In most orthodox places of worship, and in Churches in general, this legend “God, the same yesterday, today and forever” has been used as the trump card for resisting change in the Church structure. The question I ask is, is it true?

I am of the opinion that - based on our interpretation of it - the legend is very untrue. What I mean is, it is very wrong to use God as an excuse to uphold orthodoxy.

God, in my experience and in biblical account, seem to have a problem with using the same method twice. He almost always never does it. And method is what Church structure is all about.

I find that God always modify His method to suit the persons and situations involved. It is very wrong to think or even to imply that you can standardize the mode of God’s operations; even in the most basic, routine operations of His Spirit, He never fails to surprise me, there is always something new. It gets to the point that you just take the newness for granted!

What the Church should be looking out for is for those things that cannot be God. You see, God is always the same in that His nature is consistent. His response to situations and events are always consistent with His personality. He adapts to suite the situation according to the dictates of His wisdom, but always manages to be consistently Himself in all His actions. He can react predictably to situations if dealt with wisely, but - remember we are talking about the omniscient one – He cannot be manipulated; it is too impossible. He knows what you are thinking before you think it, He will wait for you to think it before deciding His course of response to your thoughts and will carry out His decisions as soon as you act upon your thoughts; greater still, He sees into your inner intentions and compulsions, and responds to them. He may decide to indulge you or to resist you according to His will or plans. But you will find Him very easy to deal with if you are straight and honest with Him and yourself, whereas, dealing with Him and trying to be smart is very foolish; it will not work – He is way ahead of you!

You see, many of us think that when the Bible said, “If we are unfaithful, He will remain faithful; because He cannot deny Himself”, that it means He is faithful to us even though we play it crooked with Him. No, He is never faithful to us. It is not possible; He was before all from Him all things came to be – he does not require our opinions for His well being. No, He is being faithful to His word and His promises. You cannot even use your relationship to manipulate Him. He has a immense sense of goodwill but not enough to submit to manipulation from a second rate being (He being first and we originating from Him).

Even His word and promises are phrased in a way that it cannot be used to manipulate Him. A lawyer couldn’t do it better; it always takes the form, “If you do your part, I will do mine”. In fact, if He strictly adheres to His word, if we fail to do our part; He would have to carry out the counter contract – you know, the part that holds you liable for damages; the Bible says sicknesses, diseases and all general “ill being (as opposed to “well being”) are consequences of “sin” – that is, consequences of crossing God.

Using ‘God; the same yesterday, today and forever” as a justification for rigid dogma and liturgy is simply untenable - with God it is foundationless, but with people, it is something else. It can be used to manipulate people and control their lives. You see – the issue is godlike control over people. But to that, God has this to say;

Eze. 13: 17 – 23

“17 ¶ Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

 18 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?

 19 And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

 20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.

 21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

 22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: