Change is Coming – Whether You Like It or Not!

“There’s a new sheriff in town!”  Have you ever heard that expression?  It’s usually meant to be a not-so-subtle statement that shouts “Change is coming!”  Change is a natural part of life.  Just look in the mirror if you doubt that.  But often, references to change that come with the words “new sheriff” attached are changes that are coming with an attitude.  When does that kind of change occur?  Typically, when things aren’t going well.

When problems exist, solutions are necessary, and change is often a part of that problem-solving process.  Business isn’t going too well, make changes.  Church isn’t reaching and changing people like expected?  Make changes.  Kids are spending too much time on their iPads, make changes.  (Or is that last one too convicting?)  MOST people resist change, hence the “new sheriff” metaphor – even if you don’t WANT it, the new sheriff is here to enforce change.

Jesus was all about change.  He said:

You have heard that it was said…But I say to you…  Matthew 5:21-22,27-28,33-34,38-39,43-44  (He said it a number of times to reinforce the point)

Jesus was trying to change the minds, and then the hearts, of those who heard Him.  Behaviors that were THOUGHT to be acceptable needed to be changed.  Information that was believed to be complete was only partially so.  New directions and new attitudes were the intention, and isn’t that what change is all about?  In the passage above (from the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus was trying to move people to a BETTER place, not just a different place.

People do differ on the subject of change, no matter whether it’s necessary or not. Here are a few common arguments against change:

• “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  (Poor English, but I know you’ve heard it.)
• “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”  (Yes, you can.  You CAN’T, however, teach a cat anything.  Just kidding cat-people.  Don’t write me.)
• “We never did it that way before.”  (The seven last words of the church – stagnant churches, anyway.)

But folks do sometimes come down on the other side of the argument. Ben Franklin said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished!”  He was obviously a believer in, and an agent for, change.  John Kennedy reminded us, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” 

Most churches fall into the earlier category of resisting change.  But can you think of a more powerful example of a change-agent than Jesus Christ?  He changed EVERYTHING.  He put an end to sacrifice, once and for all time.[1]  Jesus helped us see that humility and service are virtues.[2]  He taught us to change the way we view those who hurt us or seem to be our enemies.[3]  And I could go on and on and on.  Jesus came to shake things up.  The religious establishment didn’t like it any more than some of the church committees I’ve known. 

I don’t think we need a new sheriff to force change.  I think we just need to stay close to the Savior and the Spirit He sent.  I guarantee that if you hang close to them, change is coming!  Like it or not.

Jacob

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[1] Hebrews 10:9-10

[2] Mark 10:43-44

[3] Matthew 5:43-44