"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."
Woodrow Wilson
Human beings are very resistant to change. We like our routines, traditions, and predictable lives. If you don't agree then do as the quote from Woodrow Wilson above and you will see he and I am right. As a pastor I could tell you story after story about how resistant to change the church can be. In my 17 years of pastoring I have seen people leave churches because they changed the music, the hymnals, versions of the Bible, decorations, facilities, order of worship and so on. Believe me, I am well aware of the enemies one can make by trying to change something. Why are churches so resistant to change? That's a good question and I bet there are thousands of answers. Maybe the better question to ask is "Why does the Church need to change?" (Pause...Open can of worms). I don't think I want to go there today.
One of my frustrations as a pastor is meeting resistance to godly change and/or even worse apathy to godly change. What do I mean by godly change? Simply, changing something that needs to be changed so God may be glorified (because he is behind or in the necessary change) and not merely changing something for the sake of change. I know and have read about pastors who have been fired from their churches because they pushed for unnecessary change and I am not talking about this kind of change. I also know personally, pastors who have been fired for instituting change that God was in.
The truth is when God moves in a church body or an individual we need to re-adjust our lives and church bodies to fit God's plan and purpose. I find it maddening when people knowingly resist godly change simply because they refuse to change. In my mind resistance to God is futile; it's a losing battle from the get go. What gets to me even more is when people say, "Do what you need to do pastor; but don't expect me to re-adjust because I am fine where I am right now. Things are going well for me, life is good and I don't want to mess with that. You go ahead but I'm going to stay right here." What these people are saying is, "I really don't care where God is heading or what he has in store I am fine right where I am."
Sometimes we pastors push for change because we REALLY want to see God come alive in our church bodies and in individuals lives. We promote change because we see God in the change. I encourage you to read Isaiah 43:18,19 to see that God also does new things because he cares for his people and wants to bless us. I know I can come across as the enemy when I promote change, but realize I promote godly change because I desire godly change in my life. I promote it because where God is I want to be... want to come along?
