Change is good

A few years ago I saw a guy with a T-Shirt that read, "Change is good." As he walked past, I noticed the back of the shirt said, "You first." I guess that's the way most of us feel about change. It sounds good on paper, but actually experiencing it is another matter. And yet, change is about as predictable a reality as anything in life. Change is constant -- sometimes miniscule, as in the case of molecular biology, sometimes massive, as when an earthquake hits or a volcano erupts or an oil rig sinks. Anyone who has attended a class reunion or visited a hometown after an extended absence has noticed changes. Change is inevitable.

In the world of cell phones and automobiles and medical technology, change is essential in order to outdistance the competition, or apply new science to medical problems. In sports, teams try to change a losing season by adding new players or trying new plays.

Not all change is good, though. And it's probably the worry about unwanted change that makes us resistant to change itself. Yet some of the major changes experienced in our culture over recent generations have been long overdue: civil rights, gender equality, in particular. These were (are) difficult changes, and there has been significant resistance to them. But thoughtful people recognize the advances for civilization that have resulted from them. Other societal changes have not been so good. A relaxation of moral standards is evident, which leaves society struggling to find a sense of right and wrong. Poverty in the inner city, loss of the family farm in rural communities, insecurity in employment are among the changes that no one feels good about. Changes in education, family structures, entertainment, and religious life have produced a mosaic of "values" in which it's no longer easy to find common ground.

So when the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented as offering life-transforming change, it's little wonder that folks may be reluctant. Yes, this change is good. In fact, it is life-saving. But how can we best demonstrate that insight with people who have become increasingly skeptical of change? Ideas, suggestions?