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Articles
The Danger of Status Quo Thinking
Perhaps you have shopped in such a store. The basic floor layout is the same as it was 40 years ago and the merchandise offered appeals more to shoppers of a generation past. The store clerks unenthusiastically and wearily go about their work as caretakers of a dying entrepreneurial dream of years gone by. Somewhere along the way, the status quo began its atrophying work. Rather than keeping up with the latest trends and changing accordingly, the store owner decided that what once worked will always work, thus there was no real need to “rock the boat;” and, with such an attitude, the store quietly rocks toward a status-quo bankruptcy.
Does such a scenario as presented above have any relevance in the realm of spirituality? Unlike the fickle free-market, the word of God does not change: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Far from desiring to keep up with the changing trends of society, the gospel remains a bedrock foundation on which any age can build. Unlike the outdated store, there is no need to “update” the plan of salvation in order to draw a new market; what saved man in the first century is what saves man today. Yet, even in spiritual matters, there is an ever present danger of allowing the status-quo to lull Christians and churches into a sleepy sense that “rocking the boat” is always a negative. Such is simply not the case!
The church in Sardis is a case-in-point of a group in trouble. On the surface, everything looked fine as this band of Christians maintained the status-quo. After all, they were still assembling together, still getting along, still “showing an interest in spiritual matters,” and still participating in all of the other things that supported their good name. The Lord, however, was not pleased and told them, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). The status-quo was insufficient and the Lord certainly rocked their boat by saying, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God” (vs. 2).
Every church must pay cautious attention to the happenings at Sardis because every church faces this danger. When a group of Christians begins working together, there is a natural excitement and a strong enthusiasm. Though “youthful” problems will most likely occur, it is rare to find a new work lacking in zeal. As the years pass and the generations change, the danger of status-quo thinking begins to arise. The generation that began the work with great zeal slowly passes from the scene, and can give way to a new generation who methodically, though unenthusiastically, continues in the work. This group may never realize that each generation is responsible for making sure that everything is done by the Lord’s standard and must also be done in the best way possible. Thus, a group of Christians in a “middle-aged” church grows comfortable and perhaps lax by refusing to examine the practices handed down to them and to determine if a different approach might produce better results.
What can cause such to happen to a once zealous local church? Perhaps one cause is the fear of being labeled by other Christians. “Did you hear what Church A across town is doing? Well, I don’t know for sure, but…” and so the labeling commences. It must be remembered that no church has the authority to leave the plan of God, but it must also be remembered that churches have not only the authority, but also the responsibility, to carry out His work in the best way possible. Perhaps Church A has decided to throw away the fill-in-the-blank workbooks in their children’s Bible classes and seek to approach biblical education in a way more conducive to their children’s learning styles; perhaps they have decided to change the order of their worship; perhaps they have tried creative ways to reach out to the lost in their community. If such actions fit within the authority and plan of God, Church A should not be overly concerned about what other Christians think; they are responsible to the Lord in carrying out His work effectively.
The biggest danger, however, is not in what other people think; the biggest danger is simple apathy. It is, indeed, easier simply to continue what has always been done; it is simpler to believe that what worked a generation ago will work just as effectively today. The Christians in Laodicea fell prey to such notions and became a church in trouble. In fact, Jesus told them, “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). This status-quo apathy does not arise overnight, but instead gradually occurs as each member loses his or her zeal to serve God as effectively as possible. This can often have an impact on church leaders who grow discouraged because of an overall lack of excitement displayed by the congregation toward the work of the Lord. When this occurs, a church is simply waiting to die.
Such a change of thinking in religious matters poses challenges. In the twenty-first century, many label New Testament Christianity as “status-quo” and seek to throw it away in favor of worship “productions” and society-improving plans. Faithful Christians must beware of such notions while also not fearing to change approaches that, while effective a generation ago, have lost effectiveness in a new era. The key in this is to stay firmly within the plan of God and to carry out this plan as effectively as possible.
For each Christian, it is of utmost importance to constantly reaffirm faith in God and to keep this faith from dying because, with God, there is no middle ground. When one stops growing one starts dying, thus, status quo thinking is nothing more than a slow march to a spiritual grave. May our faith always be alive and active, seeking to give God the very best. When this attitude is put into action, faith will grow and God will be pleased.
