IS CHANGE ALWAYS RIGHT?
By Glen Young

Change is difficult. We all have experienced this truth. How many New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside after a few weeks? There is no doubt that changing bad behavior is a necessity even though it is difficult.

It is not my intention to discuss the need to change bad behavior. However, it is my intention to discuss the question; is change always right? As we investigate this question let us do so with an open mind. Could it be that the difficulty to change is not necessarily a bad thing? Please give consideration to the thoughts contained in this article.

How many times have we heard, “that is so old-fashioned”? Or, “We need to move into the twenty-first century with our message”? While we accept that the only constant in life is change, history is filled with examples where change was detrimental to the welfare of a society of people. No where is this more obvious than when societies leave the righteous mores of their ancestors. History tells us that a society that deteriorates into immorality is doomed to destruction.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.” I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’  Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it” (Jer. 6:16-19).

God instructed Jeremiah to speak to Israel this metaphor as an explanation about the great calamity that was coming upon them. As the traveler of an unfamiliar road who comes to diverging roads must inquire of others which direction to take, so is Israel commanded to seek from others the “ancient paths.” The path they are to seek is the one which their fathers had walked at the direction of God by His word: signifying that there is no true way, but that which God prescribes.

The change Israel had made as a people was destroying them. Their departure from God’s way was causing God to rain upon them His wrath. We know from history that this caused the removal from their ‘promised land’ and dissolution of Israel as a nation. Who, then, will say that the change from the ancient paths of their fathers to the modern way of godlessness and sin was good for Israel?

The example of Israel is a warning for all people for all time. People can rebel against the moral standard set by God in which their fathers walked. We can do so in the name of Change. We can do it to fit in with modern society. We can plead our case that it will be a better and more prosperous way. However, in the end we must ask if such change is in accord with the will of our God.

I do not believe anyone who reads this article will disagree with the observation that the world, people in general, and our society in particular, have changed and are changing for the worse. In our own America the beautiful, we see moral decay. Sex education in public schools is touted as a necessity. What we have gotten is a society where children are being sexualized at a younger and younger age. A society where children are made to think it is OK to have sexual intercourse so long as you use contraceptives. But if you get pregnant, that is OK too, you can get an abortion. Millions of babies are murdered in their mother’s womb because mommy does not want them.

We have become a society where drug and alcohol addictions are rampant. A society that glamorizes certain ones who fall prey to this destructive life style just because they have a talent which brings them notoriety.

We have become a society filled with laziness. Those who expect to live off the labors of others. Was this the attitude of those who came here and carved a nation out of a wilderness? The desire to be independent and free has been coddled out of too many in our society today.

Christians are not immune to these changes that have occurred. When Christian men and women see nothing wrong with ‘living together’ without marriage or same sex marriage, they are not walking by the ancient paths. Along the same line, when Christians take the position they can change marriages as often as they want without impunity, they are not walking in the ancient paths. When local churches are dying because no one wants to support the work of evangelism, be personally involved in the work of the local church, or take the initiative to lead where they are qualified to do so, they are not walking by the ancient paths. When Christians have their priorities in the wrong things, they are not walking by the ancient paths.

While change is not sinful within and of itself, we must not change from the ancient paths lest we be judged as was Israel.

Christians must never forget who they are and what they are required to do. Paul understood this and affirmed that he lived his life with a clear understanding of his responsibilities. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). 

God Created Male and Female
By Joe R. Price

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27, NKJV).

God’s creation of humans in His image was the crowning jewel of His creation (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8:4-9). Nothing else He created bears His likeness, not gold, silver, stone, or animals (Acts 17:29). Tragically, people distort God’s beautiful creation of male and female into gender images bearing no resemblance to the order He designed. God created two genders, but now people have imaged and invented gender neutrality and gender fluidity. These offer illusions of one’s identity in place of one of the most distinguishing traits God gave us, our gender. Biology (i.e., science) determines gender, not emotions. (Chromosomes are sticklers that way.) I’m no scientist, but I know the XY chromosome is unique to males, and the XX chromosome is unique to females. God created them to assign gender to each new life formed at conception (Psa. 139:13). Declaring that your gender is different from your chromosomal assignment does not make it so. Suppressing or increasing hormones does not change this basic fact. Instead of such artificial manipulations, let us see God’s wisdom and design in both genders. God made male and female unique yet complementary, each completing and needing the other (Gen. 2:20-24; 1 Cor. 11:11-12). A willingness to accept one’s gender involves, to some measure, acknowledging God who created male and female. Being content with one’s gender implies contentment with God (and vice versa). That gets to the underlying issue. When one does not honor God, it becomes increasingly difficult to accept being made in His image, whether male or female (Rom. 1:21-22). And so, the truth is exchanged for the lie (Rom. 1:24-25). – Swordtips, October 29, 2021.