I Do Not Like Change

 It is true. Maybe you are not surprised. Maybe you are doubting my claim. I do not like change.

One thing I have learned growing up in the church and living a great deal of my life as a pastor is that there are a whole lot of people just like me in that way. They do not like change either. 

Change is inevitable. But that does not mean you have to like it.

Most people dig in and refuse to change until they absolutely must. I know a few people who still have flip phones. Chalk boards anyone? Do you still use an atlas, or have you gone the way of GPS?

There is comfort in the familiar, unchanged settings in which we find ourselves. In an ever-changing world, some of us are looking for something we remember growing up with. When things do not change we can grow accustomed to the routines and rhythms of life. We know what to expect and when to expect it. We know the tune to the song. We understand what to expect next.

Change really does produce anxiety among us!

But here is the problem. When we are familiar with everything and feel secure, it is easy to slip into complacency. And complacency is not viewed very favorably by God. We tend to rely on our routines and ruts we have created rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Here are some principles for change that I have been thinking about...

1. The person initiating change is typically more positive about the change than the recipients of it. If you are a leader, you will view your changes more positively than those who will be impacted by that change. Just because you think it is a great idea, doesn't mean that everyone else will. You need to communicate the answer to the question of "why?" when it comes to change.

2. The issue is not whether change will happen, but whether the change will ultimately be healthy or harmful. Refusal to change is a surrender to irrelevance and unfruitfulness. Many churches take up space on their physical property while making so little difference that they would go unnoticed if they closed. They are irrelevant because they refused to adapt and prayerfully discern how to effectively fulfill the Great Commission in a rapidly changing world.

3. Not every change is good and sometimes the negative is a long time coming. Change for the sake of "keeping up with the times" is a recipe for disaster. While some face irrelevance because of their unwillingness to adapt, others jump on every fad and ride the winds of trends that are pointless and ineffective. The outcome is the same as if they had chosen to be unwilling to change: irrelevance and unfruitfulness.

4. Clearly communicate your vision to those that you are leading. Too many leaders, for fear of resistance, hide the destination. They obscure the vision so that others might not be able to sabotage it. The problem is that they are in fact sabotaging the vision themselves by refusing to allow people to see it. Clear communication is key.

5. Address the issues that are hindering the change from being implemented. Often the resistance is not sinful, it is just murmurings from adjustment to the change. Address the issues brought up and move on. Do not dwell or battle those who are reluctant to change. 

6. Listen well. It is important, when navigating change, to be receptive to feedback from those impacted by change. Sometimes a leader will move to quickly or to slowly and can lose momentum or support unnecessarily. Take time to discern what you hear to know when to slow or when to speed up. When to encourage or when to correct. And never forget to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit most of all.

What things might you add?

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