn to anticipate the downturn even before it manifests.

Why does this happen? It happens because the leadership has never anticipated or prepared the new skins for the new growth. The old methodologies and programs that worked for a church of 100 will not be adequate to sustain growth for 200 and beyond. Great leaders anticipate the next level of growth and build the structures to support that growth. Then, even as the growth is approaching 200, they are anticipating, planning and preparing for 300.

There will be resistance from those who enjoy privilege or prominence in the old structure, but the leader, while respecting everyone, will not allow the entire organization to be held back and denied success by any one person or program. Jesus built the church to pour Christianity into because He knew Judaism could not contain it. If the future and growth of the church necessitates changes to insure the future then we will either change or die. Jesus came to give life. Great leaders embrace change as a positive, invigorating, exciting time of possibility.