I’ve addressed the Uncle Rico Syndrome and the Kelvin Syndrome this week. There is one other related syndrome that should be avoided: Your Best History Tomorrow.
Your Best History Tomorrow is similar to Uncle Rico but sees no fault in the past.
The past was the best. Those were the good old days. Let’s bring them back.
The past was safe, secure, romantic. Nothing was wrong with it; it was pure.
The challenge to gospel advancement is that we become so consumed with the past that we attempt to re-create it in the present, even if it means failing to be wise Kingdom Stewards. This passion for the past locks us into a channel that forces us to visionize a future reality like the past–only updated a little. Our strategic plans become filled with steps to bring back the past.
The pull of the past is so strong we end up working to sculpt the future into the image of the past. Such desire for the old ways may keep us, our church, our institution, or our agency from making wise decisions about the present and possible future. The craving for our best history now can override wisdom.
We are sojourners on our way to a City (Heb 11:13). We are not to be entangled with the things that distract (Heb 12:1). We must be able to sculpt the possible future, but willing to drop what we create–if necessary–for the sanctification of the saints and the advancement of the gospel among the nations.