Never Be Afraid To Try New Ideas!

When someone is convinced that something can’t be done, they will cling to that conviction in the face of the most obvious contradiction. It is said that when Robert Fulton gave the first public demonstration of his steamboat, one of those “can’t be done” folks stood in the crowd along the shore repeating, “He can’t start her.” Suddenly, there was belch of steam and the boat began to move forward. Startled, the man stared for a moment, and then began to chant, “He can’t stop her!”

Time and time again, this writer has heard this statement from well-meaning folks: “We tried that 20 years ago and it didn’t work.” Of course, no one takes the time to realize that 20 years have passed, and perhaps that “now” might be the time for that idea to really produce fruit. Some folks are really ridiculed for wanting to try something new. The gainsayers answer, “I don’t know about that idea — nobody has done that before — why, what will people think?”

Dear reader, let’s not allow ridicule or fear of failure stop us from trying new ideas, whether it’s own own idea, or someone else’s. Without trying something new, progress in any area of life would eventually come to a standstill. One thing we certainly don’t to be guilty of is violating any biblical principles (1 Peter 4:11). However, oftentimes the Bible tells us “what” to do, but does not specify “how” to do it (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). The Lord has left it up to us to decide the methods used for getting the job done.

People coming to Christ, oftentimes come from various backgrounds. They enter the church with excitement and bring along new ideas. These new ideas may seem strange to those of us who have been “raised in the church.” However, if we don’t allow people the opportunity to express their new ideas, it is a good possibility that the church will stagnate and eventually die. While some new ideas may not be practical or of much value, let’s not ever squelch the possibility of some of them working. Let’s never allow the gainsayers to criticize those who would put forth new ideas and concepts.

And for those of us who are in positions of leadership, let us never become water hoses that put out the fires of innovative and “out-of-the-box” thinking.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets