If any good thing is going to be done for the soul, its ultimate origin is going to be God. Why? Because man is incapable of doing anything inherently good for his own soul. Jeremiah recognized that very fact, and his admission was, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Jeremiah had personally seen the depravity of his brethren when they had relied upon their self-dependence to worship, live, and interact with the nations of the world. Man’s way had failed because they had tried to fix a way that was not broken, God’s way. But in a few thousand years’ time would mankind not learn from the mistakes of the past and quit trying to improve upon a way that is already perfect and unbroken? You would think so, but such as simply not been the case. Man still thinks he is smarter than God and can fix a decrepit way that is outdated and outmoded. But we loudly proclaim, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Take for example the topic of worship. God stated a very clear and concise plan as to what He desires out of the worship of His children. He has commanded us to sing (Ephesians 5:19), pray (I Thessalonians 5:17), teach (Acts 2:42), partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), and give of our means (I Corinthians 16:1-2). This is what He has commanded and thus all He has authorized. “But,” cries the world, “it is so boring. Can’t we liven it up a little bit?” And by “livening it up” they include the mechanical instrument, exclude gospel preaching, minimize the importance of prayer, secularize the Lord’s Supper, and over-emphasize the contribution because of their greed. Such is an acceptable worship service to the unlearned individual who has wrested the scriptures beyond recognition and has no concern for the sanctity of God’s plan. But such is completely unacceptable to God (John 4:24) and to His faithful children. Why? Because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Think also about the arrangement of the church. The body of Christ was planned, prophesied, and established according to a very specific design. From its system of governing, to its function, to its terms of entrance, God has been very specific as to what His expectations for the church are to be. However, such has been completely unacceptable to the leaders of our “intellectual age.” Now from all around are cries of inclusiveness, equal roles, and expanded functions. Instead of evangelizing, now we must entertain. And instead of instructing, now we must merely include. However, this simply does not resemble the tried and true method designed by God; and method that is proven to work. Thus, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
And then, also consider the scheme of redemption. Does it not make sense that if God is going to promise a blessing to man that God should reserve the right to determine and set the conditions of that blessing? Well, it does make sense, and through scripture we find that that is the exact arrangement God has made regarding the topic of salvation. However, no longer in the religious world does the plan of God receive any respect or recognition. Now our concerns are on what the creeds, manuals, and catechisms state based upon the current reflections of a governing board. It now is too much to ask a person to upon faith, repent of sin, confess that faith, and be immersed in water to contact the blood of Christ and be redeemed from sin (Acts 2:14-47). The world now wants a more convenient and effortless way to achieve the same result. But upon what terms does man have a right to overrule God and determine his own conditions to be blessed? There are none! Because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
That old country proverb seems so simple, but its application is broad and powerful. Enough changes, some needed and some not, occur everyday in our lives. What God has provided is something that is unchanging because it needs no change. It is perfect, faultless, and blameless (Hebrews 8) and it should be left that way. Because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!