Change is Constant. Why is the local church unwilling to change?

Change is Constant.

Often times we think of making changes to encourage growth, but what if the same applies in the reverse? Growth or even decline requires change. As growth occurs changes must happen to adjust and accommodate. The same is true with decline. We are in a constant state of change, the difference being progressive change (growth) or regressive change (decline). We might object and say if we stay just as we are now change is not necessary, but even stagnation becomes decline because the world around us is still changing and it takes change to keep from decline if we wish to stay the same. 

Change in the local church.

No matter want denomination or style of the individual church is in they all have the same mandate which is set out in Matthew 28:17.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

GROW!!!

Growth is a mandate from Jesus himself. We can discuss what growth might look like from place to place, whether in numbers or in maturity in Christ, but the mandate doesn’t change. The church should encourage growth and make more disciples regardless of if they stay with that congregation or move on to start their own and begin a new work there.

Many churches have found themselves on the decline and I have come to learn that often this is from an unwillingness to change. In order for the church to reverse course from decline due to this stagnation we must encourage growth by accepting the changes that come with it. We can’t, nor should we, expect newcomers to conform themselves to the mold or method of a once vibrant past but instead we should be receptive and encourage the mold or methods of the present and even look for what the future holds. Aka: Keep up with the times. We should encourage conformity in regards to obedience and life transformation but the method must remain fluid, so far as it does not compromise biblical beliefs. If our focus becomes about maintaining the status quo rather than growth we have already begun the decline.

An Example:

Technology- Imagine if a church refused to use computers, sound systems, projectors, or we could even say telephones because it was not needed before to grow so why should we use it now? This seems absurd but why is it that we use this way of thinking when it comes to dress, musical styles, and preaching methods.

more to come....

What's the local church for anyway?

If only to heard a group of people into a building for a "worship experience" and then heard them out what's the point? Where is the intamacy and deep authentic community the local church was originally set up for. If the institutional church doesn't encourage community then what is the point? Is it to build a large building, get lots of people to attend to have money in the bank, or promote a person or their agenda? I long for a place which desires depth over width. I long for a place which makes much of Jesus and not much of any one man. I long for a place where people can wrestle through the sins and difficult things in their life with others openly without fear of condemnation. - Fleeting Thoughts