The Church has always been called to a stewardship of innovation. While this terminology has not existed across 2000 years, the expectation has always been present. We may rarely speak using such language (something I hope changes in our time), but the biblical model for innovation is ever before us.
Innovation of this type is not the equivalent of that which occurs with a technology company or fast food corporation. The Church is not in the business of secret discoveries and shipping new products to market before someone else. Rather, the stewardship of innovation involves following the Spirit into a world filled with multiple pressures as we carry out the Great Commission–while constantly making necessary changes.
And there is the issue–change. 
Most local churches, denominations, agencies, and institutions do not like change and are not structured for change. We evangelicals are the utmost conservatives when it comes to our organization and structure. We are often slow to change; and once we do, we set such organization and structure in concrete. While stability is necessary for mission, such actions may reveal just how resistant we are to any future change and the Spirit who leads us to change.
If. . .
Jesus is building His Church, then we should expect change (Matt 16:13-19).
- Remember, He is intimately involved with His Church (Matt 16:18, 19; Acts 9:4)
If. . .
we are filled with a dynamic Spirit, then we should expect change (Acts 1:8).
- Remember, He is intimately involved with His Church (Acts 1:5; Eph 5:18)
Therefore. . .
the stewardship of innovation means we must anticipate and make wise adjustments as we labor for the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches. Sometimes such adjustments are small; sometimes such adjustments are massive.
The call to follow Jesus is a call to remove from our vocabularies the phrase “We’ve never done it that way before.” Innovation often takes us in new directions while building on the labors of those who have gone before. A reading of Acts makes this matter very clear.
Throughout the book of Acts, the Church often had to innovate for mission as the Spirit led into new frontiers. As Kingdom citizens, we are often required to change our general ways of thinking and functioning for the health of the Church and gospel advancement. Structures, institutions, organizations, and traditions are to remain nimble and held loosely. It is when the church resists Spirit-led change and the need to innovate in light of global circumstances that she soon finds herself impotent and in poor health.
Expect Change
Embrace the Old
Engage the New
In my next post, I plan to draw out some specific examples of the stewardship of innovation from the first century Church.
(image credit: Microsoft Office)
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