Facing Change
Scripture
• THE PSALM Psalm 46:1-3
o God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
• THE GOSPEL LESSON John 3:1-8
o Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
• THE EPISTLE LESSON James 1:17-18
o Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
The Serenity Prayer
Have you ever heard of the Serenity Prayer? You probably have whether you recognize the name or not.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
The original version was composed by an American theologian named Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr (RYNE-hohld NEE-bur) in the early 1930s. In different forms it spread far and wide, popularized by the YWCA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Hallmark Cards, and even comics and singer songwriters.
It strikes a chord with many of us, which is interesting. Because, though we are often dissatisfied, people typically don’t like change. How many of you are in the same pew each Sunday? In the same seat even? People find routine comforting. I don’t know about you, but I’ve often been accused as being “set in my ways”. And justifiably.
If you are familiar with the TV show The Mandalorian, you may recall the oft repeated mantra, “This is the Way.” The Mandolorians would repeat it to affirm their beliefs and traditions, especially in times hardship or change. But they would constantly have to reevaluate whether their traditions fully supported their beliefs, and their beliefs fully supported their morals. Or if some change was needed to meet new circumstances. It is a good story. But not the Good Story. Jesus is the Way. And the Truth. And the Life.
What does the Bible say about change?
When I initially decided today’s topic was going to be about “Facing Change”, I searched for an appropriate story in the Bible. Until I realized… that was pretty much all of it. In nearly every story, someone is facing or causing change. Even the genealogies, where so-and-so begat so-and-so. If there is no change, there is no learning, no triumph. No story worth mentioning.
Change is something different. Something new. And ironically, change is nothing new.
So, what does the Bible say about change? It depends on whether you are talking about change and God, change and the world, or change and humanity (i.e., us). And of course, all these changes are interrelated.
Change and God
What does the Bible say about Change and God?
An article on gotquestions.org (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-change.html) summarizes by saying this:
“God never changes, and nothing about Him changes: His character traits such as love, mercy, kindness, justice, and wisdom always exist in perfection. The methods He uses to deal with human beings have changed through the centuries, but the values and purposes behind those methods did not. For example, under the Mosaic Covenant, God declared that animals sacrificed in the manner He prescribed would atone for the sins of the people (Leviticus 4:23; 9:2–13; Numbers 29:11). Under the terms of the New Covenant, the Son of God Himself became the sacrifice, and the old system, having served its purpose, became obsolete (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:11–14). God’s holiness, His wrath against sin, and His extension of mercy did not change, but He did provide a better sacrifice for us: the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29; Hebrews 10:10). This change from the Old Covenant to the New was needed, and it is wonderful, securing eternal life for those who trust in Christ (John 3:16–18).”
Change and the World
Then there are changes at the world level.
• Seasons. Weather. Climate.
• Changing Technology.
• Economy.
• Natural disasters. Man-made disasters.
• Violence. War. Peace.
A relatively recent change we all had to deal with (and are still dealing with) was the COVID-19 Pandemic. There have been plagues in the past. Both in the Bible and after. But for most of us this was a new experience. I hope you turned to the Bible, and to God, to help get you through. And I hope the common trial helped give you new sympathy for your neighbor.
What does the Bible say about Change and the World?
I would like to emphasize a Bible verse that is hopefully familiar to you, spoken by Jesus.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
This is found at the end of The Lesson of the Fig Tree, just after the description of the Coming of the Son of Man. It is Matthew 24:35. AND Mark 13:31. AND Luke 21:33. The same words. So they must be important.
I feel that this was not said to depress us, but to give us hope. To give us focus, and to help us prepare.
Again, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Change and Humanity
And then there is change and Humanity (us).
We can weather change, be agents of change, and be changed ourselves (what I call personal change). And it is not uncommon for us to experience all of these at once.
Some common examples of changing circumstances people today commonly face include:
• School.
• Getting a new sibling.
• Moving.
• Possibly going to college, getting a roommate.
• Getting or losing a job.
• Getting married, widowed, or divorced.
• Having kids.
• Losing a loved one.
• Aging. Sickness. Healing.
And there are of course, many less universal changes we all face, both big and small.
As I said the Bible is full of stories about people facing change.
Take the story of Abraham (originally named Abram). Very late in life God asks him to move to a distant land, change his name, become a father for the first time (long after such a thing is normally possible), sacrifice his son in a test of loyalty (fortunately God spares Isaac), and become a founder and leader of a nation.
For all his faults, when faced with change Abraham trusts God. He does not have it easy. Things are not stable. But he is blessed in both this life and the next. God loves him, blesses him, never abandons him. The same can be said for every one of us. We just need to recognize it.
Take the story of the Jews during Jesus’ time and just after. The disciples and other followers took on new beliefs. They left their homes, jobs, families, security. Many saw or experienced miracles. They spread the Good News and often faced persecution and were killed for it. They loved and accepted former enemies and rivals as fellow children of God. People like the Romans and other Gentiles. Had God ever said not to? No! But this was a big change for them!
By comparison, most of us have faced little change. But we have all faced it and can hopefully relate.
Personal Change
Of special note is personal change. Internal change. A change in beliefs, emotional state, outlook, attitude, or priorities. Such changes might not be immediately obvious, but they can affect our actions and our whole lives. And thus other people’s whole lives.
Our Gospel lesson today talks about being “born again” or “made new”. Accepting a new faith in Jesus and deciding to follow him. It is a difficult concept, because it is not a visible change, and often not something that happens overnight.
Now, I want to caution that for some, the phrase “born again” has become problematic, confusing, and even triggering. Too many folks have used the phrase to imply that their neighbors aren’t good enough as they are, aren’t loved by God, shouldn’t be themselves. And more subtly, that they themselves are blameless, God loves them best, and that any questionable behavior or “tough love” to outright hatred you see in them is justified. Not so.
It is true that none of us… None of us… are as good as we should be. We have all have had periods of being unloving or dismissive of God and our fellow human beings. If you reflect truthfully, we have all sinned. If you don’t consider yourself “born again”, or are unsure, or feel you have relapsed… do not despair. Make a change. The literal Good News is that the one and only sinless God was and is willing to sacrifice part of himself, the earthly life of his only son, to make up for our transgressions. Willing to forgive us if we sincerely ask him to. If we have real faith in this, in him, we can’t help but adopt an attitude of gratitude and a policy of selfless love. We still won’t be perfect here on Earth. But we are “born again” or “made new”. Our main focus is no longer on earthly things. We’ve experienced grace and wish others to experience it too.
Faith is not just belief. It is trust. Some folks have trouble trusting God, because they think “everything is God’s fault if he created everything”. But Humanity, the Enemy, and the natural consequences of the world play a part. God is there for us and guides us through it all and beyond it if we let him. He will bring good things from bad circumstances, and he helps us endure this world, promising a better one if we have faith. Faith regardless of change.
As Katy McCown said in a podcast called Your Daily Prayer at iBelieve.com, we have two options:
• We can filter our view of God through our ever-changing circumstances. Or…
• We can filter our circumstances through the unchangeable character of Christ.
I pray we all experience enough personal change that we can embrace doing the latter. If we recognize God’s unlimited and unending love, we will experience peace, hope, and faith. And spread it to others. Becoming God’s agent of change for good.
Change Is Everywhere So change is everywhere.
I found this elegant summary on whatdoesbible.com by Dr. Mark Tolbert.
(https://whatdoesbible.com/embracing-change-moving-forward-with-gods-guidance)
“Change is an inevitable part of life. It pushes us to adapt, to grow, and to transform. Embracing change requires a mindset of resilience, a willingness to accept the unknown, and a faith that God is guiding us every step of the way. With His guidance, we can navigate the challenges that come with change and discover a transformative journey filled with positive growth and new opportunities.”
Some changes we have little or no control over. For these we should trust in God. And some we
can cause ourselves. These should be done in love.
Changes at Lima UMC
As an addendum, there have been recent changes here at Lima, too. It was hard to say goodbye to Pastor Dorry and her husband Phil, who were much loved, at the end of last year. We went a month without a pastor, with members of the congregation pitching in to support each other and keep things running. God provided Pastor Lori, who joined us as a wonderful interim pastor. Throughout all of this, people have left or joined the congregation. Now we are transitioning again. Next week Pastor Jonette will be joining us. Please help welcome her, as this is a big change for her as well. And God has been and will continue to be with us through this all. Loving and unchanging, through every change.
Prayer
I’d like to close with a prayer by Katy McCown.
“Thank you, God, that you are sure. I can always count on you because you will never change. Thank you for a safe place to fix my eyes when everything else seems unstable. Only you are my rock and my fortress. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”