Right for a Lifetime?

"The more definitive and widely accepted the ‘answer’, the more it prevents people from seeing how it will turn out to be wrong. Once you think you know, for a fact, that things work in a particular way — or the answer to problem ‘a’ is always technique ‘b’ — there’s no need to explore any further. Of course, over time, the world changes, but almost nobody looks to see if that affects what they already know for sure — until the unthinkable happens and our nice, simple answers stop working." - Lifehack article

Observation: Churches of today eventually act like churches of yesterday.

"We've always done it that way" has turned into the banner of mediocrity for many churches. From the outside looking in, it seems to be closed mindedness. For those that reside comfortably within the cozy walls of unchanged existence -- it doesn't seem wrong at all.

Let's face it, we are often people of habit in matters that would benefit from a different perspective. When it comes to church, we like our experience predictable. We are not interested in what matters most to others, but rather what matters most to me. The creaking floors of traditional religion become a charming aspect to the familiar house we have built for ourselves. The structure becomes a warehouse of our junk and less of a house of worship.

We fall into the downward spiral of self-contentment when we fight for an answer found many years ago that once worked. Blood-red carpet, heavy pews, a 52-Sunday predictable rotation of sermons, first and last verse -- we grow attached to what worked then and can't see that it just might not work now.

The logic of the dilemma is entrenched in knowing what we know to be right and proclaiming "right lasts a lifetime." It isn't necessarily so.

Given, there are certain dogmas and practices that are to remain unchanged in describing and living the principles that Christ set forth -- however, there are variations to the theme in living out and expressing those unchanging tenets that our lazy belief structure tends to dismiss. If we believe something is right and will always work, the grip that we place on that belief is tight and steady. The only way for us to loosen that grip and reach out to something else is for us to see a different answer in the faces of a few we trust. It is a leaders responsibility to connect those dots.

Religious practices are viral. If we desire that God's presence in our life take on a realness, then we are open to hearing from others the real experiences of their spiritual encounters. We are open to change, when we see and experience a better way.

The fear of boat rocking has left many church lay leaders and pastors hesitant to change obsolete practices. Yet, the natural death of an ineffective church will eventually make the necessary changes without their participation. It is leadership's responsibility to do what is right; to take a chance.

The message to leadership is: Do nothing and your church will eventually die an unfortunate death. Do something and your odds of success are greatly improved.