“I change you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 6:13,14).
About the time that you settle down and get comfortable with life, something happens that changes thing—your job is terminated; you have to change schools, you move. Another chapter in your life is about to start. Sometimes change is thrust upon us. At other times, we choose change because we’ve grown discontented and hope for something better.
If you are satisfied with the status quo, why change anything? It is when your shoes wear out that you are forced to discard the comfortable pair you have been wearing for the new ones which hurt your feet and make you uncomfortable, at least until they are broken in.
Like it or not‑‑and we usually don’t like it—churches also have to change, yet, in a changing world, we usually hold on to the status quo and fight change more vigorously when it effects our churches than about anywhere.
Take, for example, the woman who was a member of Brighter Hope Baptist Church (and that’s the actual name of the church). When a pastor abandoned the quarterly and actually began teaching from the Bible, it created a real uproar.
The introduction of contemporary music, new translations, and changes in the style of worship have all created division and dissent. Any change creates these problems, but without change the church would quickly lose touch with those whom it wishes to reach. It’s possible to focus on an unchanging Christ and a changeless message while we accommodate changes which are necessary to effectively communicate with our generation.
Changes at Brighter Hope Baptist Church dimmed the brighter hope, and if that is happening in your church, this is just for you. Our resistance to change is in direct proportion to the threat we perceive it to be. In the remaining minutes, I’d like to give you four guidelines to apply in responding to change. When you are disturbed by change, ask these questions:
1) “Is this change merely disruptive, or does it serve a useful purpose?” Both questions have to be asked. Nothing is more traumatic when it comes to changing lives than the birth of a baby. Once you are a parent, life never becomes quite normal again, but few individuals would avoid parenthood simply because of the changes that it brings. All change is disruptive, but face the issue: is there a useful purpose in the change?
2) “Do I object to this change because it is different from what I have been accustomed to, or do I object to this change on the basis of Scripture?” If you feel change violates a Scriptural principle, then you have a valid reason for objecting to change and should object, but if that change is merely a matter of convenience or personal taste, go on to the next question.
3) “Does this change allow our church to more effectively communicate with our community and a contemporary generation?” Changing the hymnal or introducing contemporary music is a sure winner to create raised eyebrows. In one church where I spoke, some individuals actually walk out when Scripture set to music is sung. Too much change, too soon, is disruptive, but I have to admit what my generation sang in my youth was a marked departure from what my parents or grandparents sang twenty or more years before.
4) “Is the change in the interest of the whole congregation or family of God, or does the change serve only a vested interest of a few?” In the spring the farmer breaks up the soil, changing the hardened furrow so new growth can take place. Change is never easy but it has to take place.
Resource reading: 1Timothy 6:11-20
