Rethinking an old phrase

I'm sure just about everyone has heard the phrase, "If isn't broke...don't fix it." After all, if something is operating well, wouldn't change have the possibility of affecting the operation negatively? Or so goes the thought...

The magazine I have been reading changes the thought a bit in relation to churches. The change goes like this: "If it isn't broke...break it!" The point being is that the Church is ministering to a changing world, and so the Church must constantly adapt in order to reach people. That is not to say that we are to change everything, however; there are many unchangeables. Unfortunately, too many churches have the mindset that if everything is functioning properly, then there is no need to change anything.

This goes hand-in-hand with my previous post about dreaming: "When your memories are more exciting than your dreams, you've begun to die" (Howard Hendricks). If the Church is not in a constant mode of evaluation -- a tear-it-apart, analyze it, put-it-back-together, mode -- are we not beginning to die?

Didn't the Apostle Paul say that he became all things to all people in order to save some? How is that possible unless you know what you need to "become," and you are willing to "become" whatever is needed? Maintaining the status quo works for awhile, but at some point it begins to falter. It seems to me that the Church might be more effective if we begin breaking some things.