Source/Author: Dr Michael Dalseno

There are strategic times when change confronts the Church. We witness a lot of changes taking place in the first few chapters of Acts, and how Paul himself had to face the challenge of change.

CHANGE AND THE CALL OF THE MACEDONIAN MAN

By Dr D

Events were unfolding fast for Paul. He successfully completed his First Missionary Journey (Acts Ch.13-14), despite hardship and opposition, only to be confronted by the “Jerusalem Council” (Acts Ch.15). The Church had earlier been reluctant to accept Gentile converts, but soon had to concede that the Lord was pouring His Holy Spirit on them too (Ch’s 10-11). Now, the Church in Jerusalem wanted the Gentiles circumcised as a condition for salvation (15.1). One might have thought that change would not be issue at this point following the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts Ch.2), the fear of the Lord that fell following the intrigues of Ananias and Sapphira (Ch.5), the scuffle over alleged neglect of the Hellenistic widows (Ch.6), and Philip’s evangelistic success in Samaria (Ch.8). But not so. Paul’s excitement soon turned to explanation when answering charges leveled by the Jerusalem Council. It’s interesting to note that almost all of the changes challenging the early Church was in the context of missions.

There are strategic times when change confronts the Church. It is important for the Church to embrace those changes, as initiated by the Lord, in order for the Church to advance and journey forward. It does mean leaving behind some modes, methods and methodologies and stepping into some unsure and uncomfortable territory. Such is always part of the challenge of leadership – how to venture forward and bring everyone along with you. Nobody wants a scenario where the train departs on its forward journey but the carriages remain back at the station.

Not just the Jerusalem Church, but Paul himself was challenged with change on his ensuing Second Missionary Journey (Acts Ch’s 16-18). Having commenced with tracing the all-too-familiar footprints of his first journey, the Lord interrupted Paul with a vision of a Macedonian man saying, “Come over to Macedonia [Greece] and help us!” (16.9). This was a great leap forward for both Paul and the Church because it meant that the Gospel message was now being extended into the unfamiliar, untried and unusual territory of Europe.

Paul subsequently faced his challenges with change in confronting evil spirits (16.19), being beaten with rods (16.22), and being slammed into prison (16.23), but he also experienced earthquake-proportions deliverance (16.26), people hungry to receive the Gospel (16.30), and some very apologetic Romans wooing his favour (16.38).

We too must embrace the changes that the Lord lays before us, both personally and corporately, and journey forward. Maybe we will, if we truly hear “the call of the Macedonian man” in our hearts.