Do you tend to be more open or more resistant to change? Change can be scary!
Charles Darwin observed, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” In this he got it right: the one with the ability to adapt wins. The feet of the red-eyed tree frog have developed suction cups on their toes, allowing them to climb trees and stick to leaves. Their beautiful coloration allows them to be covert, camouflaged under a leaf until the timing is right to emerge and strike their prey.
In human terms, it is not the kid in class with the highest I.Q. that ends up the wealthiest or the greatest leader; it’s the one with the most E.Q.—Emotional Intelligence. The ability to read a situation and adapt your strategy is the greatest indicator of ultimate success in relationships and business innovation.
How about in the movement Jesus started 2000 years ago? Historically, the Church has always had the ability to adapt to different environments and survive. From the catacombs of Rome to the underground Church in China, sincere believers have always discovered new ways to create flexible forms of meeting and growing.
But what about the current Church world? The decline of influence in western civilization is astonishing. In particular, the impact of believers on culture is in rapid decline and forecasting an alarming erosion among young people 25 years old and younger. We know the formula for building a certain type of church, but we don't have models to shape modern nation states. If we don't adapt we may be finding our way back into a moral and spiritual dark ages.
Don't settle for merely “going to church.” The front lines are now going to church and planting a new kind of church. They are a covert company of praying entrepreneurs who go into every system and occupy the landscape with new models of heaven invading earth.
I am interested in learning how you have adapted and what you see emerging in the Church landscape. How are you going into systems? Tell me what strategies you are deploying…I want to hear from you!
We have recently moved to the Springfield, MO area and are having a difficult time finding a church situation that is not Quadriplegic with only the clergy having any roles other than sit down, shut up, put money in the plate, and get out of the way quickly so we can run the second service through. I think Revelations referred to this as the Nicolaitanes whom Jesus hates since it severely handicaps His Body. Do you have any recommendations?
Hi Lance
Now that church gathering is back to normal, the effect that the ‘crisis’ had , has caused people to be more radical to attend and I find personally that God is closer now than He has ever been . My worship is deeper, I hear Him more often , prayer is more spontaneous and somehow there is a stronger desire to be in the Word. I find it easier to be with Him no matter where, at church, at home, camping , shopping, on the beach. To be denied as we were, has only increased my desire to be with Him and to adapt to any situation, is now an adventure.
As a Neurologist with knowledge of function of the brain and new understanding of our oneness in God’s love and kindness have found out I can change my thought, my emotion and feelings and so my response and produce a better outcome when anything is thrown at me or in any difficult situation. Change the energy and frequency of what we think, emote, feel, respond and outcome to live the overcoming triumphant, overcoming lives promised. So working on improving my confidence, clarity of message and speaking skills to speak and help get ladies out of the shroud of their mistaken identity and live in the radiance of their magnificent identity they are and live as limitless beings as testified by our ascended Jesus. Metanoia – change of mind. The Diablos brought about a whole lot of negative experiences growing up to keep me from moving in who I am called to be. Jesus took all of that negative experiences and darkness on Himself and put it all to death and is now always in us, with us even in our messes to help finish the race in His fullness and completeness. Getting out of our ‘I am not’ and move in our ‘withness’ ‘I amness’ in Christ. Our ‘I am not’ gets us into fear mode and leading to all of the negative self centered behavior. A whole new adventure.
Many churches that are declining are because of fear of government and not God.
There’s hardly any messages about how The Holy Spirit and its presence in the believers heart.
The ones that use boldness by following The Word in its entirety are the growing churches.
We all have an inerrant knowledge of the Truth but we must choose by following the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour who is the only way to The Father.
Amen
I tend to be resistant to change. Not because I don’t want to change or be a team player in life or business, but because, in my experience, change has been unwarranted. In the end, when the change doesn’t work out, the work falls back on me. This makes me weary to accept change in all aspects of my life. That being said, I am very aware, especially as I am getting older, that change is required for some survival. It is hard to change after feeling inadequate in life. So I try to have the attitude that change can be a good thing, it is what you make it. It helps me get through the mindset of change. This article really puts it in a good way. I need to not be afraid of change, because God will help us through it and in the end, we will be better for it. He does everything for our good. We hinder our own selves.
Hey Lance,
I’ve been with my company, Watts Water Technologies, for 32+ years,and so I’ve seen my fair share of change! My way of dealing with change has always been just to put my head down and power my way through it. I try to make a plan, 5 year plan increments mostly and then try to follow that plan. I pray to God for guidance and to have favor with my higher ups and co-workers etc. I struggle with trusting God and I struggle with being consistent with making use of my free time. Watching too much t.v. starting books and not finishing them etc. As a result, I just turned 65 and don’t have enough money to retire on. I’ve in my fifth marriage and my wife and I just bought a house a few years ago and so I’m doing what I’ve always done which is to put my head down and power through it.
God bless you and your wife Lance. I love listening to you and the lovely Mercedes.
We have started a fellowship that meets in my office. We meet on Friday evenings for the “Family Table” with a focus on taking time for parents to bless their children. Then we share testimonies, share what God is speaking to each of us from the word, we share needs and pray for each other. This is also a time to practice the gifts of the Spirit. It’s beautiful! Once a month we meet on Saturday night for Presence Night., an extended time of worship and prayer. Eventually we’ll start having training and equipping days. This is the model God has given us and it’s been such a fresh change from the typical church service.
🙏😍😟😮🤫it most likely would be a very tough one for me!
I awake with my arms lifted up praising my God for waking me up in my right mind. At 72 you have to do that… Before I eat, I sit down and pray, sing and listen to Bible men and women, who I believe have an anointing on them that is priceless! I weep for the unborn, the toddlers, the young and our teens. I have 2 grandchildren in college and I think about the influence they have on there friends.
I raised them all in the church, just like I did my children. I weep for them because I believe the generation will be impacted the most, are them.
I gave them to God, and let go… but my prayers still continue. World wise I let them go, trusting that God doesn’t need me, just my faithfulness… So I weep some more. I take my prayers to the utter most parts of the world. I stand fixed and immovable!! God said to trust in him, and I do!!!
Weeping does turn to joy… because daily I see things that are disturbing… but my faith rises up within me and remember when I was saved 43 years ago. The Holy spoke to my heart, saying “Be still and know that I am God!” I still believe it!!
I believe it’s imperative for every believer to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit on a DAILY basis and look for opportunities to share their faith one on one. We are the Church, and as the organized church is shirking its responsibilities in many cases, as the body of Christ, we can win souls in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods if we look for openings to discuss our faith and help lead others into it.