The Christian As A Change Agent

We have always heard the phrase "change agents" and this is the one of the thrusts that the Lord has given us - to the change the world. Yet many Christians find it difficult to change because several assumptions: activity, programs has been correlated with the absolute word of God. Many time I say to my students we do not change the message we only change the method. Christians in the marketplace are so used to change because corporations in order to remain competitive recognize the need to be sensitive to the market. Change is constant in the business that's why many Christians are looking for security and for some steadiness and the sad part is that they look for it inside the church. That's why when they become comfortable with the programs of the church they dare not change. And the assumption is that what we're doing since it is being practiced by the New Testament church and is written in the Bible should not be changed, the message and the mission strategy of Paul is absolute. Second assumption, ministry is connected with a place or with a particular program. When we say we are called to a certain ministry we look at the church or the organization or the ministry program. But ministry is not a place nor a program it is a mindset, it is a purpose and it is an inner motivation. God calls us to ministry wherever we are so it is not connected to a place. Third assumption is that change is instant. When a person receives the Lord Jesus in his heart, he is instanlty changed. Then we get frustrated when after a year the person is showing some rough spots in this attitude or habits. But change is a process. It is a process that an individual goes through, a process that an organization experiences. It is constant, it never stops. It is a journey and not a destiny. Thus, when change does not happen in accordance to our timetable we get frustrated. So we translate this assumption even to ourselves. We do not feel victorious in the way we live our lives because we easily get discouraged when we do not get what we want. But we are all a work in progress. When we want to become physically healthy we work hard at the gym, we discipline ourselves in terms of our diet intake. But why don't we have the same discipline when it comes to our spiritual and emotional aspects.

We are called to transform the world but how can we carry on this calling when we ourselves do not welcome transformation in our lives and our organizations. The Lord is continually changing me. The journey is sometimes rough but for me what is important is that I am on the journey. My final destination is heaven and I know that I have a long way to go. But while on the road, I want to enjoy the view, stop once in a while and establish relationships with the people along the way, live behind some markers and take note and learn from the experience. But all I want to do is to enjoy the ride and allow God to transform my life through this journey. And I hope and pray that I was able to live some lasting impressions with the people I will meet along the way. Enjoy the journey because at the end of the road, the Lord will be there to welcome us.