The Ethiopian Innovation

If Philip the Evangelist was anything, he was open to change.

Change is difficult.

It's a challenge in families, in businesses, in churches, in communities and in entire countries.

In fact, the only person who really likes change is a baby with a wet diaper. That's a welcome change.

Throughout history, people have been afraid of innovation. The list includes:

German writer Johann Georg Heinzmann, who warned people in 1795 about reading. He said that consuming words leads to a "weakening of the eyes, heat rashes, gout, arthritis, hemorrhoids, asthma, apoplexy, pulmonary disease, indigestion, blocking of the bowels, nervous disorder, migraines, epilepsy, hypochondria and melancholy." Be careful about reading! Kind of an odd concern for a writer to have.

Then, in 1803, preacher Jedidiah Morse said, "Let us guard against the insidious encroachments of innovation, that evil and beguiling spirit which is now stalking to and fro through the earth seeking whom he may destroy." Safe to say that he wasn't open to new forms of praise music in his Sunday...