It's been said before, 'change is inevitable', it will happen, is happening. All we have to do is simply look at the world that we're living in. Social media has transformed the world that we live in and how we communicate with people. Newsweek reported how, 'The Digital Revolution Changed Our World' Click here to see the article. The article reports that by 2010 iTunes has had 10 billion downloads. iTunes didn't even exist until 2001.
Just recently Amazon one of the nation's largest book sellers announced that in the last three months E-books (entire books that are downloaded to your computer, phone, or ipod) have out sold hardcover books! Even Amazon's CEO Jeffrey P. Bezos seemed shocked (to some degree that is) when he said it's, “astonishing when you consider that we’ve been selling hardcover books for 15 years, and Kindle books for 33 months,” You can read the entire article from the New York Times here.
Mr. Bezos's comment leads us to another very important point about change, it's not only 'inevitable' but it's happening 'fast'! Honestly I believe most realize it, though perhaps some try to resist it.
Now if you're a Christian we would all agree that God's word never changes. The sacrifice of Jesus, His un-changing principles are for all time and will ever be. Yet the means/method by which the gospel is proclaimed is so diverse and is ever changing.
Public evangelism is still a great method to proclaim the truths of Gods word yet even that is changing with so much free video content online for people to watch. People more than ever to some degree don't like people knocking on their doors asking them religious questions. I got to be honest I don't like it. With so many religious services being live streamed, video archived, and of course the multitude of people who podcast sermons, God's word is getting out, in a multitude of ways.
So perhaps here's one key that seems obvious but perhaps not so obvious to all. Try all kinds of methods as long as they are not against God's sound principles, methods that will be relevant to your cultural context where you minister. This goes for all of us who call ourselves Christians and want to reach people for Jesus. We must not be married to methods but married to Jesus and the mission He call us to fulfill in His strength. With that said it's important that we be ready to make changes when changing things will help fulfill the mission of Jesus.
So tell me do you agree? Are their changes that need to take place in your church in order to be able to reach more people for Jesus?
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