Change or die. Or die changing.

In the May 2005 issue of Fast Company, Alan Deutschman published an article, now considered an instant-classic, called Change or Die.* (He has since published a book with the same title). For my next few posts, I hope to hammer some of Deutschman’s wisdom into shapes we can use.

In the article, Deutschman starts by showing evidence that most of us, when faced with the REAL choice between either change or our own PHYSICAL DEATH will NOT choose change. This shouldn’t be surprising. How many people quit smoking once they hear that smoking could kill? How many of us switch to a healthy diet when we know what trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup does? Deutschman takes it further though, quoting a study that shows that even a high-octane wake-up call like a heart-attack or stroke doesn’t make people change long-term.

His article explains why this is, and goes on to examine some things that DO work to help people change. Deutschman’s concern is with applying his lessons to business. Mine is applying them to churches and Christians, both of which theoretically and Biblically need to know how to change. More on that in a future post.

Here’s the thing, though. Any minister who might read this knows the difficulty of standing on the high ridge between change and status quo. On one side are people who have BEEN the church for decades (or at least years) who don’t want change. On the other side are folks who listen to Rob Bell and have been to some crazy church called “The Rock” or “Mosaic” who think that singing tunes from the late 90s is the definition of hide-bound traditionalism. Either side could pull us off the ridge.

And then there are people who just want to shake things up, perhaps due to Cylon-possession or an emotional imbalance that adores chaos. They’ll jump up on the ridge and push us off in any direction they can.

And it seems that the vast majority of churches that we hold up as examples of positive change are ones that began as homogeneous units - i.e., 95% of their original members were in their 20s.

So it SEEMS like the choices are the ones posted in my title. Change. Or die. Or die changing.

*(Thanks to MHCC member Chip Eichelberger for pointing out this article).

August 21, 2007 · Filed Under Leadership, Ministry, The Church

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