Change

According to pop musician Rick Wakeman on television this week, Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine. Do you see change as an exciting challenge full of possibilities or do you dread it? Personally, I am not that fond of it but I can see the necessity. If the church does not move with the times it will diminish and die.

However much we strive to achieve perfection for today, things develop and we have to change. I remember, as a child, our next-door neighbour designed and built his own ideal house – within ten years he moved out, as it no longer fulfilled the needs of his family. We can only do our best at any given time. God, as we know, is timeless and can do anything but in this world He works through us.....and we have major limitations.

Change can be temporary like moving furniture, a diet, or a broken fingernail. It can be an eternal change such as a commitment to Christ as Lord and Saviour. Sometimes change occurs slowly and is not noticeable until it is overwhelming, such as the change of the personality of the neighborhood surrounding the church.

Since we are in the people business, we discover that these changes occur to each individual person. These changes do not occur at the same time, either! So, we deal not just with our personal changes, but with changes that affect those whom we serve. Regardless of what form change takes, it will include others, not just one person.

Since we are in the people business, we discover that these changes occur to each individual person. These changes do not occur at the same time, either! So, we deal not just with our personal changes, but with changes that affect those whom we serve. Regardless of what form change takes, it will include others, not just one person.

  1. Status quo—there is a strong desire for the stability of the present situation. Congregation is “at ease in Zion.”
  2. Satisfaction—satisfaction with how things are now: attitudes, patterns, and behaviour.
  3. Fear—people have fears about the unknown presented by change.
  4. Self-interest—change may bring the loss of position, esteem, benefits, or relationship.
  5. Ego—change requires that those in charge must admit being wrong—or at least that there is a better way.
  6. Habit/custom—patterns of behaviour run deep and are easier to follow.
  7. Tradition/precedent—“We’ve always done it this way.” Value system of the church.
  8. Risk—change could fail; may waste time and resources.
  9. Awareness—that the change has weaknesses that may not be best for the congregation, or is only short-lived.
  10. Unreadiness—a change may be pursued before its time—before people are ripe for it.

We can choose to react or be proactive toward change. God can use changes to strengthen us, build character in us, test or prove us, humble us, and get our attention. How we accept, deny, or otherwise react to the change or changes before us is entirely up to each individual. Through this process, He reveals His strength, His character, His love for us, and the fact that He is God. However, the choice is ours.

Part of this article is taken from: "Change Happens" written by Josie Flores www.lifeway.com