What is the status quo?

 

A few years ago, Robert Samuelson wrote an editorial about Europe's economic failure.  This was written before the housing bubble burst and the stock market had its huge plunge.  He believed that their shrinking population and longer living elderly population was seriously threatening their existence.  They wanted to live in both the worlds of socialism and democracy.  They wanted welfare and economic freedom.  Basically, people want things to continue going on like they are.  But, Samuelson called that complacency and wrote, "The status quo isn't sustainable."

 

That's true, no matter what the subject.  You are not going to stand still very long.  If you do not make progress, you will go backwards.  If you are not growing, you are dying.  If you are not getting stronger, you are getting weaker.  It is easier for us to see others making the fatal mistake of complacency, but it is harder to see it in ourselves.

 

This satisfaction with the status quo is so popular because it is easier.  It is the path of least resistance, requiring the least effort, change, and challenge.  Someone has said, "Complacent people are like water, following the easiest course--which is downhill!"  But, our focus must be on the windshield, not the rearview mirror, as we head down the road (cf. Phil. 3:13-14).  The Bible is fairly replete with warnings against apathy and complacency (see Isa. 32:9-11; Prov. 1:32; Zeph. 1:12; etc.).  There are biblical warnings against those whose status quo is pretty focused on this life and this world.  It can include those who want to live in both worlds, who profess to be Christians but who do not really want Christ to transform their whole lives. 

 

Are we going to be satisfied with the status quo, when it comes to church growth, evangelism, Bible knowledge, personal spirituality, or church leadership?  A high jumper broke a track meet record in the event.  A reporter asked, "How did you jump so high?"  He responded, "I just threw my heart over the bar and my body followed it!"  Let us have our hearts on helping the church grow, reaching the lost, and growing in our own spiritual service because the status quo isn't sustainable!

 

--Neal Pollard