Transformation Killers - Martin Wiles

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2 NKJV

 

We were on the precipice of a breakthrough when I heard those infamous words: “We’ve never done it that way before.” Transformation killers. 

 

Every church I’ve led wanted transformation of some sort. I witnessed it before accepting the position, but the key leaders also saw it. 

For one, it was size. They had dwindled to thirty-five people. Young adult families with children had moved away. The church needed new programs. At the next church, a new building lay on the horizon for some. The current one had deteriorated. Bats filled the belfry. No bathrooms existed upstairs. The next church was steeped in traditions that were killing the church's future. 

 

As the other leaders and I attempted to enact the changes necessary for transformation in appearance, attitudes, and attendance, we were often met with resistance: We’ve never done things this way before. We can’t afford for people to leave. How will we pay for it? Are we large enough to support this program?

We All Need Transformation Sometime

 

Churches periodically need transformation because those of us who go there need transformation. Instead of conforming to the world's destructive attitudes and evil actions, Paul says we should transform or renew our minds so that it reflects Christ’s thoughts.

Watch the Transformation Killers

 

Discouragement, fear, unforgiveness, and pessimism are all transformation killers. Naysayers will always be present when transformation lies on the horizon. Their lists of reasons why transformation can’t take place can be lengthy, but they are all designed to discourage enthusiasm, whether they realize it or not. Discouragement can spread like a raging wildfire and bring pessimism with it. Both will kill excitement.

 

Fear is sometimes behind transformation resistance—fear of change, fear of the different. But God isn’t the author of that spirit. He gives a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Belief, faith, and trust will drive away the fear of transformation.

 

Unforgiveness will also kill transformation by preventing us from working together to make it happen. It can be old feuds or conflicts between personalities.

 

Give God any mindset that keeps you or your church from being transformed.

 

Father, renew my mind daily so my actions will move me into the areas of transformation you desire.

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Transformation - Martin Wiles

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

My wife and I excelled at transforming yards, but this one … well ….

Our time had come to move—again. But this time, it wasn’t by force but by choice. We were excited, sort of, until we saw the backyard of the small patio townhome. Landscapers maintained the front yard, and our new landlords had transformed the inside, but the backyard was a mess. A single vine had overtaken an entire side of the three-sided privacy fence, briars had overrun what was once a rock-laden yard, suckers had covered the four crepe myrtle trees, and grass had scampered off for good. But we agreed when the landlord offered to cut our security deposit by three hundred dollars if we landscaped the area.

My wife, the creative one in our marriage, could see in her mind’s eye how she wanted the yard to look. She didn’t want to sow grass in the small area. She wanted to mulch it. So, we raked away all the dead briars, cut the suckers from the trees, and removed the dead weeds. After throwing it in the wooded area behind the townhome, we set out for Lowes. Ten bags of mulch later, we were back and spreading. But when we finished, we were one bag short. Back to Lowes we went for another five bags, just in case.

Once we had finished the mulching, we returned to our old townhome and removed the one hundred river rocks with which we had landscaped that yard. We loaded them into the back of my old Explorer—our moving van—one by one and drove three doors down. I handed them to my wife one by one, who carefully outlined our backyard with them. Then, we removed the fifteen landscaping squares in our old yard and made a walking path across the mulch, extending from our patio to the back gate.

After completing the yard, we worked on the fence. We brought the old implements that had hung on our old fence and put them on our new fence. Since I had already planted our garden vegetables, I also had to transplant them.

Seven hours later—with sweat-soaked clothes, clay-laced hands, and brown-mulched skin—we stood and admired the transformation we had created. “I wish I had taken a before picture,” my wife said as we looked over our new backyard. I wished she had, too.

Once we placed our patio furniture, our new little garden area was complete. We imagined how pleasant the evenings would be—sitting on our patio, watching the birds and squirrels, and seeing our garden grow.

I think Paul imagined God doing somewhat the same with people. From heaven—or everywhere since he’s omnipresent—God watches us and works in our lives, as my wife and I did with our new backyard. Paul calls it a transformation.

We need transformation because we aren’t what we should be or what God wants. Born with a sinful nature, we’ll travel the wrong path almost every time we’re given the chance. Although we may make some good choices, the bad will outweigh the good because of our sinful bent. Only God can transform that. And he does when we invite him into our lives, repent of our sins, and ask him for forgiveness.

Christ’s forgiveness propels us in God’s direction instead of the selfish one we’re born with. God transforms us so we don’t look, act, or think as we once did. As we submit to the process, we begin to see beauty in our lives we never could have mustered before. Through our obedience to the spiritual disciples of prayer, Bible study, and corporate worship, God turns us into something we almost don’t recognize. Nor do others.

I explained our new backyard to others by praising my wife’s creative genius and our hard work. We explained our new way of life by praising God’s grace and creative genius.

Make sure you are submitting to God’s transforming work.

Father, help me to submit to your transforming work in my life.

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Transformation Killers - Martin Wiles

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 NKJV

We were on the precipice of a breakthrough when I heard those infamous words: “We’ve never done it that way before.”

Every church I’ve pastored wanted transformation of some sort. I witnessed it before accepting the calls, but the key leaders saw it also. For one, it was size. They had dwindled to 35 people. Young adult families with children were moving away. New programs were needed. At the next church, it was a new building. The current one had deteriorated. Bats filled the belfry. No bathrooms existed upstairs. The next was steeped in traditions that were killing the future of the church.  

As I and the leaders attempted to enact the things necessary for transformation in appearance, attitudes, and attendance, we were often met with resistance: We’ve never done things this way before. We can’t afford for people to leave. How will we pay for it? Are we large enough to support this program? 

Churches periodically need transformation because believers need transformation. Instead of being conformed to the bad attitudes and evil actions of the world, Paul says I should transform or renew my mind so that it reflects the thoughts of Christ. 

Discouragement, fear, unforgiveness, and pessimism are all transformation killers. Naysayers will always be present when transformation is on the horizon. Their lists of reasons why transformation can’t take place can be lengthy, but they are all designed to discourage enthusiasm—whether they realize it or not. Discouragement can spread like a raging wildfire and bring pessimism with it. Both will kill excitement. 

Fear is sometimes behind the transformation resistance. Fear of change. Fear of the different. But God isn’t the author of that spirit. He gives a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Belief, faith, and trust will drive away the fear of transformation.

Unforgiveness will also kill transformation by preventing people from working together to make transformation happen. Old feuds. Conflicts between personalities. 

Give God any mindset that’s keeping you or your church from being transformed. 

Prayer: Father, renew our minds daily so our actions will move us into the areas of transformation You desire for us.

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