“What, in particular, do you have In mind?”

The way a movement or cause surges ahead, only to have some of those who benefit most from it, later in rising to leading positions, begin to reject, transform and set forth their own ways of pursuing it.

“Yeah. That often happens. Do you think it’s deliberate?”

Only partially so. They soon think they can refine, modify for the better, and so forth, only to emerge from the process espousing and teaching something quite different from that which brought them to the place that enables them to do so. This confuses many people who don’t understand what’s happening. They received much help from the original theses which they adopted and put into practice, and are now told that these were simplistic, or outmoded, or something of the sort. Times have changed. But if the cause is Scriptural, it matters little how the times go—or come—for that matter.

“What then?”

Quite frequently, what is supposed to be refinements, improvements, maturation and the like, simply turn out—as I said—to be something else. Now, that’s the factor that is of great importance to those who are still practicing what they learned originally, need to grasp. For them, what it really boils down to—if they recognize what is happening—is making a choice. Of course, the “new way” may, indeed, be better—or (perhaps) it may not. That’s what they must decide for themselves. The key thing is not to be swept along with the current—ever running faster—without recognizing what is happening to them. Of course, they only have the new proponents to read or listen to, since the old are fading away.

“What happens if they can’t?”

Usually, as I said, confusion. They begin to mix two or more things that are actually incompatible, and wonder why it doesn’t work. Then, they either throw in the towel, go back to what they learned before the new ideas appeared, or float with the new tide.

“Which is the best way for them to go?”

It all depends.

“On what?”

On who, if anyone, is right.

“And that’s something they must decide?”

Yes, unless they want to hide their heads in the sand.

“Not a comfortable position.”

Certainly not.

The post How Movements "Mature" appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Is that good or bad?

Well, it depends.

If we’re complaining about what God sends us rather than making the best of it, that’s bad. If, on the other hand, we are looking forward to the latest, new display of God in nature, that’s good.

It’s sorta’ like changes that God brings into our lives at various times in other ways. Sometimes we are richer; sometimes poorer; sometimes healthier, sometimes not so healthy. Everything in life changes, as Ecclesiastes tells us—nothing remains the same. We should, therefore, learn to accept the fact that such changes in life are not new under the sun. In a world of sin, the vicissitudes of life are always with us. Because this is a world of ups and downs, then, we are more able to look forward to a time where there will be a permanence of peace, health, happiness, and all of the other things that vary so greatly here. Contrast is always helpful to enable us to understand what is happening. And throughout the Scriptures, there is a constant contrast between the temporal, and changing, and the eternal and lasting.

While we know only a small bit about it, probably eternity will be from truth to greater truth; happiness to greater happiness rather than the sort of differences that we experience here. At any rate, the change of the seasons can serve to remind us of the fact that God has something better prepared for his children. There is going to be such a change for the better that we ought never to cease remembering the fact. It can certainly make everything here look different by comparison and contrast.

Of course, I’m speaking to Christians—those who are on their way to heaven. Unbelievers will find change too at death—a contrast of bad to worse; miserable to horrible. Christ, alone, makes the difference.

The post Change appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.