Description

Few people like change.  In an article titled, “The Top Ten Most Fiercely Defended Traditions In Churches,” Thom Rainer says that he was intrigued by the comments relating to church traditions that were a potential source of divisiveness.

When change is suggested in the church, people often get emotional and feel that their favorite tradition is being challenged.  The problem comes when rules become more important, than relationships.  Rules that focus on a minor area of life can eventually take precedence over the greater priorities of spiritual maturity and the development of our character.  Rules are important and if they are soundly based on the Word of God they should be embraced and espoused.  If we make a rule and then try to find a scripture to back up our rule, we are on dangerous ground.  This practice will probably will lead us to take Scripture out of context.  As a result, message of the passage will be incorrectly interpreted.

It is important to remember that a healthy church will honor its past.  It will not endeavor to live in the past.  Healthy churches will honor the Law and continually endeavor to please God.  They, however, will avoid legalistic adherence to man-made rules that place a stranglehold of requirement upon our lives.  Although some traditions are good and necessary, if they not kept humbled at the foot of the Cross, they can stifle ministry and kill a move of God.

In this lesson we will look at what the Word of God says about change and resistance to change in God’s kingdom.