Calendar . Volume 08 | Issue 18

Volume 08, Issue 18

CHANGE HAS COME
Michael Catt

These past few months, the presidential election has been a discussion of change and who would bring the best change to America. The election was going to be historic, no matter which way it went–either the first African-American President (if you don’t count Morgan Freeman in “Deep Impact” and President David Palmer in “24”) or the first female Vice President.
The election is over. The American people have voted in record number. The times indicate we need a change in the way we think. Change could bring greater government control–we don’t know at this point. It could mean further bailouts at tax payers’ expense. It could impact how we live the rest of our lives and what we pass on to our children.

All of this begs the point: If we are so interested in change politically, why are we so resistant to it in our churches? It seems many of our churches across denominational lines are stuck in the past. They have no interest in reaching young people and children. The cry of the pew seems to be “We want no change in this place. As it was in the beginning, so shall it ever be as long as we have breath to fight change.” The end result is America a a mission field. Students and young adults have largely rejected the organized church, the nation is going to hell, and we’re quilting and drinking coffee while longing for the good old days.
Change must come to the church. Not theologically from truth, but with our methods. We can’t drive our father’s Oldsmobile, and we can’t tell people about our Father when they refuse to listen because we refuse to understand the culture we are called to serve. If not now, when? In England, churches are becoming mosques and museums. It’s only a matter of time in America before we start shutting down churches that once had great ministries but now have no impact in the community. God help us if we cry for change in our government but boycott any change necessary to revive dying churches.

We will be judged for loving our methods more than our Master. We will fail because we think traditions are more important than truth. I’m not saying we should do away with tradition. I’m saying we should find new ways to share the old, old story that will cause people to start listening. Right now they’ve turned us off. If we want them to step into the church, we’ve got to step out of our comfort zone. Or else we are a generation destined to preside over the death of the American church.