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Be the Change

Posted by Jason Vana on 15 Oct 2012 / 2 Comments



Oct
15
2012
 2
Photo Credit: Matthew Fern (Creative Commons)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
1 Corinthians 12:27

It can be easy at times to point out the flaws in our church or ministry group.
It’s not too difficult to realize something is broken.

Attend a single church for long enough, be a part of a small group or college ministry, and you’re bound to find areas that need improvement.

Worship isn’t as passionate as it could be.
The discussions aren’t as lively.
The preaching isn’t as powerful.
The community isn’t as welcoming.
Offering could be done differently.
Followup with new believers could be better.
Inviting others to come could be built up more.
Prayer isn’t as powerful, outreach not working, and the giving – the giving is never where it could be.

All of us could easily point out something we’d like to see changed.
But most of us don’t want to do anything about it.

We each have a role to play in the body of Christ.
A responsibility to see God’s move happen.

When the worship isn’t passionate, when the prayer isn’t powerful, when attendance is down, outreach isn’t affective, giving is down, volunteering isn’t happening, followup and inviting is non-exsitent, we all have a responsibility to bring change.

We all are held accountable to God.
Not just the leaders.

God has given each of us a gift. A heart passion.
When we see something in the body of Christ that isn’t functioning the way it should, it’s our responsibility to bring change.

Not just point out the problem.

The body of Christ is built up and made better when we offer solutions instead of criticism, assistance instead of problems, and change instead of grumbling.

After all, Christ holds us all responsible for how well the body operates.

And so, my brothers and sisters, as you find notice areas in your church or college group that need improvement, may you hear the call to be the change. May you offer solutions instead of criticisms. And may you, as you step out to make the body better, begin to see God do amazing things in and through you and the body you find yourself in.

How can you make the body of believers you find yourself in even better?

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About the author

Jason Vana
Jason is an imaginative leader with a heart to ignite younger generations to impact the world for Christ. He currently lives in Monmouth, Illinois, and oversees Ignite Student Ministries - a dynamic ministry to train and equip students and churches to reach their youth, young adults and university students for Christ. Find him on Twitter: @jasonvana



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  • http://incitefaith.com Julie

    I’m glad you wrote this. Heavy conviction in this post. A lot of what you have written speaks volumes to the changes that will be happening in my life in the months to follow. I got tired of talking and hearing about the areas in the Church that needed improvement. I realized all I have been doing (and continue to do) is whine about where Churches and communities have failed (mostly locally). Though I have been rejected by Churches/Pastors not only locally but in other areas too. Yeah, it cuts pretty deep.

    So, if I want to change – excuse me, if we want change, we have to be it. That’s my mantra on Incite Faith. And I’ve made the conscience effort to stop dreaming about it and start living it.

    Don’t really care if this comment doesn’t get responded to, but letting you know it’s appreciated.

    Be the change you want to see.

    All of you.

    • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

      It really is about us being the change. A few years ago, I began criticizing the church as a whole. I saw practices that went against the word of God and were pushing people away from Him. So I started complaining and criticizing. Then God asked me a question: what is all that criticizing accomplishing? Are you changing anything? Is what you’re doing drawing people closer to me? It was the smack I needed to stop complaining and start changing,

      Thanks for reading and commenting, Julie!