The Same Template Does Not Fit All Situations
Hebrews 8
KJV
8+ For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
The greatest challenge we have in winning others and staying faithful to Christ is that of template. Yes, template! The majority of people desirous of being Christian’s are unaware that God changed the template.
Even those who know are aware ( priests, pastors etc) are unwilling to let others know for reasons best known to themselves
Unfortunately, they are not alone even the Jews of Jesus’ time were equally guilty. A change in covenant is a template change. That’s what the Holy Spirit said.
Read it ;
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away
That one template (spiritual) does not fit every situation/development, or generation is easy to say but hard to practice.
When we apply this to our local congregational setup, it will help us understand why we are what we are today. When a congregation starts the pioneers' design and adopts certain practices meant to help solve or advance the cause of Christ and His church.
What is sad is that, over time, these “original situational templates” become sacrosanct and appear to be biblical, if not doctrine.
Many a congregation is wallowing in difficulties, lack of growth, financial challenges etc simply because they are upholding and practising the old templates.
What should they do one may ask? To set the spirit of the congregation free leaders must pause, study and examine the prevailing template.
They must ask: When was it crafted? Why was it crafted? What purpose was it supposed to serve? Do the same challenges still exist?
Templates are generational and purpose-driven; we must not be afraid to examine and change them. . This is what leadership is about , to break down and remove old templates and in their place design and construct new ones.
Read this,
Jeremiah 1
KJV
10+ See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Congregations that are growing are those whose leaders have studied and understood this principle and are applying it.
Templates are generational and purpose-designed and driven; they are not meant to last. Are you struggling to grow? Identify the template you are using, ask when it was designed and set into operation.
What challenges were they designed to address are they still there? God changed His template when it has outlived its purpose and use.
The OT gave way to the NT, if God could do this then why are you holding on to an archaic obsolete template that has served its time and purpose in your congregation?
A thought to share with the wise!