Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Change or Die

Change or die!
Harsh reality or hope-filled commission? 
Last ditch effort or holy beginning?
Law or Gospel?

 “Change or die”, are daunting and challenging words for congregations and leaders.
Yet looking through the lens of  faith and our undying life and renewal in Jesus, we can see change not as an enemy but as a unexpected and tangible witness to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our congregations and communities today. The change in the world that God instigated in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection 2000 years ago continues to challenge the status quo and the dominant culture of the day. 
"Change or die", could be a rallying call for anyone or anything that must adapt to a changing climate, demographic, political regime or economy. 
"Change or die" is the spark of evolution, reformation and revolution. 
Not  words for the faint of heart.

Change OR die might be the challenge but change AND die is the reality.

If there is change, something will have to die.
There will be a death to the way things have always been done, death to systems that no longer function, death to  paradigms that were perfect in 1954 or 1974 but have lost meaning in 2014, death to mediocrity, death to going through the motions, death to denial,  death hopelessness, death to isolation, and death to… dying.  

With these “deaths” there will be grieving, anger, resistance, conflict and fear that will attempt to slow or counteract the change process.  As a people who live on the other side of the cross we know that beyond our pain and sin and anxiety God’s love has the power to transform, recreate, and reconcile everything and everyone.  Propelled and inspired by this Good News we are bold to put our faith into action; bringing change to our congregations and communities that we may participate more fully in God’s mission in our world today.  We move from what was, to what will be, guided by the promise that each step is a holy beginning and hope-filled commission.  We move forward in the knowledge that the change Jesus seeks in us and our neighbors will be blessed with forgiveness, love and God’s abiding presence. Gospel indeed!

At our last Forward Leadership Seminar, Bishop Hazelwood recommended, Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and at Life, by Alan Deutschman. The book is based on an article that originally appeared in Fast Company Magazine in 2005,  Fast Company, Change or Die. There is also an interview on Duke Divinity School's Faith and Leadership blog, Alan Deutschman: The benefits of change.  Great stuff!

Finally, words of  wisdom from "Kid President" on how you can change the world.