Jesus, The First Change Agent

I don't know about you, but I hear about those in the brotherhood attacking preachers who have ideas that might change many of the traditions with which we are familiar. Those who protest often think these traditions are perfect and should not be "messed with" even if those ideas for change might cause growth, grace, love and mercy in the body of Christ.

I believe attacking preachers for having new, scriptural ideas causes dissension within the body of Christ. We need to remember that God hates dissension and divisions. He wants us to love each other as Christians. The world will know us by our love. We need to understand that Jesus Christ Himself was the very first "change agent."

He changed the lives of the twelve men that he chose to be his disciples.

In "The Sermon on the Mount," Jesus "changes" the law adding heart to it. For example, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28. NIV
What a change that was for the culture to hear.

Jesus changed the Sabbath as He and His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.

Jesus changed countless lives as He healed during the three years of His ministry. Not only that, but offering many of those who needed healing, freedom from demon possession and forgiveness from sin as well.

He changed the life of an adulteress woman at the well and a woman caught in the act of adultery as He offers them forgiveness and a new life.

He changed the life of a man named Paul.

He was willing to go the to the cross, died and rose on the third day. Now the entire world has been changed because of what Jesus has done.

He changes hearts.

Ephesians 2:1-9: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been save through faith- and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God- not by works so that no one can boast. "

The Christians and churches who use these words "change agent,are those who love to cause fights, dissension and discord within the body of Christ. These people who use the words "change agent" seem to think think they are perfect, needing no change whatsoever in their churches, lives, and are extremely judgemental towards churches that preach grace, mercy, love, hope to the world who needs Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we should always be growing in our faith and relationship with God. We should always be changing and growing in our faith. If you examine your faith it shouldn't be the same as when you became a Christian initially.

If a seedling sprouts, but never grows beyond its small size, what good is it? It will never produce the fruit which it was intended to produce. If it stays small, it will soon wither and die because it is not using the nutrients in the soil around it. So too are those who assume change is always a bad thing. Growth requires change.

Rather than labeling any change as negative, let's examine it against scripture before we toss it out and along with it, the people who dared to speak up.

So, what do you think when you hear the words "change agent"? Did you ever think of Jesus as a "change agent"? Do you think the people who use the words "change agent" are trying to cause fights within the church? Why or why not? Can we ignore the words "change agent" by understanding that they cause divisions? How can we strive for unity within the church by understanding our individual role as "change agents" within the world just as Jesus has called us? How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus was the first "change agent"? How has Jesus changed your life?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.