Resisting change

"People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals."
Rosabeth Moss Kanter

One of the organizations that is the most resistant to change is the church.  Perhaps that is because we are confused, or at  least inwardly conflicted about the purpose of the church.  For many, church is about their own personal needs.  For some it may be a quiet place to reflect for an hour a week.  For others it may be that it is about a hour of exuberant  praise.  For still others it may be about the friendship and fellowship that is found in the community.  There are those who will find church to be about comfort - especially in times of trouble or distress.  Many find church a place to reflect about the spiritual side of life and a place to introduce their children to spiritual things.  I could go on and on and it is true that all of these things are at least in part what the church is all about.  But all of these needs are egocentric or personally focused and they are the things that have led to the consumer attitude we have developed toward our church involvement.  In short we say:  "What is in it for me?'

The trouble is that I find all of these things to be in-congruent with the instructions that Jesus gave to his followers about the future. What I find coming from Jesus is a clear command that they become a very task oriented group of people.  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)  I am learning to not ask how the changes in the church will impact me, but rather to ask how the changes in the church will impact the spread of the gospel.  Only in asking that can I align myself with the goals of the organization instead of with my own needs.