This is written partially in response to a note posted by a friend of
mine, so if anything seems slightly disjointed or a bit random, that is
the reason for it.

Churches find themselves in a pretty pickle sometimes. They find themselves fighting every direction because of differences in opinion and "needs" of different ages. Old people want to sing "How Great Thou Art" and nothing else, while the hooligans dispersed through the congregation want "Shout Unto God" and "Song of the Redeemed." When all is said and done, someone always feels as though they haven't been engaged. They feel as though the church is ignoring their "needs," not doing things in a certain way that best involves them.

To put it simply, good for the Church.

I enjoy "Shout Unto God" as much as the next hormone-laden college kid, but when "Joyful, Joyful" (or "Your Grace Is Enough" or anything upbeat and catchy, just so I'm not cracking on just the oldies J) is played in Sunday worship, my response isn't dissatisfied or irritated. It is worship to God.

For once, the problem is less with most churches than it is with the Church. People go to church looking to be engaged, excited, whatever else. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being engaged, excited, not even a problem with whatever else. It's when that is the desire, the reason for going into the church.

A Believer, simply put, is not going to go into a local body and find identity and purpose if their reason for going into the body is to find identity and purpose. They are sorely misled, and strongly diverted from the right track. Seeking after God's heart should be the true focus of a Believer going into a church. When a person finds the right focus on Jesus in their heart, the identity and purpose will be added to them. It isn't a matter of us knowing who we are so that we can focus properly on our purpose and Jesus. Jesus IS our purpose and our identity. If He isn't our goal, the rest will fall to shambles. If a church is preaching the
TRUTH of Jesus Christ in a responsible manner, and spreading that Truth further is their goal, then an issue of identity and purpose lies not
with the church, but with the Christ Follower in question.

A reformation is a burning desire in the heart of many of God's Children, and in God's heart too as He wants none to perish, and to that end, Christ Followers should mobilize strongly in an effort to spread Truth. Setting goals like a billion people, is, unfortunately, quite
foolhardy. Now, should we reach a billion (heck, we should reach 6.5
billion!) people with the Word? My goodness, yes. Setting goals on the
work of the Holy Spirit, unfortunately, comes across as arrogant and
presumptuous on the part of those organizing the efforts.

Church is a family. It is a place to worship an incredible, sovereign God. It is NOT an event, an obligation, or a building. The Church is the Bride of Christ. As Christ Followers, the Church is life, and to live is
Christ. Do we all need to buck up and apply what we learn? Yeah, we do. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. It is not that of Dean, Jerel, Fritz, Belle Aire, AO, RUF, or any other minister or ministry. OURS. The great commission is to Believers in general, not to simply to churches or organizations (though they are a great conduit for accomplishing it more efficiently and on a grander scale).

I'm not intentionally stepping on anyone's toes, but there is a selfish attitude aloof in the Church that needs to stop. The Church is about the identity of Jesus and God's purpose, not who we are or where we're going. That said, what should concern us the most is simple. We are at all times a witness for Christ and need to live like it. If that takes debating a point of morality (yeah, I said it), putting yourself in between an attacker and a victim, opening a door, or flat out speaking the Gospel of Christ, we need to reach everyone we know and make sure that we can be held blameless for their knowledge or ignorance of Truth.