YOU MIGHT BE A STIFF-NECK

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is most famously known for taking a derogatory word, “redneck” and celebrating it by poking fun at stereotypical redneck behavior, even cajoling his listeners to evaluate their own quirky behaviors. He defines “redneck” as a glorious absence of sophistication and in his 1993 comedy album You Might Be a Redneck If... brought the term into the mainstream.

As I continue to work through Chuck Swindoll’s “The Church Awakening”, I was reminded of a dangerous attitude that exists in the church. An attitude that has led the church to drift from its mission, its mandate, and its effectiveness. That attitude - stubborn inflexibility!

Today we consider the third and final imperative that Swindoll touts as essential for a church awakening...


BE FLEXIBLE

Wise, essential changes must occur
to counteract any sign of erosion!

In the Old Testament, God’s frustration is clearly seen as the people of God often resisted His leading. Take for example Exodus 32.

And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.-- Exodus 32: 9-10 (KJV)


The adjective "stiff-necked" was coined by William Tyndale for his 1526 translation of the Acts of the Apostles (7: 51), but the phrase "stiffnecked people" (sans hyphen) first appears here, and it will be applied again and again to the obstreperous Israelites.

Their necks are called "stiff" because they won't bend to God's will, in this case his commandment against graven images. As he sees the Israelites eat, drink, and make merry in the company of their new golden god, Yahweh cuts short his conference with Moses and vows to wipe out the entire group.

While resisting God is not new, it certainly is prevalent in today’s church. Being stiff-necked is nothing more than resisting the Spirit of God. Sometimes it comes because of:

• 

Arrogance (I know better than God)

• Obstinance (I don’t care what God wants)

• Disobedience (I will not do what God wants)

• Fear (I am scared of what God wants)

• Unbelief (I don’t trust what God want)



The church must be flexible and willing to make changes in order to fight against the erosion that has occured. Here are a few necessary ingredients to fighting erosion:



• Church leaders must have pliable hearts in the hands of God. 

• Church members must embrace change as good and as necessary (so long as those changes are Biblical and Spirit-led)

• Agendas must be laid aside

• Prayer must be primary

• Humility will be evident

Change is never easy when erosion has occured in the church, but it is essential!

So what does all of this have to do with Jeff Foxworthy? Mike Palmer, a pastor and friend, first brought this idea of "You might be stiff-necked" to me. There’s definitely a sermon series there! Are you resisting the Spirit of God? Are you standing in the way of His will? If so...you might just be...