No. Yes. Maybe. The third answer gets more complicated. We must understand two principles. First, we are not free to alter the Scriptures, the Ten Commandments, or anything else God has clearly revealed to us. Second, we are free to do anything that God has neither forbidden nor commanded. So then can we change anything that God has left open to us?

The apostle Paul advises, “ ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23). Just because we can change things does not mean that we should.

If the change does not build faith but instead troubles the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we might choose not to change. If a change is necessary, we will go about making the change in such a way that it does not destroy the faith of believers.

As God’s people we must understand that we are all intertwined as part of his church here on earth. We know that without faith in Jesus there is no hope of forgiveness, life, or salvation. None of us wants to do something that will destroy the faith of another. So we are careful about what we do. Love for others in God’s household guides us in our discussions of proposed changes so that what is adopted—if it is a change or not—is beneficial and constructive to the others in Christ’s church.

As believers we are also concerned about what those outside the visible church think of our changes. Two examples: We might be free to serve beer or wine after our congregational meetings, but we don’t. That would give the wrong impression of our beliefs to those who do not know us. And we don’t immerse people at Baptism either. Certainly we can, but that might give the impression that we hold a view of Baptism that requires immersion, and that is not biblical. So we don’t.

We have to ask difficult questions when thinking about change. Does our action imply that we have changed our beliefs? Do our changes make us just like everyone else and minimize the teachings God has led us to hold dear? Do changes amount to little more than a “bait and switch” strategy? In other words, do we change to attract others who expect us to be like the church down the street but then we require them to switch to a host of Bible teachings not believed by the church down the street?