Christian Innovation: Is it possible?
If you do the same thing over and over again you will get the same results. Even if you make the method faster, more efficient, and streamline, you will still get same results. The end results will be the same result but it happens faster, more efficient and streamlined. What bothers me is the lack of innovation among Christians. What does it mean to innovate? Well I did a Google search and this is what I have found. Innovate come from the word invent. This is what I found:
•Invention: a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation
•Invention: the creation of something in the mind the term innovation means a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products…
•The act of innovating; the introduction of something new, in customs, rites, etc; A change effected by innovating; a change in customs; something new, and contrary to established customs, manners, or rites; A newly formed shoot, or the annually produced addition to the stems of many mosses
• innovative – advanced: ahead of the times; “the advanced teaching methods”; “had advanced views on the subject”; “a forward-looking corporation”; “is British …
•Innovative – being or producing something like nothing done or experienced or created before; “stylistically innovative works”; “innovative members of the artistic community”; “a mind so innovational, so original”
•Innovative – Characterized by the creation of new ideas or things; Forward looking; ahead of current thinking
What are we doing as Christians that is innovative? Last week, I was looking at Sunday newspaper, in the back of the newspaper there was a listing of church advertisements. It was amazing that as I was looking at hundreds of churches, lead by different people, it all appeared that there was no distinct difference between any of them. These churches were claiming to provide something unique and different, some even using the word “New” in there identification (ex. New House of Prayer). It appeared that these churches all offered the same methods, some faster, some efficient, some a little more streamlined, but in reality it was the same method and product. I wonder if the world, in which Christian are supposed to save, are looking at Christians as an answer to problems that we face locally, nationally and internationally. We are faced with diverse tribulations unlike the world has never seen before. However, I believe Christians have not changed the methods of how we answer the call for help. Christianity is viewed more as insight than an answer. In Biblical days during desperate times the world leaders turned to people who followed God. Individuals who had divine innovation were called upon to solve the nation’s problems. Are Christians positioned to be instrumental in solving problems though innovation? We serve a God who controls time, therefore he is timeless. Therefore, we have the ability to innovate beyond this time, even to the point of being futuristic. Instead of playing catch up we should be the ones who are on the edge of new discoveries and revolutionary changes in thinking. God is called the creator; therefore we have the ability to create. Not find alternatives, like many Christians have done. Were we mimicking the things in the world and often times become a cheap version of the real thing. Like wanting and IPod Touch for Christmas but your parents buys a touch screen Mp3 player. It plays music like the IPod but it does not have the quality the attention to details as the IPod Touch. Are we the cheap knock-off to real issues?
Jesus said Matthew 24:37-44 (New International Version)
37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42″Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Noah gives insight into the innovation of God. He created an ark in an environment that never seen water. He had foresight into the things that was to come. It was because of him that we all live today. Regardless of the outcome Noah positioned himself as an answer. I encourage you to be innovative because lives depend on us.
