Ancient times may transcend the nineteen sixties when my peers and I grew up in our humble enclave on the village farms.
But even if ancient times go back to the turn of the century, we like to relive those days because of their enduring benefits.
Scripture says that longing for the "good old days" is not wise, because every era has troubles of its own.
But there is something about the ancient days that makes us want some of it today.
Prophet Jeremiah captured that something when he said: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls . . .” (Jeremiah 6:16).
Ancient and now
Modernity evolves from ancient days, changing as time goes by. Although humanity is the architect of much of the change, often, change gets out of control and we become victims of our own development.
Years back, we were satisfied with the simple and little, believing that small was beautiful. But today, even a truckload of resources does not satisfy us due to greed for more.
With modernity comes cultural derailment. For example, modern fast foods have conveniently replaced home-cooked cuisine that used to offer proper nourishment.
Mining used to be simple; now it is driven by heavy machine-driven operations, resulting in the massive destruction of our environment. We are behaving as if Ghana would burn without gold!
Today, a modest lifestyle is old-fashioned. For example, virginity is as archaic as respect for the elderly.
Profanity, which used to be frowned upon, is now paraded in the open on social media, fuelled by an advanced form of promiscuity and pornography.
Queer, strange
Modern-day same-sex marriages that strangely receive pastoral blessings today in certain jurisdictions would make the men of Sodom and Gomorrah think they were saints! Queerest of them all is “marrying” animals and trees in modern times in the name of freedom of feeling and self-expression.
As Isaiah said about idol worshipers, those who patronise such bizarreness need to have their heads examined for failing to understand the absurdity of such actions (Isaiah 44:18-20).
Now if Sodom and Gomorrah received divine retribution, what chastisement might be in store for us modern people?
Modern advancements
Certainly, modernity, with all its scientific and technological advancements such as aircraft, speedboats, and trains, the telephone, and the Internet, has surpassed the Stone Age.
Today we ride in modern vehicles, not on horseback; and we are not clad in skins and leaves.
Some people were cannibals in ancient days; now they are living communities converted to Christianity.
Again, modern-day democracy and the rule of law have displaced outmoded ancient tribal wars that used to define the survival of the fittest.
Certainly, electricity that provides light and power for modern living is better than darkness; likewise, modern radio and television that carry useful information.
And we praise the convenience of the mobile phone, wondering how we lived in the past without it.
But don’t forget that the mobile phone is an explosive source of many troubles and criminal activities.
So, yes, we appreciate genuine modernity that makes us enlightened and humane; not modernity that sends us back to the Stone Age, such as walking about virtually naked in the name of modern fashion.
Frightening
Even more frightening is the apostle Paul’s prediction that in modern times people will love themselves and their money more than they love God and people. In the ancient days, the opposite was the case.
In these modern days, the prediction is being fulfilled. People are boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unforgiving, and wicked (2 Timothy 3:1-3).
If modernity makes us abandon God and rather follow our own selfish ways, we do so to our own detriment.
‘Sankofa’ revisited!
Why are we discussing the possibility of returning to corporal punishment in schools?
We thought it belonged to ancient times and that modernity called for “positive discipline” instead?
Well, that call to return to corporal punishment is an example of revisiting the ancient paths for the good things that used to be there.
Scripture states a long time ago that, "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far away" (Proverbs 22:15).
“Sankofa” revisited is worthwhile! So Jeremiah says, “Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls . . .”
Perhaps the Youth for Christ slogan could guide us: “Geared to the times, anchored in Christ.”
That is, while we are tailored to the times so that we don’t lose out on the blessings of modernity, we should be secured in Christ so that we don’t drift away into the open sea of waywardness and shipwreck our faith.
The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers.
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