Oh The Times They Are A'Changin'

I went with Carole this morning to visit the Chickasaw Heritage Center near Sulphur, OK. One of the rooms featured an 8-10 minute video recital of the history of the Chickasaws. I was very interested in the way they portrayed their history as a progression of seasons. They began with summer, which included the origin and development of the Chickasaw nation and its culture. The period of the westward expansion of the Europeans was described as the autumn of their history. Autumn is a transitional season and they were forced to adjust to the influx of people who came from a different worldview. The time of relocation and the period when their nation was under the greatest time of outside control was portrayed as winter. In winter, there is seeming death as the cold temperatures bring dormancy to the world. But they say that since the reestablishment of tribal sovereignty and self governance, the Chickasaws are now in Spring, a time of growth and renewal of life. The Chickasaw nation looks much different than it did in its Summer, but there is renewed excitement as they look toward the future.

I couldn't help but think that the analogy of the seasons is very fitting for our local churches. Churches begin with very little and as they grow they establish traditions and develop a culture. This Summer season can go on for decades if the leadership is stable. But inevitably there comes an autumn season where change comes unasked into the story of the church. Some event triggers a time of change and uncertainty in the congregation. Leaders change. The personality of the church morphs into something that is different. It is nearly always followed by a winter season where to some, the church as it exists today is "dead" because it is so much different than what it once was. People leave. The giving drops. The facilities suffer. When long established programs and traditions are dropped, many see this as evidence of the imminent death of the church.

But, just as with the Chickasaws, there will be a few that are able to look beyond the current situation and they never lose their determination that there will once again be a vibrant growing community of believers. And sure enough, it always happens as this group turns their focus on what is essential; moving in the Spirit of God. The church renews and remakes itself in a way that brings new growth. It reconnects with its neighbors in effective ways. The history that once served as an anchor, keeping the church from moving on is still valuable as a rudder to guide the church to its future. And Spring is naturally followed by Summer, a time of great influence and strength. And Summer is naturally followed by.... All churches today are in one of these seasons. And, should the Lord delay his coming, every church will continue its inexorable shift to the next season. Winter never stays forever. Neither does summer.