The Church & Fighting Over Change

[TreyM]

"Bashing the Church" was such a popular post on these boards I thought I'd do a follow up.

The Church & Fighting over Change:

Many people are uncomfortable with the words change and church being in the same sentence. Some people are comfortable with the way things are, and don't want anyone changing things up. Many Christians want things only done one way. Because of this many people have often come to blows over change in the church. Some want to change everything. Some want to change nothing. There must be balance.

Actually, change is inevitable. In just the past 10 years, you and I have changed physically, emotionally and spiritually. Your hair has changed. Your weight has changed. Your furniture has been moved. You are probably driving a different car. You probably now carry a cellular phone that you didn't have 10 years ago. Your life and mine is full of changes. Not many things actually stay the same.

The same is true with the church. Change is inevitable. And for the church to grow and mature, it must change with the times. If we're not willing to change, we're not going to grow. But understand not all change is good. There are certain things that shouldn't ever change. Our problem is figuring out what we can change and what we shouldn't change. We sure don't want to all change in an area God doesn't want us to change. So what things are changeable and what things shouldn't be changed?

Here are 3 Changeable things & 3 UnChangeable things... (The rest of the article is on my blog this morning ... see my signature.)

I'd love your opinion...

Trey

[yogi bear]

Trey,
That was a great blog and to the point. Truer words was never spoken. I can't agree more with your blog. Saddly our church seems to fall under the undertaker but hope we can change this.

[TreyM]

Thanks ... I appreciate your opinioin ....

[mandalee65]

Very well articulated, Trey!

BTW, I love the video on your previous blog post!

[hmb]

Trey, I enjoyed your article as well as you blogs.

Mike in NE Texas

[Jon-Marc]

Too many people dislike change because they're gotten used to one way and say, "We've always done it this way." Yes, and it's time for a change. People change, and their needs change. I'm not saying compromise with the world, but if you're not reaching the lost then something needs to change. Young people lose interest in participating because it becomes boring to them.

[James Rondon]

Great post on your blog, Trey.

[david johnson]

the only way to be the leader is to not change.
change is a pendulum that is ever swinging.  those trying to catch up are always behind, those trying to lead are often not followed.
if we stay the same, we're guaranteed to lead 50% of the time and follow 50% of the time...in case that's important to anyone.
in other words, ignore the change swings and just be a christian.

dj

[TreyM]

I really appreciate your opinions ... thanks.   Maybe if we'd start looking at new ways to reach out to our friends and neighbors ... the church would start growing as fast as it did in the past.

[msbradley]

Trey, very, very good information.
Change is inevitable.
Our Leader and His word will never change.
Our Leader is all about change. He's the biggest changer of all the universe.
Everything about Him makes everything else subject to change.
How can one think they will grow and prosper and be beneficial to the Lord and His Kingdom, if they don't accept change and look for things that need to be changed?
The church has to keep up with the needs of the lost people. Not that the church change it's beliefs, but to change how they seek the lost. Those people change. What attracted people before wouldn't relate to people now. We have to be aware of the world where the lost live. Not to be like them, but to be able to relate to them where they are and be able to welcome them in to our "church" that stands firm on God's foundation, but is aware of what is out there, so they can come in and be able to relate to us. We need to stay reachable, touchable and relateable.     
No one can say they've been introduced to God, formed a relationship with Him and not encountered some kind of change in themselves.
No one can look out their window and look out on this world and not see change that needs to take place.
Trey, every time I have gone to your blog, I have read really good thoughts from you.
Keep up the good work.

[wave runner]

Trey, I am not opposed to change in the church.  As you stated in your article, it will happen, no matter what we do.  Change is good and healthy in most cases.

My problem is when Elders change the heart and soul of a congregation.  For example, we are seeing in Churches of Christ, on a limited basis as yet, some congregations adding or wholeheartedly adopting instruments in worship.

I believe this is wrong! wrong! wrong!  I have witnessed the pain and distress that such action evokes among long-time members, members who have been open-minded enough to help finance building programs while changes such as contemporary songs are added, praise teams are added, and so on.  The pain is devastating to witness.  What is worse, it has weakened their faith and trust in church leadership.  Again, this is flat out wrong!

[zoonance]

I agree.  Changes should never be made when long term members are caused pain and distress by faith diminishing, untrustworthy elders who are bent on changing the heart and soul of a congregation.   I am amazed how often elders of the church are beginning to make such decisions so uncaringly and antibiblically.  My kids and grandkids will soon have no faithful body of believers to worship and mature in their own faith with.   I am thankful my grandparents loved me enough not to make any changes as they passed on the baton to my parents.   Their faith was strong and their trust in church leadership defended and protected the truth.  What is happening to us? 

[Lee Freeman]

While I agree that change should not cause division, and "weaker brothers" should not be offended needlessly, for how long should a church's growth be stifled because some of the members are uncomfortable with the proposed changes?

If the proposed changes are theologically sound and would be of benefit to a mjority, how long should implementing them be held off because of the fear of offending someone? As I see it, Romans 14 works both ways. The "spiritutal" members have a duty not to unduly offend, but the "weaker brothers" also have a duty not be unduly offended. Ideally those "weaker" members should be growing and maturing beyond being unduly offended at such things. If everybody took the apostle Paul's command to heart, "Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up," instead of only focusing upon what we're personally comfortable with, we might not have as many problems with change as we do.  I try to remember that at one time the "old paths" were new and someone probably got offended by them. Every "old" hymn in our hymnals was new once and probably there were critics who hated them.

Had our ancestors in the faith Stone and the Campbells not been brave and courageous enough to challenge the status quo, and to change long-cherised beliefs when they saw that they were obviously wrong, none of us would be here. Our founding fathers weren't about defending a pre-concieved position, but about honestly searching for the truth, no matter where it took them, and conforming their lives to it. Had they not left their comfort zones we'd all still be Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, etc.

Pax.