Some people thrive on change while others have a heart attack if the word is even mentioned. What should we think about change? Is change an enemy or a welcomed solution?

How someone views any particular change depends upon what goal(s) that person is trying to achieve. Ultimately all of our goals boil down to either serving ourselves or God. Accordingly, whether we perceive a particular change to be threatening or to be a welcomed improvement in any given situation will reveal volumes about our values and what drives our life. To illustrate these principles, consider the following scenarios.

• If our goal is to draw as close as possible to the originally intended message in scripture, then we will consider any modifications moving the congregation closer to this to be healthy and good. However, we will reject any change which would detract the congregation from the original message. The principle of change will be viewed as being both good and bad depending upon whether the particular example of change advances the goal we am pursuing.

• If our goals are to increase church attendance within biblical parameters, then any biblically permitted transformations encouraging greater participation will be viewed as good, while any unbiblical change or any alterations threatening growth will be judged as being bad.

• If our goal is simply to do things like they have always been done, then any change will be disturbing to us. In this case we will find ourselves even working against those changes which might bring us closer to God and to obeying His will.

• If our goal is to guard our comfort and our personal preferences, we will probably be a source of dissension whenever new ideas conflict with our preferences. Conversely, we will be as happy as a clam as long as things go our way.

Just as it is neither inherently good nor evil to remain in the old routine, so too change is neither right nor wrong. Although change can be unsettling because it takes us into the land of the unfamiliar, usually change is not the real issue. Why? Most people utilize both the principles of maintaining the status quo and adopting change based upon how a given situation is perceived and whether it is desirable or not in view of the alternatives. For example, although marriage involves great change, yet most people choose this fundamental reordering of their life because they desire to marry the beloved (a goal). The crux of the matter regarding change will always revolve around the values and goals driving a person's life.

If doctrine is not at stake and if our goal is to serve God, then we should lay gladly lay aside our personal preferences and opinions in order to achieve the more important goal of living worthy of God's calling to:

• Love our neighbor (seek the well-being of others)

"Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his building up. For even

Christ did not please himself; ..." Romans 15:2-3

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." 1 Corinthians 10:24

• Be in agreement with the nature of God's kingdom

"the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy

in the Holy Spirit ... So then, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the

building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food"

(that is, for matters of personal preference and opinion). Romans 14:17,19,20

 

Barry Newton, Copyright © 2001

 Other Articles Which Might Be of Interest

Where Are We Going? (On Change)

The Unity Principle

Jesus is Good News

Reading Room

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