Steve's Letter: "Have I Learned To Like Change?"

I just resigned from Reformed Theological Seminary.

Scares the spit out of me!

(Well, I didn't totally resign. After this semester, I will no longer be a full-time resident professor. I will, as it looks now, take on the title of "Professor at Large" and teach modular courses-weeklong courses-at our different campuses of Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, Jackson and Washington. They were going to call me "Professor Emeritus," but that sounded like I had retired, started drooling or died...none of which is true. "Professor at Large" has a better ring to it.)

I hate change!

The change was necessary. Our new website for pastors (PoopedPastors.com) is requiring a whole lot of my time with the columns, videos and conferences we have planned around the country. We have over 4,000 pastors on our mailing list. The website is designed as a "safe place" for God's servants. Also in the works is a new ministry to missionaries (we own MessyMissionaries.com) in the next year or two.

There just isn't enough time for everything, so something had to change.

Did I mention that I hate change?

As you know, I'm a Republican.

It started with a professor at Boston University who kept making snide comments about Barry Goldwater. I said to a friend, "One more comment and I'm voting for Goldwater."

He did and I did.

And because I hate change, I've been a Republican ever since.

I'm a Presbyterian too...a member in good standing of "God's Frozen Chosen." Presbyterians and Republicans have to be careful how they do it the first time because they are going to be doing it the same way until Jesus comes back.

And frankly, I like it that way.

Someone has said the only thing that doesn't change is the absolute fact that everything changes. That's true and for someone like me, it's not a pleasant thought.

Change irritates, scares and confuses me. (Before you say it, yes, that is probably the reason I'm so grumpy!) Someone told me the other day that old people don't like getting old and because they are already irritated, it doesn't take much to tick them off.

Then there is the country's scary and changing economy, the change in political leadership, the shifting demographics, and a world in which it's hard to tell enemies from friends. I used to see church as a place of stability...but then the organ, candles and altars were replaced with gigantic color screens, disappearing pulpits and drums.

I could become a serial killer...

...if it weren't for God.

Speaking of God...God says, "For I the Lord do not change..." (Malachi 3:6). And Scripture teaches that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Thank God for God!

Let me tell you what I'm learning...being forced to learn, kicking and screaming with heel marks all the way.

I'm learning that God is in every change.

In the first chapter of Joshua, God says to him, "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan...Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you...No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous..."

Evangelists once used a technique to motivate people, to get them to respond to an invitation to come forward and become a Christian. "Turn to the person next to you," they would say, "and tell them, 'If you go, I'll go with you.'"

God has been saying something like that to me a lot as of late. Probably to you too. I stop every once in a while and ask, "You still there?" He always is.

I'm also learning that God prepares for every change.

When he talked about heaven, Jesus said to his disciples that he was going to "prepare" a place for them (John 14:2). That should not have surprised them. He did that from the beginning, even telling them what was going to happen to him and them so they would be prepared and not surprised.

C.S. Lewis said, "Change is never complete, and change never ceases. Nothing is ever quite finished with; it may always begin over again. And nothing is quite new...it was always somehow anticipated or prepared for."

God never tells us where he is going to lead us. That is sometimes confusing and scary.I never would have done this "religious thing" if Jesus had told me what was going to happen. Maybe that's the reason he doesn't tell us. When going into battle, Marshall Ney would look at his shaking knees and say, "Shake will you? You would shake even more if you knew where I was taking you today."

But I'm learning that with every change, every turn in the road and every shaking of the foundations, he is sufficient, he was there first and it's okay.

One other thing I'm learning is that change is God's methodology for growth, hope, blessing and ultimate victory. I "cuss and spit," but I do think I'm getting better.

When Jesus prepared to do a "new thing" and create a "new people," he talked about the danger of putting new wine into old wineskins (Mark 2:22). And the Bible is replete with "happy endings"...a new name, a new body, a new song. You can't get there from here without some significant change.

Have I learned to like change?

Not much, but I'm tapping my foot with the drums...humming songs written by someone other than dead, white males...moving into new ministries with less fear...going places I didn't think I would ever go...praying for our new president and looking at the world-the world where God is working and preparing a kingdom-with far less foreboding.

At this rate, I'll be a spiritual giant soon.

Okay, maybe not. But I am better.

And even if I'm not, he still likes me and promised that if I go, he'll go with me.

You too!

He asked me to remind you!

In His Grip,