When the Church Should Change

Part 1

Although Lewis had particular reference to books when he invented this term, the problem of "chronological snobbery" is not to be confined to the printed word. A fundamental question the Church faces in every generation–and often many times in between–is what should it keep and what should it discard? Of course, there are some local congregations which never face this challenge. Their unwritten motto is: "Come weal or come woe, our status is quo."

On the other hand, there are a multitude of pastors and church leaders upon returning from the latest church growth seminar (some good, and some not so good), who are prepared to throw out the baby with the bath water. They are determined to change things in their church ... regardless. And often the "regardless" ensues. The pastor is gone within the year!

What should be changed in a church? What should remain the same? How can we know? How should we proceed when change is necessary? Do the Scriptures provide any direction? I believe they do.

The Holy Spirit preserved the account of two crises from the formative years in the Early Church which can serve to guide any church experiencing the tensions of change. Why did the Spirit prompt Luke to record Acts 6 and 15? To help our church leaders who face the painful conflict which comes as a result of introducing necessary changes. Although our particular issue will differ from that of the Jerusalem crises two thousand years ago, nevertheless the Holy Spirit wants to help us work through our tensions as we examine how the godly leadership of that day did so. In the language of Mildred Cope, we should pray, "Holy Spirit, be our Guide."

Some observations on Acts 6:1-7.

Observation 1: Significant growth calls for practical changes.

When Kenny and Bobbi McCaughey only had one child, their little ranch-style house was adequate. But when their septuplets were born in 1997, their comfortable house was turned upside down. A new house, vehicle and around-the-clock help became necessary. Their family structure radically changed.

In introducing the narrative of the Church's first crisis Luke writes, "in those days when the number of disciples were increasing ...(1) This provides us with a backdrop for what follows.

A church doesn't have to have thousands of conversions to upset the apple cart. But without conversions the church need not worry about their sacred "apple cart." They have a worse problem.

Conversions invariably present a church with a challenge to change something in their structure. We're not talking about changing normative, universal biblical principles. We're not suggesting that we should negotiate away the absolutes. It's not the "absolutes" causing the most tension in many churches anyway. It's usually a brother or sister who has had his or her own way in the decision-making process for years: It's his (or her) way or no way!

As a pastor I knew I was in for the "ride of my life" whenever a critical issue was raised in a board meeting and all heads involuntarily turned to one man for his response. When this happens on a church board, to say the least, that board lacks balance and needs changing itself.

Structural change doesn't happen easily, but as a church grows, so must its structure.

Observation 2: Expect "outsiders" to complain about the status quo.

Before the Gospel door opened widely to the Gentiles, there were Hellenists–Grecian Jews who had been born in lands other than Palestine who spoke the Greek language and who were more Grecian than Hebraic in their attitudes and outlook–in the Church as a result of their conversion to Christ. Because of an oversight, the Grecian Jewish widows were not included in the Church's food ministry, although the "insiders" were being cared for: "the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food."(2)

All complaining in a church is not carnal. If there are legitimate needs being overlooked in any given congregation, the leadership has a responsibility to listen and correct such oversights.

Observation 3: Church leaders have a responsibility to lead.

I remember telling a board member years ago that he would be doing himself and the church a favor by never allowing himself to be elected as an officer again. There was no acrimony on my part. We both knew he did not possess the kind of temperament required of leaders.

When the Apostles learned of the legitimate complaints of these Grecian women, they acted: "So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together ..."(3)

Leaders who expect a problem to just go away, aren't leaders, they're followers. Good leaders evaluate complaints, and when they see such complaints are justified, they act, they lead.

Whenever reasonable complaints are not taken seriously by church leaders, a "respect barrier" is created. On the other hand, whenever leaders respond with sensitivity to such complaints, it validates them in the eyes of the people as being responsible men of God.

Observation 4: A crisis is often the result of a pastor trying to do it all.

If the Holy Spirit is emphasizing anything in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 he is telling us that no one person in the Church possess all of the spiritual gifts. Since that is so, why do we try to pretend that we do?

The Acts 6 crisis was the result of the Apostles trying to do things God had not called them to do: " 'It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men among you ...' "(4)

Any church will suffer whenever its pastor tries to serve as the church taxi, secretary, janitor, maintenance man, lawn boy, etc. "Let the Pastor do it; that's what we pay him for" is the attitude of too many dysfunctional churches. It's not that the pastor is "too good" to do any of those things. The point is that all of these things add up to "waiting on tables." The Apostles recognized this and said "We ... will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."(5) So should your pastor. Although it may be necessary for a pastor to "wait on tables" for a time, as the church matures wise leadership will insist that their pastor give himself to what the Head of the Church has primarily called him to: prayer, study and ministering the Word of God. Personally, I wish I had learned this earlier in my own ministry. I am grateful for those churches who discern the proper role of the pastor.

Observation 5: Many church tensions can be resolved when leaders are godly, gifted and Spirit-led.

Who can deny that the Twelve were all of the above. But let it be said that where this trilogy is absent in any church, dissension, discontent and discord are present. And if it has not happened already in such churches, a serious fissure is inevitable. Or, where a dramatic rupture has not occurred, the hungry-hearted sheep and lambs are leaving these churches one by one in search of greener pastures.

Not every person leaves a church because he or she is "backslidden" or unwilling to "walk in the light" or "carnal" or "disgruntled." Multitudes of hungry-hearted sheep are looking for a church that insists on its leaders being godly and gifted, and who have a sensitivity both to the Holy Spirit and the legitimate needs of the people. Where that church exists, when people hear about it, its facility won't be large enough to hold those alienated by rigid, unresponsive, uncaring church leaders.

Because the Apostles responded responsibly to the legitimate complaints of overlooked women, a larger crisis was averted in the Jerusalem Church.

Observation 6: God will trust any church with more converts when that church properly cares for its present converts.

What is reported in Acts 6:7 is a direct consequence of the Apostles wise action: "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

Could it be that one of the reasons many churches are not experiencing significant growth is because of complacent, insensitive, uncaring leaders? Could it be that one of the reasons many churches are not experiencing significant growth is because their leaders are not godly, gifted and Spirit-led? Could it be that one of the reasons many churches are not experiencing significant growth is that their structure has become more important than people for whom Christ died?

Think about it.

– Soli Deo Gloria –

Scripture references are taken from the New International Version of the Holy Bible.

1. Acts 6:1
2. Acts 6:1
3. Acts 6:2
4. Acts 6:2, 3
5. Acts 6:4