March 15, 2008
Change is the Buzz Word
Change is the word that is being thrown around by the politicians, especially Senator Barak Obama. It can be a great slogan but the question that needs to be addressed is, ”What are you wanting to change?”
Change for the sake of itself is worth nothing. Change for the sake of progress should be evaluated by the necessity for the progress. In other words, progress alone doesn’t constitute the mandate for change.
Proverbs says, “Do not remove an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” (Proverbs 22:28)
We must keep moving forward to remain relevant; however, we must not change our boundaries set up by our forefathers. Some are demonstrating a willingness to compromise core beliefs that should not be subject to change.
For an example, the fellowship of the Assemblies of God was established with distinctive doctrines and practices. Yet, some are willing to forego proven text and context to be perceived as relevant. This is short sighted at best and adulterous in the worst case. If you are willing to compromise scriptural truths to make your teaching more attractive than you are adulterous. If you avoid a core belief for contemporary relevance you are short-sighted.
A scriptural truth that I will not compromise is the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. Cornelius, the first Gentile convert received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues (Acts 10). When Peter saw the evidence, it affirmed the vision that God had given him that Gentiles were made clean in the gospel of Jesus the Messiah.
To give up that scriptural truth means that we are willing to renounce the very attestation of our salvation.
The fellowship of the Assemblies of God was also founded with the idea of global missions. Some are giving up the practice of treating missions as of contextual importance. Missionaries can’t even get pastors to accept a phone call!
One day, I was praying for the needs of my ministry (at that time I was planting my first church). Our budget was tight. Sure enough, when I left my prayer time, on my desk were several messages from missionaries. My first thought was, “I don’t want to return their calls, I don’t have the money to help them.” The Holy Spirit whispered in my spirit, ”You just ‘called’ me for help, I listened, and prompted my servants to call you. I have something for you, but you must be willing to give in order to receive.”