How To Bring About Change

Quote: Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.

Traditional.

Quote: Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it.

Issac Newton, First Law of Motion.

Quote: Cornford’s Law: Nothing is ever done until everyone is convinced that it ought to be done, and has been convinced for so long that it is now time to do something else.

A number of conservative people do not trust new innovations as their conservative orientations makes them less willing to change. They gain security from their traditions. They are generally comfortable in "that old time religion". For this reason, many of their movements eventually wax and wane with the passing ages. Without an ability to remain relevant, contemporary, and adaptive to the changing needs of the people, some conservatives miss opportunities to impact society.

The following list is useful in helping security obsessed people to see how Jesus Christ made major changes. See if you can reflect how some could modify their views to conform more to the motivations and methods of Jesus our Lord.

The following are several ways through which Jesus tried to bring about change.

1. Jesus prayed and relied on the Holy Spirit for every change. (Luke 5:15,16) "Yet the news about Him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

2. Jesus made declarative statements of His purposes, processes and motives to all that would listen. (John 6:38) "I have come not to do my own will but the will of Him who has sent me."

3. Jesus was not afraid to speak the truth to authorities that were hindering the progress of His kingdom’s qualitative and quantitative growth. (Matthew 22:29) Jesus told the Pharisees, "You err because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God."

4. Jesus emphasized that change must first occur internally before external changes should be made. (Matthew 9:17) Jesus said, "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

5. Jesus built relationships with people. He challenged those who would listen to change on the basis of their love for Him and the heavenly Father’s will. (John 21:15-17) "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ’Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ’Yes, Lord’, he said, ’You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ’Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ’Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ’Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ’Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ’Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ’Do you love me?’ He said, ’Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ’Feed my sheep.’"

6. Jesus emphasized a balancing of the letter and the spirit of the law in His changes. (Mark 2:25-27) "He answered, ’Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions. Then Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

7. Jesus gave people hope, encouragement and love before asking them to change. (Matthew 11:28-30) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

8. Jesus taught others to avoid hypocritical change. (Matthew 7:1-3) "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? First remove the plank from your own eye then you will see clearly."

9. Jesus used positive authority in helping to effect change. (Matthew 7:28,29) "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law."