The Idea of Change

Do we really want change?  This is a very broad question.  A question we most likely don't like to deal with.  A question that is hard to answer with a simple Yes or No.  However, it is a question we need to all stop and ask ourselves regularly.

Maybe the idea of change is simple.  I think "change" is less of the discussion and "selfish desires" is a better discussion to have.  We tend to be a little self centered in our thinking when it comes to change.  When a change will benefit us, we are all for it.

Example: Wendy's recently changed their Fries.  For me, this was a great change bc I like them much better.  In turn, I find myself at wendys more often than before.  However, some people might have been attached to the old fries, or just not like the new ones so they quit going all together.  

The idea of Change.  When it benefits us, we like it and and quickly look down on others stating they need to like change like we do.  Its not change we like, its "better for me" that we like.  

Now lets take this idea and put in on a larger scale.  Church.  Change in the church is a hard thing to talk about.  Its funny, bc the very people (including myself) who want change in one way, argue it in another.  I can admit that I have fallen into this category more than once.  In speaking with my youth last night, I found that even students ages 13-18 struggle with the idea of change in the church.  Such words as Tradition, or even statements of "thats how its always been" or "thats the way I was brought up" were mentioned.  I mentioned moving Wednesday night church to thursday nights to the students.  They were completely against the idea of moving Wednesday church to Thursday.  Their reasoning was simply, "Wednesday night is church night."  Change is something we all struggle with from time to time.  

Lets think about change from a different view though.  Lets take our selfish desires out and trust that God will lead us.  God may actually be calling us to CHANGE.  God may actually call us to do things different than we have ever done them before.  What we need to focus on is not the change itself, but WHY we are changing.  God calls us to love people and to share the Love of Christ with them.  Maybe change is going to open up the opportunity to reach those who do not have a relationship with Christ.

If such companies as Apple, Microsoft, or any other corporation dealing with technology were not willing to change, we would not have progressed like we have.  The idea that I can get an update of the PGA Championship or Texas Rangers baseball game on my phone was unheard not too long ago.  I am thankful for the change that has taken place.  If Martin Luther had not embraced the idea of change there would have been no Protestant Reformation.  There are so many more examples I could give of people who allowed change in their lives that brought us where we are today.  But anyone who has been part of a change would say with change we are going to experience taking a risk, and at times risk involves temporary failure.  Its important to remember, failure is not the final product, but a new beginning to the next step.

Change is everywhere in the world today. The church needs to embrace this idea instead of pushing it away.  Change is not what I, Kyle Adcock want, but should be the direction that God leads us in his timing.  

This post is not me saying to take on a specific change, but more so be open to what God has in store for every believer and every bible believing church.  We need to all be ready for the next task to reach people for him, whether it fits into our (my) desires, schedule, or anything else that might keep us tied down to old ways.  Change is what has brought us where we are today.  Think where change will take us if we allow God to be in control and follow His direction.