Change Is Hard, But Irrelevance Is Harder

Change is happening everywhere—except in many local churches.
While technology, culture, and communities shift daily, countless congregations are stuck in the same patterns they followed decades ago. Fear of change has quietly become one of the greatest threats to church vitality.

The status quo feels safe, but it’s actually suffocating. As Tom Cheyney puts it, the serial killer of declining churches is the status quo itself. Churches that resist renewal will eventually discover that the world around them has moved on—while they have stayed frozen in time.

Change isn’t risk. Change is opportunity. The real risk lies in doing nothing.

Why We Cling to the Past

When a church fears change, insecurity starts to take root. Leaders and members hold tightly to what once worked, hoping the past can somehow save the future. But holding on to yesterday’s methods can keep us from seeing God’s new mercies for today.

A church that refuses to change becomes monotonous and lifeless. Energy fades. Passion for outreach weakens. People who once served with enthusiasm begin to withdraw, frustrated that their efforts for renewal are resisted or ignored. Before long, only the fearful remain—and fear becomes the culture.

The Spiritual Cost of Staying Comfortable

Jesus didn’t call His disciples to comfort. He called them to love people that no one else loved, to risk reputation and safety for the sake of the gospel. Following Him means moving forward even when the path feels uncertain.

Fear, however, whispers, “Stay where you are.” It tells us to protect what we know instead of trusting what God can do. The result? Churches that once thrived in mission now struggle to survive.

But here’s the truth: God never blesses a stagnant faith. When the Holy Spirit moves, He stirs us to step out of our comfort zones. Renewal happens when courage replaces complacency.

A Challenge for Church Leaders

If you’re a pastor or leader, take time this week to reflect:

• Where have you allowed fear to dictate ministry decisions?

• What traditions are you holding onto that no longer serve the mission?

• Are you clinging to the familiar instead of following the Spirit’s prompting?

God doesn’t ask us to have all the answers—He asks us to have faith.
Every church revitalization begins when leaders stop defending the past and start dreaming with God about the future.

Reflection Prayer

Lord, help us not to cling to what feels safe. Give us courage to trust You for what’s next. May our churches be places of movement, not monuments to the past. Renew our hearts to see change not as a threat, but as an opportunity for Your glory. Amen.