“The only constant is change.” This phrase is not only familiar to many of us, but it has been familiar to people for centuries, proving that change has is in fact, constant. The philosopher Heraclitus, who lived in the fifth century BCE stated it this way “No man ever steps in the same river twice."
You would think that if change is always happening, the human race would have figured out a better way to deal with it. That leads me to another quote: “Nobody likes change except a wet baby,” by the famous philosopher, Mark Twain.
The fact that these quotes are separated by two and a half millennia make it pretty clear that change is not a new idea. For many of us working as technical artists in the local church, we are constantly confronted by change. It could be a change in personnel, anyone between the senior pastor and the technical director. It could be a change in the direction the church is heading. It could be a new organizational structure.
Regardless of why change is happening or what the change is, we all need to come to grips with the fact that change is coming, and figure out ways to deal with it.
The Past Is In The Past
One of the reasons change is so difficult to deal with is that it is unknown. If something changes, I have no way of knowing what is going to happen. Especially as a technical artist in the local church, my job is to make sure everything is working, and change makes that more difficult. So if you're talking about a bigger change that could potentially affect my life, I'm not a huge fan.
I know that I cling to the past because I know what happens; I can see how everything worked out. Yet in reality, the past is done and it won't come back. So living there doesn't really help the future. Learning from the past is useful in order to not repeat mistakes over again, but tomorrow is different.
Especially when you are working with new people, it is easy to say things like “This is how we've always done this.” If you've been around a while, you know the old way inside and out. However, if that new person is a leader you need to follow, this can be a difficult place to be. If the new leader decides to go in a different direction, will you be able to let go of the past and move forward?
At a certain point, continuing to talk about the good old days becomes counter-productive. Pining for what once was will make you seem resistant to change...which you probably are.
The real challenge is to move into the future while taking the best of the past with you.
God didn't design the body of Christ to be full of complainers.
To a new leader, always talking about the past sounds a lot like complaining. This may or may not be true, but one thing's for sure, God didn't put you in that church to be a complainer.
Can we learn from the past? Yes. Are there things we shouldn't repeat? Yes. Are there things to avoid? Yes. But at the end of the day, having a new boss with new ideas means that things are probably going to go in a new direction. Are you on board?
In 1 Cor. 12, Paul talks about how we all fit together in the body of Christ. Check out verse 7:
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
God has placed us in our church for the common good. He has given us certain gifts for the benefit of the whole body. Wishing for the past or complaining about the future direction is not for the common good. Figuring out how to adjust with the change is what is needed.
Are you going to help the body of Christ you are planted in change or just hold it back?
Time to Move On
If you are in a place where change is happening, and you find yourself resisting it, is it time to move on?
If you aren't able to get on board with a new direction the church is taking or you are having trouble with a new boss, chances are it is time to look seriously at figuring out your next step…which is also change.
Sorry.
In the book of Acts, God uses hard times to scatter the followers of Christ to every corner of the known world. As a result, the Gospel began to spread.
While there is something really amazing about loyalty to a place, what's to say that the discomfort you are feeling about the new direction of the church isn't a way for God to get your attention to move you to the next assignment he has for you?
If you can't get on board with whatever change is happening in your world, make the tough decision and move on.
Change is coming. Guaranteed. If you are having a difficult time with change happening in your world, it is time to examine your own heart and figure out if you're in or your out. If you're in, face the change head on and make the most of it. If you're out, don't hang on to the past for dear life. God has something better for you if you'd just let go.
