What do we do when what we are doing doesn’t work anymore?
In 1st Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul tells us he becomes all things to all men so that by some means he might win some. He was willing to change the changeable to reach the reachable. Some in our fellowship have made their purpose in life condemning those who like Paul adapt to reach out to those who are lost. Their area of expertise is condemnation of those they call “change agents.” Actually almost all Old Testament prophets were “change agents.” Paul himself was a “change agent.” It isn’t about holding a perceived pattern. God’s work is about effectively reaching people with God’s truth. Borrowing a phrase from Lynn Anderson, sometimes we need to be able to “navigate the winds of change.”
There are some things that cannot change. Scripture is our standard and can never change. Truth can never change. The requirements to become a Christian never change. The direction it takes to maintain our relationship with God never changes. There are basic truths that never change. They were the same in the days of Paul and if the world stands another 10,000 years they will still be the same.
There are some things that can change. Our method of preaching the gospel will out of necessity change. Twenty years ago a blog like this would not have been a possibility. As opportunity makes other avenues available our preaching methods will change. How I reach out to those that are lost must remain relevant. If I can’t meet people where their lives are lived I won’t reach those people. It is as simple as that. I must connect with those who desperately need Jesus. When we argue things that have no effect in regard to the lost we miss the point of Jesus purpose and intent. It isn’t about what I want or prefer. It is about how I can maintain some sense of relevance in the lives of those I am attempting to reach for Jesus.
When it comes to changing in order to be all things to all people so that by some means I might win some there are four basic questions we need to ask. First, is the change anti-scriptural? We have shackled ourselves in past years by asking, “Do we have the authority to do this?” This is the wrong question. What we need to ask is, “Does this go against the principles of Scripture?” Is it anti-scriptural? Second, does this change meet the needs of the people I am trying to reach? We know that without Christ mankind has no hope. At the same time we have to provide the preaching of Jesus in a way that is palatable to those needing to hear. Otherwise, they will not listen or obey. Third, does our change continue to glorify God? Many things are religious. Many things sound good on the surface, but if they don’t bring glory to God they need to be avoided. Fourth, Does this change allow us to connect with the group we are trying to reach? I go back to Alabama and worship with my children as I have opportunity. The congregation where they worship rarely sings anything other than “praise” songs. Try as I might I can’t learn to like this style of worship. One day it dawned on me that they aren’t singing that type music for people like me. I am going to be there regardless of the music style. They are reaching out to a segment of society that likes this music style. It connects with them. It isn’t anti-scriptural. It brings glory to God, while connecting with their target group. It certainly works for this church.
If you call me a “change agent” because I become all things to all people that by some means I might reach some, then praise God for the title. Adaptation and change is what you do when what we have been doing doesn’t work anymore.
