Change is a mysterious sort.
It can be a gift of blessing. How many are highly encouraged because they obtain a building permit, get a raise, or find the room of new furniture has satisfactory appeal?
On the other hand, change can seem to be a curse. When a doctor has retired, eyesight diminishes, or the popular factory goes out of business, we can surely feel the sting of such loss.
Whether good or bad, change is a central part of reality. We favor some; but reject parts.
Change in the church is consistent with adjustments elsewhere; some are welcomed while others are tough to accept. One thing is certain, we will either make the faithful changes needed within the church or else the church itself will change (will die out) because we refused to make them.
That truth should motivate us to be open to His call.
At age 65 I find myself challenged to sort through growth opportunity in the Spirit versus selfish inclination to live in comfort of what I know....and what I like. When is change necessary? When is it a directive of God? And when am I merely reluctant for I know it will cause trouble for some?
Basically, we are a well-meaning sort who very much continue to wish to do what God has in mind. However, this God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever has a reputation from Day One of being magnificently and wonderfully creative.
It seems to be true that any who take the Word at its word will be led to make significant and contributionary changes because the Spirit will unfold life within us. The Word will not surrender consistency that the god-head is the Three.
Yet, patterns and teachings will often be found to be fluid as with the Spirit leading us. Even the Bible calls for us to grow up...which is change. Immaturity is the refusal of it.
How do we move forward? The same way we have done; remain fascinated with the Living Word. It will give the directions of whether to change. Some things should. Some shouldn't. It will take a courageous heart to honestly sort between the two.
1 comment:
This is excellent. You have really captured the essence of what troubles us with change. Some of us see things that must change to keep the Lord's church relevant in this 21st century world, and others contend that we must hold to those ancient ways out of respect for God's Word. Ironic that it's the Word we need to help deal with these differences. And even that we disagree on. Do we mean the Living Word that came in the flesh or the Word captured by the Bible writers through the power of the Holy Spirit. I choose to follow the former as revealed by the latter, but I know I don't do that perfectly either. I do know that our Lord's prayer in the garden was that we be united in His Love.
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