Change Is a Comin' by Danny Heath

Change….it is all around us.  Just a couple of weeks ago we had time change.  This past election has been labeled a change election.  There are constantly new phones, devices and computers being introduced to our society.  Ironically, change is a constant in our lives.  My experience is that we are very situational when it comes to change.  Some people treat it like a bad word while others get giddy at the thought of change.  However you react, there is one thing you can bet on….change is a comin’!  

**Disclaimer….the following thoughts are not in reference to the church I serve.  When I reference the church I am referring to the church at large. 

In my profession change is not always welcomed or met with open arms.  You want to have high attendance at church, just announce that on such and such date you will be making an announcement about some upcoming changes.  Your pews will look like the lines at registers on Black Friday….slap full of people!  Many times we are fearful of and completely opposed to change.  The mention of the word change causes an immediate and often times negative reaction.  Why is that?

I have discovered, after 17 years of ministry, serving multiple churches and hearing from countless church leaders, that most people embrace change in nearly every area of their lives except for one….church.  People do not want to be asked to move seats, embrace a wall color or carpet change, adjust to new times or schedules and for the love of all that is good and holy….don’t ask us to change methodology.  That’s humorous to me because most of us do not still have home phones with a chord attached to the receiver.  Dial up internet is archaic and not in many homes and I would bet most people do not watch tv by adjusting an antennae that is attached to your home.  No, most of us have high speed internet, cable or satellite tv and wireless home phones.  Unless, of course, you have disconnected your home phone because you have a cell phone.  Don’t believe me yet?  Answer this question….when was the last time you churned butter or washed an entire load of laundry by hand.  See, we willingly embrace change but usually only when it is personally advantageous or has little effect on our lives.

With all of this in mind I can’t help but to ask why are we not as eager to make appropriate changes in our churches for the sake of the gospel.  Before you label me a heretic I am NOT at all suggesting we water down the truth of scripture.  I am not proposing that we compromise the integrity of the gospel and I am certainly not advocating for us to try to make the gospel more appealing.  I don’t believe Jesus needs for us to try to make Him look good.  I do think, however, that He would appreciate it if we would do a better job of not making Him look bad when we act crazy “in His name!”  

So what about you?  Are you opposed to change?  Does the word make you uncomfortable or are you willing to become uncomfortable for the sake of making His name known?

#changeisacomin’ 
#justsayNOtochurningbutter
#embracepositivechange

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