How do wise and effective leaders manage change?

Acts 10:45-48The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

God is in the business of change. Leaders are, by definition, also in the business of change. Whether this involves helping others change raw materials into finished product, changing people from being uneducated to being educated, or leading through political and social change, wise and effective leaders need to understand both the necessity and tensions that come with their calling.

Acts 15:1-2While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.

One of the primary tasks of a leader is responding to, initiating, and managing change. Jesus’ early followers faced major changes, especially as the gentiles entered into the community of faith. As these leaders dealt with change, they discovered greater riches in their effectiveness and in their fellowship.

Acts 17:11The people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

Galatians 1:6-7I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Hebrews 13:8-9Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

1 John 4:1Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

Godly and effective leaders should examine carefully changes in belief, particularly within the church. God’s word provides the standard by which we can measure our beliefs.

Isaiah 29:13The Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”

Mark 7:13“You cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Just because something is traditional does not make it biblical. In fact, a human tradition that claims to be biblical truth can become a stumbling block in any community of faith. While some human traditions are harmless—and even helpful in encouraging our faith—we must learn to distinguish between God’s infallible word and fallible human traditions.