You hear a lot about change these days. Politicians promise it and the American people expect it. Barak Obama’s political slogan is “Change we can believe in;” and progressive politics, by definition, espouse change. And most conservatives agree that change needs to take place, but don’t want to change the core values of America. I know some wonderful Christian people who believe that fundamental change in America is necessary. And I know some wonderful Christian people who want to conserve the fundamentals of America. In politics, change can be a very divisive thing.
But politics and culture isn’t the only place that change can be divisive. Change in churches is, potentially, just as explosive. In the past couple of decades in America, thousands of churches have died slow deaths prompted, ironically, by one of two things: (1) the fight to change too quickly; or (2) the failure to change quickly enough. Sadly, some churches have fought over silly things like changes in the color of church carpet, or changes in the location of the communion table. Some churches have fought over more important things like changes in the meaning and application of biblical truth. Personally I believe that God’s truth never changes. But change can be a daunting task in church as well as politics.
Let’s be honest. We don’t really like change. We’re creatures of habit, and prideful ones at that. We don’t like change. When we face troubles and difficulties we have a hard time accepting the need for change in our own lives. And when we finally relent, we normally pray prayers like, “God help my husband or wife to change,” or “God help my parents or children to change,” or “God help my neighbors or coworkers to change,” or, “God help my government or culture to change,” when we should really be praying, “God help me to change.” Honestly, the only change we can really participate in is our own. In our own lives change is a very difficult thing.
This past week I counseled with a lady who has faced a lot of frustrating times in the past couple of months. And she believed that more money would solve her problem. But I didn’t have any money to give. I have given her money on several occasions, but I didn’t have any more to give. She isn’t a free-loader or a panhandler. She’s a nice lady, with a good job, trying hard to raise good kids. But every couple of months she runs out of money. And I don’t think more money is going to help her. This week, as we sat together, I said, “Ma’am, if you keep doing what you have always done, you’re going to keep getting what you have always gotten. You need to make some major changes in your life. More money might help you today, but only habitual change is going to help you in the long-run.”
Listen to the words of Christ…, He was talking about developing child-like faith, but He said, “I tell you the truth: unless you change… you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” (Matthew 18:3).
May God grant us the ability to accept the things we cannot change; the courage to change the things we can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
