Do most church
people wish to see the church do well? They do not wish
to see it retreat any further. Most would like to see more
people join them, and are concerned to be able to pay their
way. Occasionally such hopes can be realised if the church
is fortunate to be in a new housing area, which is culturally
conducive to the life style and values of the church.
However, it is
when the church has been refreshed by some means that life
comes. And the problem is that there can be no new life,
no new love, no new worship, no new obedience and no new
fellowship without change. Change can also bring trouble.
Initially the change may not be in the structure or organisation
of the Parish. It may not be seen in the order of Sunday
morning worship. At first it may simply be the abounding
enthusiasm, or the warm love of those who have been liberated
by the living God. But where there is light there will
also be heat, so that we cannot know God as He is without
this knowledge expressing itself in the lives of those
who know it. Emotion will be shown. New goals expressed.
Zeal will replace apathy—and misunderstanding will occur