Survival Tips for the 21st Century Church
There is nothing in the world that is permanent; change is inevitable. In fact, the only thing that is constant in this world is change – it happens no matter what. And if we are to move with the times, we must adjust to change, or we risk being left behind in obscurity and antiquity. The church is no exception to this rule – it has undergone significant changes over the centuries, and is still changing with the passage of time. If we live in the past, we find it hard to survive in the present, and this leaves us with no hope of ever seeing the future. So in order to survive the changes that comprise the church of the 21st century, here’s what we need to do:
- Accept the change: If you condition yourself to accept change, it does not seem that big a deal when it does happen. It may not happen, but when it does, you are ready for it. This makes a huge difference in your attitude towards change. Rather than fighting it, you are now ready to embrace it. So it becomes something you welcome with open arms as opposed to something you fight with all your might.
- Be the change: If you believe in being progressive, be the change you want to see. Use your church and its teachings to help others and bring about positive changes in their lives. Instead of condemning sinners to hell and damnation, try to help them see Christ’s way of life. When you begin to make a difference in their lives, you are bringing in more people into the fold of Christ’s flock.
- Anticipate the change: Finally, you must anticipate change in any form it may come, even if it is shocking and you cannot accept it. Some churches are so filled with politics nowadays that it is hard to associate them as being houses of God. There is so much infighting and bickering and this makes it hard for people to pray and concentrate on the Lord alone. Anticipate that this could happen to your church too, and be prepared to focus your energy on worship alone instead of letting your mind wander and be distracted by these other goings-on.
Not all the change that is taking place in the church is bad; the key to continuing to be a good Christian lies in being a part of the good change and steering clear of all that is not true to what Jesus taught us.
By-line:
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of online christian colleges . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com.
