Change and Growth

“Mere change is not growth.  Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is not continuity there is no growth.” - C.S. Lewis

Some people like change for change’s sake.  They become very bored or restless when things stay the same for too long.  Others fear change of most sorts as a threat to order, comfort and stability.  I suppose I land somewhere in the middle.  I appreciate change if there’s a purpose beyond the change itself.  I’m very willing to embrace change, but I try to take great thought and care in evaluating the lasting benefit of a change.  Change by itself, after all, is not a guarantee of real improvement.

The body of Christ is interested in growth, is it not?  Change can be great, but it is no virtue; growth is.  I appreciate the point C.S. Lewis made in his statement above because it draws a clear line between mere change and actual growth.  His conclusion was that the difference was continuity.  In other words, does the change follow a course consistent with one’s beginnings?  There is a difference, isn’t there, between adding onto a house and moving into an entirely different one?  Or imagine a person deciding to switch from a hand-held phone to the use of a hands-free phone.  He might very well consider that growth in his use of phone technology.  Another person might give up on phones altogether and just change her communications to the use of smoke signals.   One could hardly argue that this would be growth, but it would certainly be a change.

Our New Hope family is desiring and working toward growth because we are convinced that the gospel of Jesus should have an ever-widening circle of influence throughout the community in which God has placed us.  We long to experience growth in depth and width.  Growth, of course, demands change, but change must be purposeful and in line with our ultimate goals.  We could change locations and move into another facility.  This would be change, but no necessarily growth.  We could change the times and days we meet.  This would be change, but not necessarily growth.  By golly, we could even change the color of our carpets…well you get the point.

I am committed to growing as a church, and as a part of that, I am committed to change.  First of all, I am committed to change in myself: my thinking, my acting, my schedule - whatever is called for by my Master.  Second, I am committed to change in my leadership: my style, my priorities, my methods, my habits - whatever the Chief Shepherd demands.  I am also committed to change in New Hope.  I have no interest in changing things to fit my personal preferences, but I am very much interested in changes that will move us to be more perfectly aligned with our purpose and calling as given by Jesus.  We’ve changed and we’ve grown in the last 27 years, in the last ten years, and in the last two years.  We’ll continue to change and grow.  So whether you love change or fear it, embrace it or suspect it, we all have to be united in our commitment to growth.  If we can be united in this, then we’ll help each other change only in those ways that really matter and that bring much-deserved honor, glory and praise to our King.  What a calling!  What a purpose!
 
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.” - Jude 1:24-25

With deep love,

Pastor Ryan