Dear Small Church Pastor,
This letter will begin a mini-series on the topic of changing others.
The very first thing you need to understand is that YOU cannot change anyone. You can lead them, advise them and make suggestions to them, but you cannot make the decisions that must be made in order for a change to occur in anyone, especially not in a whole congregation of people. Only the Holy Spirit can bring in the changes that will help your people become more like Jesus. Remember who is in control and who is building the church Jesus established so long ago.
That being said–
When it comes to changing others, after we start working on changing ourselves, there are numerous issues that must be addressed before any changes in a congregation can occur. Do the people see a need for change? Are they willing to make any changes? Are they completely controlled by their routines and comfort zones? How open-minded are they when it comes to temporary changes as opposed to permanent changes? I could go on, but you get the idea.
Then there are the unseen taboos that exist that are never mentioned until the pastor (that would be you) suggests a change, even if the change is for a few days. Example: I once wanted to cover a painting, which was located on the back wall of the platform, with a large drape for a couple of weeks during a special sermon series. When I mentioned the idea to the people, I was immediately reprimanded for wanting to cover a painting that had been donated by one of the “founding fathers” of the church. The period of a few days was immaterial. I wanted to cover a “sacred cow” in the minds of some of the people. Sacred cows fall under the list of taboos.
Back to the matter of changing others–Any time a pastor is faced with the understanding that a change needs to be made, there are some questions that need to be asked. Is the change necessary for the spiritual development of the congregation, or is this a change motivated by the latest trends in congregational structure and operation that are being instituted in other locations? Example: About fifteen or twenty years ago, a local pastor set up a week-long revival at his church and felt led by the Holy Spirit to invite different speakers for each night of the revival. The revival was a glowing success. The next pastor down the road decided to do the same and held a revival with different speakers. The next pastor farther down the road did just like the others were doing and had several speakers at his annual revival.
As I watched what was happening, I realized the first pastor had followed the direction of the Holy Spirit and had been rewarded with a great outreach to his community. It appeared to me that the others had looked at what he had done and decided that God was now moving by having revivals with several speakers. I’m not judging the others for their decisions. I am merely stating a pattern that I saw developing during each repetition of the original revival. Many churches still follow that pattern in our area years later.
Getting back to the question, again—do you feel that the change will help your congregation grow spiritually? If the answer is “no,” then ask yourself why you want to make the change. Remember, your motivations will have a definite impact on your congregation and its future. If the answer is “yes,” ask yourself what would be the best way to make the change. Remember, as their pastor, you should always seek what is best for the congregation as the Holy Spirit directs your steps.
Here are some suggestions when you believe a change will help your congregation grow in their relationships with Jesus:
Pray, pray and then pray some more before introducing the idea of any change to the structure or operation of the church. Then ask the congregation to pray with you as you seek the Lord’s guidance about the future.
Informally bring up the change in conversations with various members of the congregation beginning with your leaders. Ask them “How do you feel about….” types of questions and really listen to their answers.
Be patient. If you’re going to move the piano, do it one inch at a time. Changes that are lasting should occur in small increments whenever possible. People need time to adjust themselves to new things, no matter how small the changes are.
Never make a change for the sake of change. Always have a definite goal in mind, and be sure the goal will benefit your people in the long run.
As led by the Holy Spirit, minister to your people about the control routines and comfort zones have over everyone’s lives and how to overcome that control through God’s help and direction. Remember to use examples from your own life and from scripture when you do this. Don’t try to point out their routines and comfort zones to them. Rely on the Holy Spirit to do that.
There is much more to discuss on this topic of changing others through God’s guidance. We’ll address other things in the next letter. You already have enough in this one to ponder and pray about as you lead your people into necessary changes.
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor