{"id":694970,"date":"2019-09-25T02:00:45","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T07:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thomrainer.com\/?p=694970"},"modified":"2020-02-07T15:26:59","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T21:26:59","slug":"stop-getting-mad-at-people-who-question-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/stop-getting-mad-at-people-who-question-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Getting Mad at People Who Question Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sam Rainer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Most people don\u2019t like change. Most leaders want to challenge the status quo. Leadership is, in part, the process of helping people see the need for change, embrace the vision for change, and then implement the change.<\/p>\n

Getting mad at people who question change does not help the process of change. Those who are truly malicious are typically small in number. When people have questions about change, it does not necessarily mean that they are questioning your leadership. It\u2019s likely they just have questions. In fact, the only leaders who go unquestioned are despots.<\/p>\n

Particularly in the church, there is built-in institutional resistance to change. Almost every church has this inherent resistance, especially established churches. The body may spend decades building something\u2014a program, a worship space, or a culture. Shifting direction on a decade\u2019s work is jarring, even if it\u2019s the right thing. The church is often the place people cling to the familiar. The world is changing rapidly, after all. At least the church offers some solace from what feels like a whirlwind of change.<\/p>\n

When a church leader introduces bold change, a strong reaction should be expected. Some will complain it\u2019s too much too soon. Others will complain it\u2019s too little too late. Others won\u2019t care. And a few will champion the change.<\/p>\n

Bold change almost always raises questions from people. Getting mad at people who raise the questions does nothing to help move them through the process of change. Yet a leader\u2019s visceral reaction to these questions is often anger. I\u2019ll admit I\u2019m guilty! And it\u2019s wrong, a leadership flaw, arguably sinful in many cases.<\/p>\n

So what can you do in the moment when questions fly your way? How can a church leader quell the knee-jerk anger to questions about change?<\/p>\n