Can You Change?

I am amazed how some people are so quick to embrace new technology.  A salesman for Appalachian Wireless shared with me he knows someone who rushes out that latest phone every time Apple comes out with a new I Phone.   Technology is changing our lifestyles faster and faster.  The wall phone that used a hand crank to call an operator  who connected you to your party a hundred  years ago now fits in your pocket and can call, text, play games, take pictures, and record videos.  No one wants to go back to the crank phone or the dial phone.  Televisions that only showed snowy pictures in black and white on three stations now provide hundreds of stations in full-color crystal displays that you can find with the push of a button.   No one wants to watch black and white television anymore.  Cars were un-air conditioned and without power steering.  Now it’s hard to find one without this equipment.  No one wants to go back to driving with the windows down in 85% humidity in July.  Many of the changes we have experienced we now think we can’t live without.

However, when it comes to change in the church, many people carry a different standard.  They hold on like the old gospel song that says, “Give me that old time religion.  It was good for Paul and Silas.  It is good enough for me.”  True--the old time truths of God’s love, forgiveness, and offer of eternal life in Christ never change.  The message and mission Christ has given us remain the same.  We are to love God with all our being and love others as we love ourselves.  We are to go and share God’s love and teach people the truths of God’s Word.  Yet, the ways and means by which we accomplish this must relate to the society around us.  I hardly believe Paul and Silas would refuse to use television or any media outlet if it would promote the gospel.  I believe they would be on Facebook and Twitter daily sharing the truth of God’s word.  I am sure their preaching events would be amplified and filled with warm, uplifting music using all kinds of instruments.  I don’t believe they would be tied to a Sunday-morning-only time of biblical sharing or stuck on a particular version of the Bible.  Their priority would be sharing Christ in whatever way they could to reach the most people.

Our churches need to have a funeral for outdated methods that no longer have any impact on their communities.  Our churches need to begin to think about what fresh new ways can be used to share the abundant life found in Jesus Christ.  What worked in 1960 will not work in 2012.  Just because we always did it doesn’t mean it is worth doing now. 

Just a thought while you check Facebook on your new smart phone.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Jeff