The Issue

• When should things remain the same & when should things change?
• Some hold that all things should remain essentially the same.
• Some hold that all things should continually change.
• Constancy & change are the essence of conservative & liberal viewpoints.

• Unchanging, preserve the original.
• Religion, politics, the environment - preserve what is established.
• Physics - charge, energy & mass change but system totals are constant.

• Changing, flexible, giving.
• Open to change, not bound by traditional forms, tolerant.
• Marked by generosity & openhandedness.

• Which character in the Bible best reflects constancy?
• Which character in the Bible best reflects flexibility?

• Many characters reflect constancy & change, but God is the final standard.
• God is unchanging (Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8).
• God is flexible (Phil 2:6-7) & giving (Jn 3:16).
• Is this a compromise, contradiction or paradox?
• Scripture reflects an ultimate balance in the character of God.
• Figure: "The Contrasting Symmetries of God."

• Society is profoundly confused on what should be changed & what should not.
• We change the things which should be preserved.
• We preserve the things which should be changed.
• What is the solution?
• Determine those things God does not want to change & seek to preserve them.
• Doctrine, for example, should not change (1 Tim 4:1-11).
• Determine those things God wants to change & seek to be flexible & giving.
• Retain the same message but use different approaches (Jn 1:14, 1 Cor 9:19-23).