It’s Time to Think Differently
In 1997, Apple was struggling. Today, it is one of the most valuable companies in the world. What changed? Apple made a decision to bring Steve Jobs back into a leadership position, in an effort to turn the company around.
What did Steve Jobs bring to the table? He viewed the world differently than others. He saw potential and opportunity where others saw roadblocks. That year, Apple came out with a groundbreaking advertising campaign: Think Different. A series of posters and ads profiled people who had made a major difference in human affairs, people like Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Thomas Edison, Miles Davis, Lucille Ball and many, many others. The ad included this line:
“Here’s to the crazy ones…people who pushed humanity forward…the misfits, the rebels, the trouble-makers…the ones who see things differently…you can’t ignore them, because they push the human race forward…the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
As we steward and shepherd the Alliance in its infancy, one of the statements we have consistently made to each other as board and staff members is this: “What should a an organization of churches look like in the 21st century?” This has helped clarify the vision and forced us to think differently. At the same time, one of the observations we have made along the way is along the lines of, “We need to retrain the thinking of the local church.” This isn’t a criticism or negative observation – it’s simply reality. For years, we’ve observed certain routines that – while having many benefits – can also be a tool of the devil to keep the church captive. It’s time to think differently.
But is thinking differently Biblical? Yes!!! There are many examples where thinking differently is blessed by God. Caleb was affirmed for thinking differently on the spy mission into the Promised Land as recorded in Numbers. Moses had to continually think differently from the start to finish of the Exodus, as God led in surprising and unexpected ways. God led Israel out of Egypt in 4 days, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel. The mindset of defeat, of slavery, of complaint, of fear and of captivity, needed to give way to victory, to freedom, to gratitude, and to faith.
In the New Testament, God commands Christians to think differently. After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV). After the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, Peter addressed the crowd and said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38 NIV).
But what did the word “repent” mean 2,000+ years ago? What does it mean today? The Greek word that has been translated into repent is metanoeo. It means “think differently” or “to change one’s mind for the better”. Indeed, metanoia was understood as a transformative change of heart, a spiritual conversion. This command – to repent – is a common theme in the early Church. We are commanded to think differently.
Paul instructs us to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5 NIV). We are instructed to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). Thinking differently, in alignment with Jesus, can change the world. In Acts 17, Paul and Silas were in Thessalonica when a mob was formed and rushed Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, stating, “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” (Acts 17: 5-7 NIV). Some translations go so far as to say that Paul and Silas, “Have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17: 6 KJV).
Thinking differently almost never starts out as a popular way forward. When Paul was defending himself in a Roman court, Festus (a Roman official) interrupted Paul stating, “You are out of your mind, Paul!” and, “Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:24, NIV). But we know that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV). Eventually in Rome, even while Paul was a prisoner, a great number of Caesar's own household and palace guard turned to Jesus as Lord through the gospel. (Phil. 1:13; 4:22)
The Apple advertisement was an ode “to the crazy ones;” “to the people who pushed humanity forward;” “to the misfits, the rebels, the trouble-makers;” and, “the ones who see things differently.” This advertisement serves as a reminder of the challenge before us today.
It’s time to start thinking differently, for the sake of The Gospel, for the sake of the local church, for the sake of your community and beyond. So gather the creative people; gather the ones others deem crazy; gather the misfits, the rebels, the trouble-makers…the ones who see things differently. The time is here and the time is now, and you have been called to be a part of God’s ongoing redemptive work. So let’s start struggling with these questions together.
What does a denomination look like in the 21st century? It needs to be less about governance and more about empowering, equipping and educating the local church for discipleship.
What does a network of churches mean? It needs to be less about governance and more about encouraging and empowering ministry.
What does a hub of churches mean? It needs to be about creating local partnerships with other churches and organizations and doing ministry together in the community for the sake of the gospel.
What does serving as an Elder or a Deacon mean? It needs to be about servant leadership, prayer and ministry, not administrative governance.
We could go on with many other similar questions. But they all end with the reality that we need to think differently and serve in the name of Jesus . . . we have a world to impact for the sake of the Gospel.
Written by Tim Vink & Joel Baar