Change: Good or Bad?
Posted on May 7, 2007
Filed Under Brandon Renfroe, The Church
by Brandon Renfroe
We live in a changing world. One need only glance around his own community to notice the myriad of changes occurring, seemingly on a daily basis. Is change good? Or is change intrinsically bad?
Surely it is not correct to suggest that all change is harmful. Those old enough to remember the stifling summer days before the advent of air conditioning are surely thankful during the “dog days†for such a marvelous “innovation.†Too, those in need of surgical procedures are certainly grateful for the amazing advances made yearly in modern medicine.
Of course, the change we are most interested in discussing is of a religious nature. Secular changes, such as modern trends in pedagogical practices, or innovations in the business realm, are surely irrelevant when discussing Jehovah, whose nature “changes not†(cf. Mal. 3:6). For example, God cannot lie (cf. Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18), and has always felt the same regarding disobedience, whether such lawlessness occurred during the days of Patriarchy, the Mosaic economy, or today, during the Christian dispensation.
Is religious change bad? The obvious answer is: it depends on what kind of change we are contemplating. As the Hebrews writer indicated, since the Levitical priesthood has been changed, “there is made of necessity also a change of the law†(Heb. 7:12). If all religious change is to be disdained, this does not bode well for those of us claiming to live under “a better covenant, which was established upon better promises†(Heb. 8:6).
To be sure, there are changes we can embrace. It ought to be clear to the thoughtful individual that the preacher who makes use of “PowerPoint†in delivering his sermons is doing the same thing, in practice, as did those of yesterday who effectively used overhead projectors or those “pioneers†who employed “sheet sermons†in proclaiming the gospel of Christ. In similar fashion, the worldwide web has opened many doors that otherwise would have remained closed. Those who would disparage the appropriate use of technology in propagating the gospel are turning their backs on a most effective tool and, in so doing, are ignoring the possibilities of worldwide evangelism from the friendly confines of their own homes.
Some change, on the other hand, is to be avoided. Any change, for example, that would involve a deviation from scriptural precepts must be shunned wholeheartedly (cf. 2 John 9-11). Those who constantly clamor for religious changes contrary to Bible teaching fail to grasp that some boundaries are not meant to be crossed (cf. 1 Cor. 4:6, ASV).
The barometer we must use in determining whether or not change is beneficial is the word of God. As always, we must ask, “Is this change an aid, or is it an addition?†In the former, we respect the all-sufficiency and absolute authority of the scriptures while making use of divinely-sanctioned expediencies (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:17). In the latter, we sacrifice foundational truths to incorporate manmade additions.
The Christian seeks to proclaim a changeless Christ to a changing world. As the Savior suggested, we clothe old truths in new robes (cf. Mt. 13:52). We have a significant degree of latitude in how we accomplish this awesome task, as far as expediencies are concerned. We are not given leeway, however, to proclaim a different message than that which was proclaimed by the apostles and was “once for all delivered unto the saints†(cf. Gal. 1:6ff; Jude 3). In this regard, we should heed the words of the wise man: “meddle not with them that are given to change†(Prov. 24:21).
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3 Responses to “Change: Good or Bad?”
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Dear Brandon,
In this article “Change: Good or Bad” you mention the ‘Power Point’ fixture as being a tool the preacher might use to enhance his message, as ‘projectors’ etc. has done in the past. Being the business people they are, there is a whole industry dedicated to “entertain” us with these hybrid tools by selling the church DVDs.
My point being, they as many other things, are the focus (excuse the pun) of most worship services. They have become the tools of music and its various sounds to either drown out the lyrics or disguise with the beat of repetition the meaningless phrases mostly about “me, I, us, our” and not a whole lot about the Trinity we come to worship.
Also have you noticed how few less Bibles are being opened because scripture is flashed by the electronic marvel on the screen. Why bother? Don’t complain too much when we (the hearers) become even less proficient when asked to find the book of Dudichronasticals. See what I mean?
There are many holes in your argument Mr. Renfroe.
“Is this change an aid, or is it an addition.”
[divenly sanctioned expediances and manmade additions]
Common, first what is the difference between aids and additions? Techniquly they are the same thing!
Second, “divinly sanctioned expediances” Who determines what is to be expediant and what is manmade additions? You? If you argue for the one then you argue for the other. How can you argue for Sunday School, Power Point and in the same breath argue against the instrument? If you say by necessary inference or expediancy you cannot have the instrament then you also have to say you cannot have sunday school classes or power point. Your “Divinly sanctioned expediances and manmade additions or aid verses addition is very flawed!
Hi Barton,
An “aid” is something that does not alter a practice, but rather only assists in completing the practice.
An “addition” is something that alters the practice itself.
A song book, for instant, is an “aid” to singing. It does not change the singing at all.
A musical instrument, however, is an “addition” to the command to sing, in that the person singing would no longer be only singing, but singing and playing.
Here is a good study on “aid” versus “addition:”
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/read/aid_or_addition_what_is_the_difference
God bless, and thanks for visiting!