“And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart” – 2 Samuel 6:3 (KJV).
While we must acknowledge the need to repackage and rebrand to remain current and relevant in this dispensation, care must be taken however to ensure that we do not compromise God’s standard or disobey his divine instructions and commandments. We cannot sacrifice quality for quantity. I quite admit that many believers and ministers have become obsolete and unproductive because they have lost the cutting edge of their lives and ministries. Most people insist that things must remain the way they have always been. They have refused to open their minds and hearts to embrace change. As a result, they have become unproductive and irrelevant in life. They have refused to embrace the internet and social media, the cable and modern technology to enable them become more productive in ministry. They seem to have forgotten that God is a progressive God. Another thing they are ignorant of is that challenges of life differ from generation to generation. Everything keeps changing including methods but God never changes. As we discover that people’s taste and interest change from generation to generation, we see the need to repackage and rebrand
However, in re-packaging, care must be taken to ensure that the content of the gospel is not compromised. God’s standard remains constant in a changing world. God’s will cannot be repackaged by man. God’s instruction concerning the conveyance of the Ark of covenant was clear. Modernism has not changed the instruction. None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them have the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God on their shoulder and to minister unto him forever (1 Chronicle 15:2). In working with God, we must be very careful not to allow over familiarity affect our obedience to his instructions. The children of Israel in a bid to take away pain and sacrifice from the ministry decided to flout God’s instructions and substitute it with a new cart. They adopted easy going way, serving God without pain or sacrifice. It did not take long time for God to show his disapproval. We cannot be wiser than God. The cart cannot balance the ark; Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and to take hold of it: for the oxen shook it.
We live in a perilous time that the love of many for God is waxing cold. People want to get the crown but evade the cross. They want to get the crown but avoid the suffering. This generation has developed a new cart all in the pretense of repackaging. One-on-one evangelism has become obsolete, fasting and genuine repentance has been abandoned by many, new songs that feed their ego like. “Me I no go suffer, I no go beg for bread, God of miracle na my papa oooo, God of miracle na my papa oooo”. The word of God makes it clear “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake” – Philippians 1:29 (KJV)
Prayer: Dear Lord, as I repackage, may I not compromise your will in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu