January 10th, 2024
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
The Big Black Door
During World War II a spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Japanese Army. Before carrying out the sentence the general gave the spy a strange choice. He told him he could choose between a firing squad or a “big black door.” The spy thought about the choice and chose the firing squad and within a few moments he was dead.
The general turned to his assistant and said, “They always prefer the known way to the unknown.” The assistant then asked the general, “What’s behind the ‘black door?’”
“Freedom!” Replied the general. “Behind the big black door is a passageway that leads outside, but only a few have been brave enough to see what was behind the door!”
It has been my experience through the years that one of the most difficult things for people to embrace is a little thing called “change.” The older I get, the more I understand that difficulty. Change is hard for non-Christians and Christians alike. In fact, that aversion to change is one reason why it is so difficult for people who did not accept Christ in their youth to embrace what he has for them now through faith. It is also true that people who accepted Christ in their youth often equate the things that were happening and the way church programs and activities with their actual faith in Christ. When the kinds of songs change or the church schedules are shifted or when the way the services are run is altered, the new ways can be difficult for them to accept. Because it is different, there must be something wrong with it.
I know of a church that was growing by leaps and bounds and was, in part, growing because it was so non-traditional in its approach. When they built a new, non-traditional style building for their weekly services, the pastor was stunned that a number of complaints came in because the building did not have a cross anywhere on its facility. To calm their anxiety a cross was placed at the front of the worship center.
Most of us, over the years, become creatures of habit. Those habits we develop often turn into “comfort zones.” When those zones get crowded by change, we can become frustrated and even defiant. It is possible that we can become suspicious of those who bring such change about.
We must understand though that Christianity, by nature has always been about change. Putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ brings about the ultimate change we call “the new birth.” To be “born again” means a complete transformation of our lives and the values that belong to that life. The New Testament is a transformation from the Old Testament. The old Law has been fulfilled by Jesus when He introduced the new Law of liberty and life.
When we study the book of Acts, we see the early church in constant transition. Each time a new problem comes up, the methods of ministry shift for the sake of growth. Growth and change go hand in hand. The existence of each requires the other. Sometimes growth requires change and other times change requires growth. But each time it requires flexibility and stretching of the participants. However, when growth and change are embraced, life is enriched and begins to thrive. Faith is the requirement for such willingness to accept and choose “the Big Black Door” of freedom.
This Sunday I will share a message with you titled, Changing Zones based on Genesis 12:1-3ff. We will challenge our comfort zones and seek ways we may embrace the change God requires for us to grow in Him and to become for impactful for His kingdom and glory. I look forward to seeing you then.
Changing and Growing with you,
Jon
The Big Black Door
During World War II a spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Japanese Army. Before carrying out the sentence the general gave the spy a strange choice. He told him he could choose between a firing squad or a “big black door.” The spy thought about the choice and chose the firing squad and within a few moments he was dead.
The general turned to his assistant and said, “They always prefer the known way to the unknown.” The assistant then asked the general, “What’s behind the ‘black door?’”
“Freedom!” Replied the general. “Behind the big black door is a passageway that leads outside, but only a few have been brave enough to see what was behind the door!”
It has been my experience through the years that one of the most difficult things for people to embrace is a little thing called “change.” The older I get, the more I understand that difficulty. Change is hard for non-Christians and Christians alike. In fact, that aversion to change is one reason why it is so difficult for people who did not accept Christ in their youth to embrace what he has for them now through faith. It is also true that people who accepted Christ in their youth often equate the things that were happening and the way church programs and activities with their actual faith in Christ. When the kinds of songs change or the church schedules are shifted or when the way the services are run is altered, the new ways can be difficult for them to accept. Because it is different, there must be something wrong with it.
I know of a church that was growing by leaps and bounds and was, in part, growing because it was so non-traditional in its approach. When they built a new, non-traditional style building for their weekly services, the pastor was stunned that a number of complaints came in because the building did not have a cross anywhere on its facility. To calm their anxiety a cross was placed at the front of the worship center.
Most of us, over the years, become creatures of habit. Those habits we develop often turn into “comfort zones.” When those zones get crowded by change, we can become frustrated and even defiant. It is possible that we can become suspicious of those who bring such change about.
We must understand though that Christianity, by nature has always been about change. Putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ brings about the ultimate change we call “the new birth.” To be “born again” means a complete transformation of our lives and the values that belong to that life. The New Testament is a transformation from the Old Testament. The old Law has been fulfilled by Jesus when He introduced the new Law of liberty and life.
When we study the book of Acts, we see the early church in constant transition. Each time a new problem comes up, the methods of ministry shift for the sake of growth. Growth and change go hand in hand. The existence of each requires the other. Sometimes growth requires change and other times change requires growth. But each time it requires flexibility and stretching of the participants. However, when growth and change are embraced, life is enriched and begins to thrive. Faith is the requirement for such willingness to accept and choose “the Big Black Door” of freedom.
This Sunday I will share a message with you titled, Changing Zones based on Genesis 12:1-3ff. We will challenge our comfort zones and seek ways we may embrace the change God requires for us to grow in Him and to become for impactful for His kingdom and glory. I look forward to seeing you then.
Changing and Growing with you,
Jon
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