I know, change can be quite scary. In the church, it is can even be downright divisive. There are an astonishing number of church splits that come about not because of the preservation of Biblical truth, but rather because someone dared change a much-beloved and all-to-ineffective tradition.

As part of a church planting team, I’m not faced with the choking weight of decades of organizational tradition. However, many newcomers bring “tradition baggage” with them. These are the notions of how church should be done because that’s how their old church did it, even if the Bible doesn’t say it. So while I try to be sensitive to this, my main concern is helping to lay a solid and biblical foundation for this new church. Unfortunately, as with any new thing, we don’t always (if rarely) get it right on the first go.

Accessing the Need for Change

So how do I know when to advocate for change? There are four questions I ask:

1. Foundation: Are we structured and developing in a way that supports God’s vision for this church, that is sustainable, and scalable?
2. Function: Are we modeling appropriate Biblical roles and actions (through servant leadership), building a culture of discipleship (Great Commission) and fulfilling our call to servanthood?
3. Flavor: Are we using techniques and language that are understandable, relatable and relevant to those God has called us to reach and partner with?
4. Fruit: Are we witnessing positive life change, a deepening of community, an increase in discipleship, the fruit of obedience and healthy church growth?

These four questions are applied to any and every aspect of our developing church and if the answer is ever no, then change must be prayerfully considered. The hard part is knowing what to change, when and how. This takes a lot of discernment, prayer, fasting, good counsel, more prayer and often lots of trial and error.

Exception 1: No Reflex Change

I’ve come to realize that change isn’t always necessary despite appearances. There have been seasons where things felt stagnant, no one seemed to be connecting, growth was nonexistent. Over the last year we have indeed experienced periods where the visible fruit did not meet our expectations, but through prayer and discernment our eyes were opened to the fruit being born in other ways. For example, there was strengthening in our core group, even when public gatherings felt anemic. That’s why I said earlier that “change must be considered”, rather than automatically enacted. Also change takes time to bear results. I still struggle to wait patiently for God-driven change to bear fruit. But I know, if God has guided a change to take place, it will bear fruit. Sometimes however, that fruit is simply the wisdom of a lesson learned.

Exception 2: Change for Challenge

While we are told to “be content in all things” we are never told to expect comfort. In fact the opposite is true. Sometimes the answer can be yes to all four “F” questions, and yet, something is amiss; comfort has set in. Whereas the world seeks comfort in almost all things, as a Christ-follower I am skeptical of it. Comfort breeds complacency, which breeds traditionalism, which breeds religion, which breeds legalism, which…well you get the idea. I’m not talking about change for the sake of change, but rather “change for the sake of challenge”. This is the riskiest and scariest type of change and often the most profound and fruitful. Sometimes it’s necessary to “mix things up” for no other reason than to defend against complacency. The best advise I have to offer on this is to look past the big picture and really evaluate in detail where change may in fact be needed. Being able to show people specific areas needing change is always preferable over changing when no one thinks it’s needed. But if you really find the need to change for challenge, pray, fast, fast, pray, fast, pray and then have someone try and talk you out of it.

1. The Blind and Ignorant
   This group is oblivious to the fact that it takes actual people to do God’s work. They don’t see the needs in the Church, they ignore the calls for involvement and the concept that each person has a role to play doesn’t even register.
   Summary: See no needs, fill no needs.
2. The Aware and Apathetic
   Next we have those that see specific needs that are going unfilled or at least have an idea that it takes involved people to do God’s work, but they simply don’t care to be a part of it. This is often because they don’t feel that they should have to. They think serving is what pastors and other people are for.
   Summary: See Needs, Don’t Care
3. The Caring and Uncertain
   At this level individuals recognize that it takes people to do God’s work and they somehow want to be a part of it, but they don’t see their role or how their skills or abilities could make a difference. They aren’t likely to offer to help and even if approached, they may refuse for fear of failure. This is the group with the greatest untapped potential.
   Summary: Caring, but clueless (how to help)
4. The Conveniently Involved
   This is the first level of serving. This group wants to be a part of ministry and will give of their time when it’s convenient and perfectly matches their skills. While they may feel a conviction to support the local church and God’s work through it, they can’t be bothered with regular serving or anything that requires commitment or discomfort.
   Summary: Up for easy one-off involvement
5. The Regular Rigid
   So long as they are in a specific role that they want, that they feel makes them look good, that is comfortable and doesn’t require challenge, this group will serve week in and week out forever. Change or challenge could send them packing. This is unfortunately a large segment of active volunteers in some churches. They’re doing it, but for the wrong reasons.
   Summary: Dedicated, under perfect conditions
   
6. The Flexible Faithful
   Individuals in this group will do whatever is needed, whenever it’s needed. If they see it as part of advancing the kingdom, they don’t care what it is, just set them loose. This is a good group to look for cross-ministry leaders. Unfortunately, they are few and often hard to recognize, because they don’t usually stand out in a specific area.
   Summary: Will serve anytime, anywhere, in any way
7. The Servant Specialists
   This group is filled with individuals that have answered the call to a specific ministry. They may be wisely hesitent about serving long-term outside of their calling, but are flexible in the short-term and open to challenge and growth. Most ministry-specific leaders will be raised from this group.
   Summary: Faithfully serving in specific calling
   
8. The Servant Leaders
   Servant Leaders are gifted in leadership, know and use their other gifts, serve in response to a specific calling, model Christian discipleship and are discipling others by example. They are also flexible faithful when needed. This classification could apply to any role within the church, whether senior pastor or a member of the grounds crew.
   Summary: Actively modeling servant leadership
   

Of course these categorizations are not hard and fast rules. There may be people who are “regular rigid” in one area on Sunday’s and “conveniently involved” otherwise. Or someone who is “conveniently flexible”, serving as needed when it works for them. There may even be people who are “flexible faithful” not because they really get it, but because they are trying to work their way to Heaven.

Also, while it may seem like the levels are more “preferred” as the numbers increase, I would consider 6, 7 & 8 on equal footing. It really boils down to gifts, calling and situation. In fact sometimes if you just have “flexible faithfuls” for a particular situation, then a “regular rigid” could be an answered prayer, because they know the specific ministry inside and out. Additionally, I didn’t mention tithing in the levels because I don’t believe it directly correlates.

Perchance you’re curious, I would classify myself as a “flexible servant leader”. While I am gifted in leadership, in a leadership position, aware and using my gifts, I have not received a specific calling (role) within this church, other than that I’m to support the vision through creative leadership. So for now, as lay staff, that means I’m involved in just about everything, serving at the discretion of the pastor as needed.