Jump Start # 3903
Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ”
Famous singer Bob Dylan had an iconic song that summed up the 1960’s, called “Times are a changing.” And, they sure did during that turbulent decade. Not everyone liked the change. The new look rebelled against the norms of the previous generation. And, changing things wasn’t invented by the singers and writers of the 1960s. We notice a series of changes introduced in Biblical history.
· The sons of Korah wanted a new leader and a new direction. They tried to overthrow the position that Moses was given by God.
· Aaron introduced a new way of worship that included a golden calf
· Jeroboam introduced new places to worship, new priests to serve and a new direction to follow.
What fuels most change is unhappiness and a discontent in the way things are. Sometimes this can be good and it can bring positive results. When one is tired of seeing a fat person staring back at them in the mirror, they will begin to exercise, watch what they eat and take better care of themselves. When one is tired of seeing a bank balance that is scary, they’ll get on a budget and follow that carefully.
Some fear and fight change. Change takes us to new places. Change can be uncomfortable. Change is different than what we are accustomed to. Some like the safe and sure ways of the past. This is why breaking habits can be so difficult.
There has been in every generation a call to restructure the nature of God’s church. Some want more of a community presence by helping the hurting. Some want a church that is less offensive so they urge their preachers to tone down the doctrine stuff. Some want a church that deals more with how we feel and not so much about what we ought to do. Some want a church that puts more emphasis upon us and less on God.
The purpose, nature and structure of the church has been designed and given to us by God. A discontent with what God has given becomes a faith issue. God has always given the best. That started with the first pages of our Bibles. Adam and Eve in the garden that is commonly called, “Paradise.” Where else would one want to go? Their world was perfect, yet they weren’t content nor satisfied. They wanted something else. And, that story has been repeated on nearly every page of the Bible.
But, in fighting against changing the nature of the church, some have gone so far as to resist all changes. And, as a result, many congregations have an old feel to it. It’s like walking through a museum. Everything in a museum is old, even most of the people that work there. Some of our church buildings look old. Some of the class material looks old. And, fearing that if we update some of those things, we’ll change the entire nature of the church, things are kept the same.
A balance is necessary. There are some things that we need to be content and satisfied with. There are things that we can do a better job with.
Our Ephesian verse today identifies two important aspects about the church. First, it was God who gave. God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers. These positions did not evolve out of a need that we came up with. Second, God knew what was needed. God provided everything that Noah needed to survive in the ark. And, likewise, God has provided what we need for the church. God knows. And, with all those positions, different in definitions and different in function, they have a common thread of teaching. You’ll notice no gym instructors are in the list. You don’t find counselors. You don’t find camp administers. No cooks. Just teachers. Teachers of God’s word. That’s what God provided. That’s what the church needed.
Here are a few thoughts:
First, understand the purpose, nature and intent of the church. That must be the starting point. If this is not understood, then we’ll start gutting things that should not be touched. Young people need to understand this principle. God’s kingdom will not look nor operate like the kingdoms of the world. And, when we want a church like all the churches around us, the focus will turn to us and not the Lord.
Second, there must be an understanding of what worked in one decade may not always work in following decades. Always have Bible classes that run on a quarter system, taught by a teacher that lectures may not be the best means to teach God’s word today. It’s easy to purchase a class book and run through some questions that the author has listed and leave it at that. It’s challenging to lower the nets to depth and to make applications that are real and helpful. Sometimes it’s good to study the things that no one wants to admit and to see how God’s word helps us today.
Third, there are always voices that want to attack the entire nature of God’s church. These voices claim that we are doomed unless we change. What they say attracts some and puts fear into others. These voices lack faith and we do well not even to pay attention to them. Each congregation, like each family, must do what works best for them. And, as long as the nature of God’s church hasn’t changed and they are staying within the lanes God’s word allows, others may not like it and it may not work for them, but it’s not up to the approval of others. Having gospel meetings? How many? How long? Do what works best for the group there. Make adjustments. How Bible classes are taught? How often during the week? How long those classes last? Do what works best for the group there.
We have some little grandbabies in our family. When and how much they eat is a lot different than their daddies. Sometimes the babies are eating when the rest of us are not. They don’t each as much as the big ones. Adjustments. Changes. All with the intent and purpose of growing.
That’s what we do with feeding schedules. That’s what we do with our journey with the Lord.
Roger