Word of the Week: Change
How do you react to the word “change”? Things are changing! Some people get a knot in their stomach and their anxiety rises when changes are coming. Other people experience a rise in their enthusiasm with a renovation of life’s circumstances. Perhaps others say, “Well, it depends on the change!” Everybody enjoys a pay raise, and that’s change!
How do you react to change? I’m typically more positive and see good things ahead with change, though occasionally I’m disinclined. Others have the opposite initial reaction.
Change is coming! Tag and Gina Tuck will be venturing out to plant a church on Pantops. A new staff member will take his place (be at the congregational meeting at 9:35 on March 5th). A new youth director will soon join our staff, God willing. When the new Pantops church starts worshipping, some of our members will jump on the new church plant. That’s a LOT of change. This week it struck me that some of you might feel negative emotions about some of that. I’m sure I’ll join you when I look around and know that dear friends are worshipping in a new church instead of here.
Where does faith enter in? First, we trust in our unchanging God. We take time to redirect our thinking towards Him. We remember his promises toward us. We remind each other of God’s faithfulness. Second, we must consider that kingdom growth is good change, even when it is painful and sacrificial. I dislike losing members as much as anyone. The why matters. If people are jumping on a new church plant that is reaching the “nones” (74% of people with no religious affiliation), I can be much more excited about that then when we lose people for other reasons. It will be costly change. But, it is change with a great, godly, and high purpose. Grace does not exist for ourselves. Thus, we change.
Let’s be praying for one another as the months ahead bring us change!
In Him,
Don