1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
With all the talk about change in the world of politics, let me imbue your perspective for a brief moment. A good friend of mine is a mechanical engineer. In more than a few of our late night conversations in his tiny dorm room at NCSU, he would often speak of the laws of thermodynamics. The first law of thermodynamics states that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed. This is so because matter and energy are natural, a part of nature, finite. Due to their finite nature, they have a cause, and that cause is a Creator.
Stay with me here. Transformation happens and growth results. God caused the heavens and the earth to be created. God therefore is the ultimate effector of change.
Change must happen as a result of growth, or else change doesn't happen. For a baby to get taller, it's cells must go through mitosis. They divide and change and transfer genetic material to the sister cells. Biology 101?
Since the church is a spiritual organism--the members of the body made alive by the Spirit of God, then suffice it to say that the "body" must change if it is to grow. What's the reason for incredible church growth? Ultimately the Spirit of God effecting change in the life of the believer is the answer. But the other side of that equation balances out with the believer partaking in "spiritual" mitosis, by making known the powerful message of change to those that God chooses to transform by the work of the Spirit.
In other words, decades of stagnation gets you the same thing: an immovable, still non-flowing church. But when the Spirit of God invigorates change and clear vision, growth occurs.
WE must be transformed by living according to the new creation God has granted us to be. Then we grow, then we cast off our seemingly spiritual excuses for not growing: "We've never done it that way before," or "This will never work," or my personal favorite, "We don't want to be like them." Show me a church that's growing, and I'll guarantee you that change is happening and that change is being enabled by God and not man. God is the great effector of the transformed church!
9 comments:
Our God is not stagnant or stale in any way. The power of the Holy Spirit is life-changing and we must daily submit to that process. He is always refining and shaping us if we allow Him. His work is many times not scene by the world.
I think we should be excited to realize that many times when it doesn't appear to the world anything is happening --- a LOT is actually happening!! Like what has been happening at Southside the past 5 years at least. There's a lot that's been going on. refinement, preparation, change. I just wrote about this on my blog last night. God has been at work - I am not embarassed that it hasn't shown in concrete, external ways yet. I care what I/we look like to Him.
I don't think growth is necessarily the area to focus on to reflect change in people --- I've seen a lot of groups/organizations growing because they are drawing a crowd - not creating disciples. Many things that are not God-breathed grow.
BUT I know what you're saying ---- and it all boils down to what is happening on the INSIDE. I believe God has been at work in our church community for a long time and will continue to!!!! :)
That's right Randi! For genuine transformational growth to happen, transformational change occurs by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Anybody can have numbers. But true, Christ-centered growth, happens only with a radical transformation empowered by the Spirit.
ohhh I love how you put that! :) you have such a heart for God!
thanks for all you do!
I'm reminded of what Paul wrote to the Romans when I think of transformation.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.-Romans 12:1-2
I pray God is renewing Southside with true transformation and discernment.
http://www.9marks.org/CC/article/0,,PTID314526%7CCHID598016%7CCIID1552724,00.html
You might want to check that out, Dever writes good stuff. I think his ecclesiology is right on.
Great post, man!
God is moving in awesome, "out of the box" ways...we have kept Him in the box for too long. I remember a sermon (no idea where or when I heard it), but the pastor spoke of how we have our God box that we take out every Sunday, then put on our dresser after church. Not the way it is supposed to be...God is a God of growth and change. When He enters our hearts, we should never be the same...never ever...
You guys rock! As I bounce around the blogosphere, write posts, say hello to friends, I'm reminded that blogging actually is a form of accountability. To my audience of ONE, Abba Father, may you speak through me that others may see you and not me!
We don't change for the sake of changing, after research we've found that change causes growth to occur.
Thanks Allen! I love "9 Marks" I have been reading a lot from there. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence (2Pe 1:3 ESV)
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