Radical vs Incremental Change

In my work lately there is a lot of discussion about the need for step-changes in technology: innovation, disruption, or otherwise bringing about radical change.  Some of this is driven by a need to meet the challenges facing the world of water, and some is folks looking for opportunities to make money on "the next big thing."

In parallel with the search for radical new ideas, there are also ongoing improvements to old ideas and technologies bringing about incremental change.

Perhaps there's an analogy here to our lives?

Radical Change?

Jesus said many radical things in His time on Earth, including: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

The Apostle Peter says "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Then the Apostle Paul says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

To be born again, to be saved, to be a new creation. These are all radical transformations.

 

Incremental Change?

Scripture is also full of encouragement for more gradual improvements. Most notably St Paul told the Roman believers:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So we can be transformed by a gradual process based on what we see, hear and read through the renewing of our minds. Self-help books, motivational speakers and inspirational stories can all help us transform into better people through incremental change on life's journey.

So which is it to be: radical or incremental change?

Radical then Incremental Change

Pulling this discussion back to technology and business for a brief moment, it's apparent that breakthroughs come first with radical changes and then they are built upon to something more refined through incremental improvements over time.  Take the example of the automobile. The invention of the internal combustion engine in the late 1800s introduced a radical new mode of transportation that has been refined and perfected over the proceeding 100+ years mostly through incremental tweaks, changes and enhancements to produce the "supercars" of today.

The same goes for us.  The Bible tells us that we need to first have a radical transformation because we are separated from God by our sins. In the same letter in which he talked about renewing our minds, Paul says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and that "the wages of sin is death."  In order to deal with this problem, through His radical love for us, Jesus came to the Earth to live, die and be raised again from the dead. Then our response is a simple step of faith:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you do this then, as the words above state, you "will be saved," you will be a "new creation" and you will be "born of God." Radical.

But that's the start.  Having trusted in Christ and having believed in what He did for a radical change in your relationship with God, you'll be able to tap into the source for incremental change known as the Holy Spirit. Then you can "walk by the Spirit" as He molds and shapes you into what God wants you to be.

Cart before the Horse

I'm nearly done, so hang in there, but I did want to make a couple of points in this discussion before I finish:

1.  Don't put the cart before the horse.  In your relationship with God, the radical change through trusting in Jesus has to come first.  No amount of incremental improvements and self-help can repair the rift between you and God. Admitting this is tough for a lot of people but if you can swallow your pride and admit your need, then it's liberating.
2. You need to work with the Spirit. I could write a whole blog just on this, but suffice it to say that a whole bunch of people try to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and wrestle with trying to improve themselves to be "good people" when all along they should let go and let God shape them.

OK, now I'm done!