According to Wikipedia “Changes”, a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, was originally released on the album Hunky Dory in December 1971 and as a single on 7 January 1972.
Despite missing the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, “Changes” became one of Bowie’s best-known songs.
The lyrics are often seen as a manifesto for his chameleonic personality, the frequent change of the world today, and frequent reinventions of his musical style throughout the 1970s.
When looking at some of the meaning behind the lyrics of this song I came across the following written by Mike O’Brien (Lead singer of chart dodging pop group Pocketful O’Nowt): “I believe that Bowie was saying that over the years, a person is changed by their experiences and the events which happen to them, but that it is very difficult to properly track the process. It is difficult to trace what time has done to you. In fact, the best that one can do is just to turn and face the strange changes, rather than try to understand them.”
“Changes” is definitely more than just a song! It has become a bit of an anthem of the world in which we live in today – as we know that it is going through constant changes at an ever increasing fast-paced rate. We are constantly faced with changes within society, and the Covid-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world has meant that we in the ‘church’ have had to adapt, pivot, morph, change – sometimes at a moments notice, so that we can continue ministering to people in an age of uncertainty and constant change!
But change is not easy – and at the moment changes in our church environment – especially for those that are used to uniformity, structure, order, or a certain way of doing things etc. are hard work. But somehow we have to embrace them!
The technological advances incorporated within our church buildings over the past 20 years or so, have also had a huge effect on how we do church today.
And Carey Nieuwhof’s blog entitled 12 Things Covid has Taught the Analog Church About Digital Church raises some interesting thoughts:
The debate about technology’s role in the church has ranged from wineskins and a torn curtain, to pipe organs, (Brass Bands, the use of drums and amplified music) radio, and streaming video. With each advance, church leaders have had to grapple not only with the new medium, but also with the implications on power, ministry, and trust.
In many ways, Christianity owes its global spread to the work of people powered by technology. In fact, a sense of curiosity among Spirit-led pioneers of the past led us to adopt innovative technology for the work of the church. The implications were often positive, though often not fully anticipated (or accepted by some). Consider:
- The printing press enabled not just Scripture distribution, but also increased literacy rates and changing roles in the church. It also changed the understanding of “prophets, priests, and kings,” which eventually led to full-scale reformation.
- Broadcast technology allows God’s Word to transcend borders, even into closed countries. It also enabled the rise of large-scale revival and personality-driven ministry. This made possible the rise of the megachurch in the late 20th century.
- The combination of streaming media, video conferencing, and data-informed ministry made ministry possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. Quite literally, it was the lifeline that kept churches connected and, in some cases, made the decision between survival or closure.
Leaders who recognize the possibility of the moment are the ones who can smartly make new technology (including social media platforms) a tactic in their ministry strategy.
Carey Nieuwhof goes on to ask the question – Are we in an Awakening?
We are in a watershed moment for the Church.
In a recent interview, James Emery White (pastor at Mecklenburg Community Church) shared this with me: “I think the pandemic may have just saved the church in many ways. It got us out of a Sunday/weekend-centric approach. It forced us online and into social media, it also made us open to change, being creative when we were not creative before, and open to innovation. It also got us back down to raw mission–what is our mission? You add all of that up, and it is dangerously close to an awakening.”
Carey then outlines 12 key trends that have emerged so far this year – You can read them here.
General William Booth adapted to the technological advances of his day – embracing the change!
He utilised the motorcar – I know that might sound a bit far fetched, and some of you may be thinking ‘what?’ But check out what was / wasn’t available back in his day.
He embraced world travel and got to visit far off countries that many leaders of his day never got to see because they were to afraid to embrace the change!
He was strongly encouraged to utilise moving pictures, which were then screened in movie theatres up and down the countries that he visited. He embraced recording technology so that ‘His’ message could be broadcast across the radio.
He embraced light shows, brass bands, banjoes, in fact any and all technology that became available so that nothing could stand in the way of God’s Word being spread to the masses – for his aim was to ‘Win the World for Jesus!’ by whatever means necessary.
The advancement of The Salvation Army around the world was unprecedented, colonialism had a huge part to play. But his leadership and his embracement of the technology at hand enabled this to happen all around the world.
I wonder have we become to comfortable in our surroundings today, that we no longer embrace the change? Do we settle for the status-quo because we do not want to upset a select few who inadvertently could be holding back the mission of reaching those in the community that need Christ?
William Booth’s wife and co-founder of The Salvation Army, Catherine Booth once said that “If we are to better the future we must disturb the present.”
Maybe we have been a bit slow off of the mark – God is constantly at work doing amazing things that are happening all around us. God’s Greatest Miracles Happen in and Around Us All the Time according to Randy Alcorn of Eternal Perspective Ministries.
Maybe “the best thing that we can do is just to turn and face the strange changes, rather than try to understand them.” And maybe we need to embrace them and stop trying to control what He is doing in our midst!
Read Full Post »
Today we celebrate Pentecost (Whitsun / Whit Sunday), which is the Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension (which I posted about here), and is held on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
The USA Eastern Territory, which serves communities in Connecticut, Delaware, Northeast Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands created a video series which recounts William Booth’s vision, “The Story of Pentecost,” originally published in 1906 in his book, “Visions.”
Earlier this month General Brian Peddle released a new video message in light of the challenges brought about by COVID-19.
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. 
For those of you who may be interested in the beginnings of the Salvation Army and it’s Founders.
The life and times of Perry... 