I’ve been thinking about change recently. When is it necessary, and when is it not? How do we know? A few common phrases came to mind: “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”, “a stitch in time saves nine”, “the best time to fix a roof is when the sun is shining”. These seem to offer different perspectives. First: to wait until a problem is truly a problem before changing things; second: to pre-empt the problem so that the change is less painful; third: change things on your schedule since it’s unlikely that it will be convenient for you when the change is eventually really needed.
We know that all these perspectives on change are valid, but at different times and situations. Right now, while we are on the cusp of a major change, I find myself contemplating this question in greater depth. Should we change what we do, should we change how we do things?
In truth, I am myself somewhat conflicted. After all, what we do and how we do it seems to have worked for us in the past, is change necessary? But we will not be in the same place, we will not have the same physical resources, and even our human resources will be somewhat strained as we focus on caring for a more scattered congregation while we are out – can we really afford to keep doing the same things in the same way? So change will happen. Yet as these changes happen, it’s important for us to know that the changes are a response to changing circumstances, not a statement that the “old” way is broken. These changes are done ahead of time because the changing circumstances are already known, and it is better for us to be able to plan out the changes, think through them, and implement them on our schedule. That’s why you see changes happening from January rather than only in October when we really move out.
And even more importantly, we also must remember that change is not the enemy. The world around us continues to change at a rapid pace. The way we do things, the ministry we offer to the world around us must change because the world changes. But what has not changed and what will never change is Who we point to, and why we point to Him. We cannot confuse the specific tasks we do with the general task we have been given – to make disciples, baptising them and teaching them to obey God. This we must do and continue to do, but how we do it will change and keep changing. May God always give us the wisdom to discern how He has called us to fulfill His Great Commission.