Scripture

God will give ear and humble them, He who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God.

~Psalm 66:19, ESV

Quote

Perhaps the worst thing you can say about any person is that they refuse to change.

~Ya’akov

I was talking to a couple of older pastors the other day and one of them mentioned the magnetism of the seeker churches and how people are attracted to them. LIFE church, Cowboy church and the Church of the Highland’s type churches. We all agreed that they have something we don’t have. The little church I serve is not a magnet. I served DBC for 38 years and it was not a magnet. I was online for a few weeks during covid and my preaching certainly did not draw folks in. I feel like I am doctrinally sound, and I know I exalt Christ; at least that is my goal. If there is any fallacy in the traditional church, it may be our inability to change. We might begin this discussion with the question: “Am I open to change?” In Luke 15 there are two sons, one changes dramatically and the other never changes. Which one do you want to be? I want to be one in fellowship with the Father and enjoy the party with Him. If I need to change, so be it! Bear Bryant succeeded in the coaching profession because he was willing to change. My seminary professors said, “Every church needs a new pastor every seven years. That pastor can be YOU if you are willing to change.” I agree. It is easy to get into a rut and a rut is just a grave with the ends knocked out. What is the worse form of preaching and teaching? The way you did it last! Do something unpredictable; perhaps shocking or at least thought provoking. Of course, I am preaching to myself.

If you know you need to change and you have the desire to change this is good news. There is little hope for those who refuse to change. David’s enemies were out to get him, and they were not particular about how they did it so long as he was toppled from his throne. They lied, slandered, plotted and even resorted to violence. David said. “The LORD will humble them because they refuse to change.” They did not change because they did not fear or respect the LORD. I do want to change, and I need to change. I am not really satisfied with anything I do. Every aspect of my life needs vast improvement. There has to be a way to be hard on sin yet loving toward sinners. May God give our traditional churches the grace to find that way.

I will give you one area where I need to change, and I need your prayers. My daddy hated long hair on men. I had a nephew who let his hair grow exceedingly long as a teenager and every time daddy saw him, he would say, “Son, I will pay for your haircut if you will just get that mess cut.” I thought it was funny then but guess what happened over time? I have become my daddy. I had lunch with an old preacher friend the other day. He is a year older than me, and he has let his hair grow almost to the length he needs a ponytail. It was hard for me to eat lunch and look at that long greasy hair, but I bit my tongue. In the old days we could tell men from women by the length of the hair: no more! I saw a couple at LOWE’s the other day, they were sixty if they were a day and both had long, long, gray oily hair. People are not going to change; evidently, they think long greasy hair makes them attractive. I am the one who needs to change. I can hear you saying, “Amen brother, you need to change.” I know all my children, grandchildren and my wife want me to change. Pray for me!

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I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.