Change is absolutely necessary for progress! God is so interested in change that He sent His Son to die so that we could be changed forever! In yesterday's post, I talked about the need for personal change.
In every arena of life change occurs. Business, technology, entertainment, and health care are just a few examples of rapid change. Recently I read an article about change that is happening at my favorite fast food resturant, Chick-Fil-A! Even though it is working just great at the moment, they are upgrading their popular menu in order to continue to meet customer expectations and to stay ahead of the competition. They are not settling for today's success or for doing what is familiar and comfortable.
BIG QUESTION... are our churches changing for progress??? We have the unchanging Message, the Word of an unchanging God! However, the methods for delivering that unchanging Message must change in order to stay current with the language and culture of the times. We don't drive to church in a horse and buggy, we don't use out houses for restrooms, and we probably have air conditioned buildings! We wouldn't go to a foreign country and preach in English, ignoring their culture. But we do cling to old, comfortable, familiar ways that have nothing to do with being biblical! We are current in style and methods all the way up through the 1950's, hoping to reach people in 2008! Doing things the same way, expecting different results is the definition of insanity!
Most godly pastors want to reach people. The challenge is to do the uncomfortable, and even for some, the dangerous... change things! We need to pray for pastors, that they would have the courage to begin the process of ongoing change in order to reach this lost and dying world! The risk is worth the eventual outcome... people changed for eternity!
At LifeBridge Church, we are in a constant state of change for several reasons...
We never have it completely right, we can always improve.
The culture is constantly changing so we adapt to keep current with it's changing language. (Remember, we want to speak the unchanging Message in an understandable way!)
Growth brings a need for updated infrastructure, more leaders, different programs.
Is there ever push back or resistance to change? OF COURSE! But the price is worth the prize! The alternative... stay the same and eventually die! Check out a few churches in your neighborhood to confirm that fact!
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May, 2008
! Even though it is working just great at the moment, they are upgrading their popular menu in order to continue to meet customer expectations and to stay ahead of the competition. They are not settling for today's success or for doing what is familiar and comfortable.
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