When Progress is to Step Away

One key aspect of God's character and ways is that He does not change.  In this regard (and countless others!) God is entirely unique, unlike everything and everyone on earth.  There is much about us that changes over time:  our minds, bodies, reactions and abilities can improve or degrade in various ways.  Governments, laws, organisations, businesses, products, quality of components, and members of an association are among countless things that change--and not always for the better.

Recently there was a change of the pope of the Catholic church, and this position of leadership has sway of the organisation as a whole.  One concern voiced by ministry leaders was how "progressive" the views of Pope Leo XIV are towards controversial topics such as abortion, a homosexual lifestyle and euthanasia.  As a Christian who believes God and His word do not change, the word "progressive" as a description sends off alarm bells because it is always a departure from God's wise ways which are established and immutable.  People and society continue to change, and there will always be some who want the church to "change with the times."  The church of Jesus Christ cannot do this and remain the church.  What some people call progress would better be called apostacy.

It is an infinitely good thing God does not change, for our salvation depends upon it.  In Malachi 3, God spoke of the coming of the Messiah who would purify and judge His people that they would offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.  Malachi 3:5-6 says, "And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien--because they do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. ⁶ "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."  God's people failed to observe His statutes, yet God did not alter His judgments to accommodate sin that would lead to their destruction.  God will uphold His righteous standards in holiness, and it is because the LORD does not change His people are eternally preserved.

The living God who revealed Himself to Moses is the same LORD who has been revealed to all in Jesus Christ and the Gospel.  Exodus 34:6-7 says, "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation."  If our Creator was not merciful and gracious, there would be no possible way for sinners to be forgiven, redeemed and transformed.  As all the good things we enjoy are from the hand of the LORD--even trials He makes work for our good--it is vital for God's people to fear God and walk in His ways.  Jesus Christ saves and makes fruitful those who abide in Him by faith.  To progress from Christ who alone has eternal life is to step away from Christ, to revert back to our own ways that only bring death.