Well, it’s finally happened. Sort of. Several things about me have changed. I about had a heart attack when my poor sweltering friends from back East set my house air conditioning on 72. I find myself saying in mid-October, "Isn’t this nice weather?" and conveniently ignoring the heat stroke of the last six months.

I know that I will never be a native ‘Zonie or anything. It still makes me laugh when the weather man talks about a "cool down" and he means it’s "only 95 degrees"! Or when I cross a bridge and there’s not a drop of water anywhere in sight. But some things about me have changed.

Yeah. We do change. Though we don’t like to admit it. And though we often don’t recognize it.

Our tastes change, too. Folks often say to me, "Well, I know what I like." What that usually means is, "I like what I know." Think about that.

We all like what we are familiar with. So it’s not unusual for folks who are new to our church to have a list of things they don’t like. Here is a sample:

1. You all dress too formal all the time.
2. You don’t dress up for the Lord around here.
3. Pastor tells too many jokes.
4. Pastor doesn’t tell enough jokes.
5. The music here is too "high church."
6. The music here is too "pop."

Get the idea? How is it possible that we can be criticized by people with polar opposite opinions? I’ll tell you how. What all those statements really mean is, "I’m uncomfortable with this aspect of the ministry because I’m not used to it." Child experts say that new foods must be introduced seven times before you truly know whether or not the child likes the food. Until he or she has experienced that food more than several times, the child’s opinion is based solely on familiarity. I’ve heard "Familiarity breads contempt." In church work, I’m convinced that the truer axiom is "Familiarity breads content." If I know the song, I’m happy. If the pastor’s style is similar to what I grew up with, then I get him. If church standards and practices conform to my experiences and ideals, then they are "Biblical."

So if you find yourself in a new situation, why not give it some time? Wait before you burst a blood vessel over something that isn’t exactly as you would do it--if the Lord had put you in charge.

[Insert dramatic pause here for that implication to sink in.]

Over time you may find that things don’t seem so bad. Maybe everybody finally got right with God and sees things as you do. Or maybe the change God needed to work was in you.

David Stertzbach II, B.A.
Music Pastor