The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scriptures
We continue to discuss why some churches, concerned with the “purity of the church”, are wary of “innovations” and departures from the old paths.
Innovation (the introduction of something new) and change has always been a problem in the church. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8). What he put in place was good and does not need to be updated or improved upon. The pattern was perfect, and we need only repeat the pattern not modernise it. The church doesn’t need a new name, or a new message, or a new form of government, or a new agenda. The church needs to "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk in it" (Jer 6:16).
Of course, we are not talking about things like distributing the teaching of Christ by satellites and computers to electronic screens, instead of old fashioned ink on parchment scrolls sent by horseback. We are not talking about changing customs and expedients. We are talking about changing the "marks" of the church --those things (some before mentioned) which Christ gave to the church --its name, message, purpose or agenda, government, ceremonies, morality, and so forth.
Sometimes the thing that one group in the church wants, kind of sets them apart from the rest of the congregation. It encourages them to become a clique. Whilst there are groups in the church with special needs (youth, women, married couples, the elderly, widows/widowers, etc.) there is no reason why activities that support their needs should be conducted so as to become divisive, putting barriers between the group and the rest of the church.
The church is not really supposed to "divvy up" into groups that fence themselves off from each other. When we do look to the needs of a certain group, we should do so in such a way that preserves fellowship between that group and the rest of the church. We should arrange things so that we do not show partiality to one group and leave another group feeling left out. This careful approach is all part of letting "there be no divisions among you" (1Co 1:10-13).
It is possible that various groups in the church might operate in such a way as to assume some special place in the church (beyond a special place in the hearts of other members who want to help and encourage them). In that case, the groups become like the Corinthians. It’s as though they are saying, "I am of the youth, I of the ladies, I of the oldies, I of the young marrieds, and I of the Bible class teachers..." and the church is thus divided. Groups should operate in a way that embraces the rest of the church (and the church should embrace the group).
The church is "neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:26-29). Let’s ensure that we design special group activities to encourage rather than detract from that mark of the church we call "unity" (Eph 4:3).
Most "pet projects" start relatively small and are innocent of appearance. But what will your pet project be like if and when it catches on and grows a thousandfold? An application of the saying, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" may be appropriate (Gal 5:9). Think ahead and ask what great oak might grow from your small acorn. Ask whether that oak will fall somewhere down the line and cause a derailment of the church. Your little leaven, your innocent acorn, your thin end of the wedge... have you considered what it might come to in the future? Will it be good or ill?