Growing in Change, Part Three

Change, as we have said, is natural. There is another thing that is natural in all living things – that is growth. My wife and I recently celebrated the birth of our third child, a girl. When she was born we spoke of how we had forgotten how small newborns are. Now, in just a few weeks, we are talking about how we have forgotten how quickly they grow.

Growth is natural and an inevitable part of life – and it is inviting. Have you ever been around something that is growing? There is something wonderful and mysterious about it isn’t there?

This past spring I had our apricot tree in our backyard pruned. This summer the tree took off. We have never seen so many apricots. One of our branches actually broke under the weight of the fruit. The apricots are clustered like grapes all over our tree. It is funny to see how people react when they come over. They stare in amazement, they smile, and then ask, “Can I have some when they ripen?”

Perhaps this is how we should speak of change. Not in terms of change, but in terms of growth. Growth always comes out of what is there - but always brings forth something new.

Ask someone if they would like to grow, and most would say yes. This is because growth is not abandonment, rather it is an expansion. It builds on what is already there.

I have heard many people speak of wanting to change the Church. But what if those same people wanted to see the Church grow? Not necessarily numerically – but grow in its understanding of Jesus. Grow in its knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven and its present reality. Grow in its ability to adapt and change. Grow in its passion to see greater healing and wholeness in our world. Grow in its participation in the Gospel.

The church cannot and will not change in a way where we abandon all that we are and were. However, the Church can and will grow in a way where we look more like the embodiment of Jesus in our world. Surely, with growth there will be certain things that no longer fit and new things that we grow into. But we do not need to talk about that, it just becomes obvious and uncomfortable to wear things that are too small.

When we invite a person to grow, we are not asking him abandon what he knows for something new. We are not telling him that he is wrong. We are asking him to build on what already exists.

My friend, the “Post Evangelical” should be okay with where he is. If it were not for his Evangelical upbringing he would not have the perspective he has. He would not have had the grounding to ask the questions he ask, nor would he have the faith he has today.

We can honor our past as the place our growth began. As we do this we can still participate in the natural part of life called growth. Growth that may cause us to outgrow certain things and grow into new things. We must, however, always remember that what is new for us now, as we grow, may one day become too small.

Within our local faith congregation we frequently speak about those who have come before us. We acknowledge that we would not be where we are without them. As much as some may not like this or that about a certain faith, an aspect of politics, or certain philosophy – we must always remember that our ability to grow from the place we currently are would be inhibited if it were not for those who came before us.

As we speak of change and lead others in the process of change, let's invite them to grow with us. Maybe, all we need is to simply grow in the way we speak about change.