Changing Our Minds

Are we allowed to change our minds about God, religion and church?

Looking at Christian history, the traditions and practices of the church have changed many times over the centuries, and Jesus himself brought new understanding about who God is and what God is doing in our communities.

How do we change, when sometimes change has more to do with our preferences and fashions than with God’s timeless truth?

The Book of Acts has a couple of stories about big debates and changes in the early church, led by Peter and Paul. In Acts 10, we see how Peter had his mind changed about eating unclean food (not kosher) with Gentiles through a vision from God, and in Acts 11 Peter shared the vision with church leaders. This is why Christians do not keep the kosher dietary laws that are tradition with the Jewish faith.

Paul changes his mind about the role of circumcision for believers because of his work among the Gentiles (non-Jewish) believers. In Acts 15, Paul shares how God is working among Gentiles and how we should not put barriers in the way of Gentiles joining the church and following Jesus. The church decides that circumcision is not required.

These were huge changes for the church, and go to some of the oldest and deepest traditions of the Jewish faith. Peter and Paul stood up and shared how God had given them new visions and understandings, and they convinced the church to change.

What about today? I’m sure we can each come up with a list of changes we think should or should not happen in churches now. Some of us are also considering whether to make personal changes in what we believe about God and God’s work through churches.

Let us consider the wisdom of Gamaliel in Acts 5, and prayerfully consider if we are blocking God’s continuing work in the world, or letting God’s work move us in new directions. This is not easy to figure out, and sometimes it takes a lot of time in prayer and conversation.

Changing our minds is no small thing, and we need to make sure we are doing it in alignment with God’s vision for our churches and lives today. But sometimes, we need to change to keep up with God, and our refusal to see God’s vision can block new people from becoming believers and receiving God’s grace.

May God bless you on your journey of wisdom and understanding. Amen.

Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter

January 29, 2026