New and Improving

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

"...remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it." Ephesians 2:12-16)

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5a)

How many times have your heard marketers telling you about their new and improved products? We heard it so much I can't believe they haven't found a new line to reel in the consumer. Since the arrival of home computing we get upgrades in our software every year. With digital mobile devices software manufacturers update their applications with regularity.

In the 1980's the teachings of William Edward Deming were suddenly heralded by American corporations. They had seen what Deming had done to make Japanese manufacturers globally competitive with superior products, especially in the electrons and automotive industries. What was Deming's secret? "Continuous improvement" was his mantra.

The buzz word in American corporations was Total Quality Management (TQM). Today employees are trained in Six Sigma, another continuous improvement process. These are all expressions of improving business performance, manufacturing productivity, product quality and customer satisfaction.

We treated TQM just like the church treats the call to make disciples. We went through the motions because we had to. Most of us thought, "Oh great! Another management fad!" We considered all the extra meetings and training to be unnecessary and a waste of time and money. With those attitudes, it probably was a waste, but not because the principles of total quality management were just a fad or a slogan. These were proven methods. Japan has been kicking in our teeth in the marketplace for decades. The failure of TQM, in most companies, was because their people could not make the paradigmatic shift. Their attitudes and habits derailed the effort. Many companies that were thriving in the 1970's are out of business. They couldn't stay competitive.

I think its true that churches compete against each other at some level. We are all trying to reach the same crowd of religious consumers. Which church has the best wow factor? Which has the best music. Which has the most exciting technology? Who has the most charismatic preacher? Which church best meets the needs of my children? Do they have bounce houses? Who's got the coolest youth minister? Who's got the sanctuary everyone wants to get married in? If I join that church do I get a discount?

Call me cynical, but I think Jesus would vomit over this. The church is one. Though we are many branches from the same tree, there is only one church throughout the world. Jesus prayed that we be one so that the world would believe. (John 17:20-21) Our competition is needless. God has a purpose for each of His congregations. Part of that plan is to build loving communities that impact lives with the gospel.

The gospel proclaims that God is making all things new. His work of renewal has begun in the appearance of Jesus Christ. In the three selections above, we learn that God made a new humanity, joining Jew and gentile together as one in Christ. Through Christ we all have access to God through the Holy Spirit. As disciples under the influence of Christ, we are a new creation. We are no longer part of the the old creation dying and corrupt. We are made new in the image of Christ. 

This is a mystical truth. It's like Jesus saying the kingdom of God is here. Oh really? The world looks in pitiful shape. Where is this God who's supposed to be in control? Through faith our eyes are opened to see how God is working to redeem this broken world. But it's still broken. In some ways we seem to be falling backward from what we had once gained as a people. In other ways we are better. I never want to go back to the days when we didn't have laptops, Internet, cellular devices, and iPods! Oh and don't forget streaming video?!! We are in a time between times.

While it is true that God has made us new creations, we are still dealing with the old worn out one. We are still dealing with sinful attitudes and behavior. People still get sick and die. But as a spiritual truth that guides us the newness of our souls breeds new life and new possibilities in us. We have to grow into our newness. That's why we have to learn new ways of thinking and new habits.

Listen to Paul.

Surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:21-24)

In another place Paul tells the disciples to take of the old clothes of the former life polluted by sin and put on Christ. Clothe yourself in Christ. Put on the new! (Colossians 3:9-10)

The point here is that even though we hear the proclamation that we are new creations and that the world is being made new, we have to live according to the new reality. We have to make that paradigm shift. Just as American companies have had difficulty living according to new ways of doing business, churches also struggle, trapped in mindsets and comfortable habits. 

Anytime my software is updated, I am not happy. That means I have to learn how to use the application all over again. My old habits don't work anymore. I was happy with the software the way it was. Why did they have to change it! I can sympathize with church members who resist change. They are comfortable and don't see the need. But when we look at the statistics of church membership falling and congregations closing, we realize the world has changed to the point that our way of doing church is no longer effective at reaching the emerging generations. If that doesn't cause one to want to do better, then there's an even deeper problem with that soul. They do not yet love their neighbors enough to care about their souls.

We are new creations heading into a new era, a new world. Adopt the ways of the new era and leave the old behind. Be new and improving with help from the grace of our Lord.