Resisting or Embracing Change?
I stumbled across a quote a couple weeks ago at Jonathan Herron’s blog that just keeps playing itself in my mind. Here is the quote, and the author of it:
“The greatest opposition to what God is doing today comes from those who were on the cutting edge of what God was doing yesterday.”
– R.T. Kendall, pastor of Westminster Chapel
Is saddens me (and ticks me off at the same time) to know that there are people who think that God stopped allowing His kids to be creative in 1950, 1960 or 1970. That somehow God looked down in 1970 and said, “Ahh, they have arrived. This is the ultimate Christian experience, and it should remain like this from now until Jesus comes.”
Can you imagine that? Can you understand that? If so, try and explain it to me if you would, because I sure can’t understand it. So many people are so used to their “Churchianity” that they forget that life is all about Christ, not their version of the Bible, their preference of music or their style of dress. Jesus said that we have the opportunity to live an abundant life that comes from living for Him. I think it is time we get our eyes off of what used to be and start focusing on what should be.
I am glad that things change. Not just change for change sake. But I like air conditioning, and riding to church in a car as opposed to a horse. I like many of the changes that we see in the church today. Are all changes good? No.
As you read the Bible, you do not find God doing the same thing over and over again as He dealt with His people. You do not see Jesus doing the same miracles over and over again. He did things different. Sometimes in a radical way. A way that ticked the religious leaders off. I think that is cool and sad at the same time. Cool because Jesus was certain that God was not working the same way He did with Moses and Abraham and others in the Old Testament. It is sad because Jesus told these so-called religious leaders that by holding on to their traditions and preaching those traditions the same as being God’s law, they had made the Word of God of no affect. That is what scares me about churches today. They are so in tune to tradition, that the Word of God has no affect when it is actually preached. God, please do not let me ever get to that point!
God changed His methods. Jesus changed His methods. But the message was always the same. God loves us, and wants a relationship with us. That message will never change, nor should it.
Michael
Love your post, and in particular “They are so in tune to tradition, that the Word of God has no affect when it is actually preached. God, please do not let me ever get to that point!”
I view church differently now than I did several years ago. Now I can appreciate that statement.
Again, love the post.
jpetermann
Thanks for the comments Michael. I too am in a position where I view church a lot different than what I used to. I am glad for the growth, but still feel like I just have so much more to learn about the church, God, and the life He calls us to live. I hope I never tire of seeking Him and desiring the change He brings.
Tom Becker
Any statistics to back that opening statement?
jpetermann
Tom, which statement. The opening is: I stumbled across a quote a couple weeks ago at Jonathan Herron’s blog that just keeps playing itself in my mind.
Tom
Sorry, I meant the quote by R.T. Kendall.
Tom
I’m all for methods changing as long as, like you said, it’s not just for the sake of change and as long as the message doesn’t change. The problem is, market driven pastors keep saying the message isn’t changing, we’re just re-packaging it. I’m sorry, when you make the message easier and simpler, and less offensive for the seeker, you water it down and it is changed. Leaving things out of the gospel message is changing it. I’m not saying this because of what I want to hear on Sundays, but because it’s what everyone needs to hear, Christian and seeker.
I like air conditioning and cars also. I think the comparison of cars to horses is a little extreme but I know what you were saying.
I’m all for the rock music for example but secular music has no place when God’s people are meeting together to worship God. The church as a whole has lost the whole holiness of God and reverence for God thing.
I’m not saying to stop being creative but who are we to think that anything we do can make the gospel message any better than it is already.
Tom
I have a question about this whole, change thing and pop goes the church movement.
I’m not saying you are doing this but almost every pastor’s blog I read, I find a lot of defending and explaining why they are doing church now in a different way, whether it be purpose driven, seeker sensitive, pop culture or whatever. They seem to feel the need to keep defending what they’re doing. Why is that? If it’s from God, and based on scripture, and definitely the right thing for them to do, why are they always trying to defend it? Just do it. Are they getting a lot of resistance from people outside their church body? Who cares, just do it. Is it the 70 year old board member who is putting up a fight? Just get rid of him or make him so uncomfortable, he’ll leave. I question anybody who feels the need to keep defending what they’re doing. It tells me something.
Who is resisting the change? If it’s people that read these pastors blogs, then quit blogging about it.
jpetermann
Tom, I can agree with you. I think some people spend an awful lot of time defending what they are doing when they should just be doing. Let me add to the mix using your post:
I’m not saying you are doing this but almost every pastor’s blog I read, I find a lot of people defending and explaining why they are doing church the same way they have always done it and are not willing to change. Whether it be music, outreach methods, service times or whatever. They seem to feel the need to keep defending what they have been doing for 30, 40 or 50 years. Why is that? If it’s from God, and based on scripture, and definitely the right thing for them to do, why are they always trying to defend it and to tear down others that are doing things different? Just do it. Are they getting a lot of resistance from people INSIDE their church body? Who cares, just do it. Is it the 20 year old church member who is putting up a fight? Just get rid of him or make him so uncomfortable, he’ll leave. I question anybody who feels the need to keep defending what they have been doing for 50 years. It tells me something.
Now let me say, I think people on both sides ought to do what God has called them to do and stop wasting so much time worrying about others. You do not have to answer to God for them.
I am someone who believes it takes all kinds to reach all kinds. I am glad for the church down the street that rocks the house out because most of those people would never step foot in my church. And they are getting the Gospel, just as much as if they were in my church. I am also glad for the church down the street that does nothing but hymns, still has Old-Fashioned Sunday and will not cancel a service even if Jesus came back (just a joke). There are people that go there that will also never step foot in my church, and they are getting the gospel, just as much as if they were sitting in my church. Both of these churches are on the same team with me. Praise God they can reach people I will not be able to.
It is the message that is the constant. The church and its methods has always been changing.
Tom Becker
Good post. I agree. The only part I question is about the message being the constant. You’re right, it has to be. The problem is it isn’t always the constant. It changes at times.
Tom
Tom
I really don’t see the churches that have been doing things the way they’ve always done them, trying to defend what they do. Who’s doing that? I guess I just don’t get on those blogs and question them. That would be a waste of time too. Just do it.
jpetermann
Tom,
I would have to say that I do not see a lot of blogs from those that are non-changes (probably part of the whole mindset, as blogging would require some change!) But I have lived in a group that has that mindset. It is killing the “movement” they began over 50 years ago. The group needs another kind of “movement” if you know what I mean!