“Being and becoming Christian” series

Part 99

“Being Christian means being prepared for change and conflict”

Being new Christians we might be surprised to find the church attendance low the week after Easter. We might be surprised to find, as we talk with other churchgoers, things don’t always go as smoothly as they look upon the surface.

Being a “Babe-in-Christ” we are brand new shining in the love of God. The devil will waste no time in attacking us in any way that he can, especially after baptism. He wants you back and has a whole bag full of tricks to get you there. The key thing is to anticipate problems brought about by the evil-one and his minions and ask God to help guide you on your way through them. Most church problems start out as irritating little things that sometimes get blown out of proportion.

CHANGE

Ever heard this before, “The more things change the more they stay the same?” In this day and age there can be a problem with that statement. The times and technologies change and people change with them. But, on a Bell Curve, technologies may change but the hearts of those who use them aren’t much different than the days of Cain and Abel. People often use technological advances to abuse others. Change can be a method of control that can be used to weaken strong defenses of established society or church.

Christian change, or transformation, is a work of Grace. It is a basic change in our attitude toward God, ourselves, and other people. Christian congregational transformation is also a work of Grace, like in a revival, that changes the level of the entire church in attitude toward God, the church itself, and those outside the church in the community.

Not every change is positive inside the Faith. One we often see is in the direction of worship. Say a church changes to a “Praise Band” and words, with no music, on a screen, hoping to draw new interest, and new members? What happens to the old members and old order of worship of the saints already there?

Change is sure to come. The question is, “How do we handle change?” There is nothing more apt to put the glow of a church service out then to pour a bucket of manipulation on visitors to get them to return. Yet, there is nothing more selfish than a service held to the tradition that gives the senior saints a reminder of their childhood and maintain their level of comfort from the past. These approaches aren’t so much about the worship of God but the control and cultural satisfaction of survival of the “status quo,” or adding numbers by force to the institution. Neither works well.

Today, cultivating the new while maintaining the old styles of worship is often accomplished by what is now called “blended worship,” a little bit of both styles to satisfy saints old and new. It seems to work but change is always on the forefront.

“Genuine transformation begins with a fresh encounter with God, including the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and continues with a hunger to share the Good News in the way God opens up, with the express goal of increasing the rule of God in us and in this world. Along the way there will be conflict and resistance as some lag behind while others charge forward; there will be frustration at the slow pace of transformation; there will be difficulties in discerning the next step forward,” James R. Horton, Jr.

Is it worth it?

Is all the effort we put out really worth it? Learning from God’s actions the answer is very much “Yes.” Why would God send a baby to be its savior?  Because God is in the business of transforming us into His image. God can’t look upon sin. Jesus didn’t come and take on our sin so everyone could get into heaven free and bring their sinful nature with them.

Jesus came to restore what had failed. He came to reestablish and in some cases initiate for the first time, a new way of living and relating that which is Holy. He came to institute God’s will on earth. Those of us who fill the church are supposed to be living the example of what it means to be conformed to God’s image and will. Let’s give ourselves a test. Are we conforming to God’s image and His will for our lives. Or are we living some sort of convoluted version of our own will that will just get us by?

The promises of God are “Yes and Amen.” We need to do His will.

Reality check

Until we are transformed, we cannot expect our church to be transformed, nor our community transformed. With transformation, God’s Spirit moves with a fresh new energy and growth takes place. Church now is the place to be, disciples are formed, and the Good News reaches out towards the ends of the earth. Local missions, mission teams, and mission giving become the important focus of the church. Once a church catches God’s Spirit in a mighty way, little can stop it.

Many churches are in need of transformation anew. Folks and money help, but more important is the transformation of the corporate attitude. In a recent anticipation of revival, one young father walked around the pews praying for the persons who sat in them. His quiet work motivated many of the young couples of the church into prayer and open worship. Soon the church pews began to fill up. Last week they had almost every seat full and opened up an area in the rear and added three rows of chairs to handle the crowd. God’s people are at God’s work.

God is not an option that we can choose or ignore. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who sacrificed His Son so we can live divinely now and forever. We owe God our obedience and loyalty, our time, tithes, offerings, and even our very lives. (Taken in part from message written by Pastor James R. Horton, Jr., Vestal, N.Y.).

INSPIRATION: “Jesus said; “You shall love your Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 22:37-39.

Write: croneis@earthlink.net