Nostalgia, Life in the Past Lane

In Hampshire, the town where I grew up, time seems to stand still. There are few sirens, no traffic lights, only one store, and thousands of acres of green pasture land. I cherish the memories of growing up in the country on my dad's farm. I can't imagine what it would have been like to wake up one day in Hampshire and see the landscape covered with subdivisions and even a Super Target. Yet, that is exactly what has happened in Spring Hill.

The explosion of growth in this community has come as a culture shock to many of us. We did not expect it, feel threatened by it, and if you asked many of us we would have voted against it. No longer do you know every person that walks down the street; in fact, you don't even know all of the new street names. It is certainly a difficult adjustment for many who remember "old Spring Hill."

This is exactly the reaction that many of the Jews in Jesus day had to the culture shock of the exploding Roman Empire. Some of them complained about it (Pharisees). Others actively fought it (Zealots). Still others withdrew into isolation (Essenes). And still others adopted the policy, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" (Sadducees). There is really nothing new under the sun. These are the same reactions that different groups of people are having to the exploding population (and culture change) of Spring Hill, TN in 2008--even some in our congregation.

In the first century, many wondered how the preacher from Nazareth would react to this. Would Jesus take the side of the Romans? Would he ride the fence between the locals and the new Roman occupation? Or would Jesus withdraw into the wilderness? Just how would the Christ respond?

Jesus did not join any of these camps. Neither did he protest the local government. Why? Because Jesus saw the bigger picture. Ultimately cultural differences, governmental bureaucracy, and longing for the "glory days" of Israel's past do not matter. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Jesus did not live in the past, rather he was looking to the future. May we be like Christ and forget the past and press forward for a higher purpose in Spring Hill.

Jonathan Jones II

Spring Hill, TN

August 21, 2008