We’re talking about responses to change. We can…

• Embrace the change
• Accept the change
• Ignore the change
• Resist the change

The question is, how do we know when to do what? How did Daniel, for example, know that it was OK to study Chaldean literature but not OK to violate Jewish dietary laws?

I’ll suggest three possible sources of our decisions with the understanding that we often get these mixed up. See what you think.

• Precepts
• Principles
• Preferences

Precepts: what does the scripture say? They built an abortion clinic right in my neighborhood! Why don’t I just bomb it? Or assassinate the government leader that allowed it to be put there? Why not do those things? Scripture is clear:

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 1 Peter 2.11 – 16, ESV)

Principles: sometimes scripture doesn’t speak to an issue directly, but there are principles. Andy Stanley has suggested a simple question: “What does love require?” Finding and acting on the appropriate principles takes maturity and skill. That’s why we give our lives to knowing God and doing his will:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7.10, ESV)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6.12, ESV)

Preferences: the problem is we think our preferences come from precepts and principles. I don’t like the music we do in our church! They should change it!! Music style is a preference even though some have tried to make the Bible support their preference. Read Psalm 150. God seems to like all kinds of music. Randy Pope, pastor of Perimeter Presbyterian in Atlanta, suggests that if I don’t like a particular song, I look around to see if anyone else likes it. It’s a great application of Philippians 2:

…in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2.3, 4, ESV)

This is just a quick overview of ideas. Putting them into practice is more difficult. Just remember there are four responses to change, and we must choose one. Let’s pray to choose wisely.