Thoughts on the Church and Where We Are in Society
Church Identity and Christian Mission in a Changing Society
🔄 Everything’s Changing
Cultural Change and Faith: Navigating the Shift with Kingdom Perspective
Shift. Everything’s changing. Faster than we could have ever imagined. Or so it seems. We find ourselves in a rapidly evolving world. Technology is advancing at lightning speed, cultural norms are shifting, and society is transforming in ways we never anticipated. As Christians, we may find this moment both exhilarating and daunting. From analog to AI, community to connectivity, libraries to livestreams, and truth to trending, our lives are changing in staggering ways – some inspiring, others deeply unsettling. But in the middle of this relentlessly accelerating momentum, something seems to be missing. Something simple. Something clear. And yet, something profoundly powerful. It’s summed up in one question: Where is the Church?
Of course, we know where churches are. Whether living in a rural area, the city, or the suburbs in between, churches are everywhere, or their locations at least are well known. Growing up and living most of my adult life in NYC, it was virtually impossible to not pass a church each and every day of my life. Living in the South, I've found it to be pretty much the same. The congregations may meet in different buildings, from the traditional simple frontier meetinghouses that still stand today to chapels and ornate cathedrals, from the living rooms and storefronts to the school auditoriums, converted warehouses, and stadiums. The times and number of worship services may vary. The specific demographic spread may differ, as well as specific doctrinal positions and leanings, and they may (and should) have different flavors, ministries, and specific purposes, but the question is not Where are the churches? It is Where is the Church, the Body of Christ?
⚡ Identity Crisis or Mission Drift?
Church Identity, Apostolic Assignment, and the Call to Occupy Until He Comes
Sometimes it feels like we — the Church of God — are having an identity crisis. Other times, it’s like we know who we are — but don’t know what we’re about — what we’re really about. We’ve got theology — systematic, biblical, practical — and we’ve got doctrine. But I’m concerned. Are we living it out? If so, how are we living it out? Are we walking in the assignment Jesus gave us? And not only am I concerned, but I’m also curious.
Do we actually understand our purpose? Or are we just waiting — waiting for the rapture, waiting to be rescued, waiting for someone else to do the work?
📖 Lessons from the Parables
Faith and Obedience in the Parable of the Talents and Parable of the Pounds
Biblical Stewardship and Kingdom Authority in Luke 19:13 and Matthew 25:23
Yet, I am acutely aware that Jesus didn’t call us to wait passively. He gave us Kingdom Authority (Luke 10:19) and told us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13). He taught us to reach souls, to expand the Kingdom, and to live in a way that will invite the commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Reflecting on the parables of the talents found in Matthew 25 and the parable of the pounds in Luke 19, we can see that the Lord places a premium on faith and obedience. Both pounds and talents are sums of money: the pound or mina was equivalent to 3 or 4 months wages while a talent was worth more or less 20 years of wages. This is mind-boggling because it shows how much the nobleman trusted and depended on the faithfulness of those who were left in charge.
Although in Matthew, Jesus merely refers to a man traveling to a far country, it is clear that he is a man of means — most likely a wealthy landowner, estate holder, or a merchant or international trader. That he had entrusted servants with more than 150 years of wages indicates a man of substantial means. We see that each servant is given according to his ability and that the man embarks on his journey. Although not directly stated, each servant or steward had a responsibility to work with the resources given to him. This is clearly seen when the estate holder returns and requires each to give an account of what he did with what was entrusted to him.
Yet, it is in Luke that we see an actual instruction given — occupy until I come (Luke 19:13). In other words: Get to work and work until I return. Jesus refers to the person of means as a nobleman who was traveling to a far country to receive a kingdom. In other words, he was going to be crowned. Although the money value that he leaves his servants is less than that in the parable of the talents, the instructions and the implications are clear. The word occupy pragmateuomai means to busy oneself, to be occupied in anything, to carry on a business, or to carry on the business of a banker or trader. All of these are active words. These are verbs that require intelligent and deliberate action. The passage implies active stewardship and faithful productivity. There is nothing passive here, and this is an active command from the nobleman to his servants to be busy about their master’s business. I am also reminded that Jesus had an understanding and commitment to be busy about His Father’s business even at the age of 12.
When the nobleman, king, estate holder or trader returns, he calls his servants to give an account. Of course, we know the rest of the parables. And now, back to the Church…
🏛️ The Mission of the Church
Christian Mission, Gospel Impact, and the Role of the Church in Society
I’m passionate about fulfilling the mission of the Church — not just in theory, but in practice. After more than 30 years in ministry, including planting and pastoring a local church for over a decade, I’ve come to believe this deeply: it takes the Church to fulfill the mission of the Church. That means everyday believers, local congregations, pastors, and ministry leaders all stepping up and stepping in. Jesus was about His Father’s business from a young age (Luke 2:49). We’ve got the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and we’ve got centuries of history. We have everything we need because He has given us everything we need — Himself. But somehow, we seem to be behind… especially in spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:12-14). The apostles were given a clear assignment: Go. Preach. Be witnesses. Impact (Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8). So where is our impact today?
💬 What I've Seen (and Lived)
Christian Leadership, Church Hurt and Healing, and the Global Church Experience
Not only was I raised in ministry — as the son of a pastor and a mother who was deeply involved in the work of the Church (actually ordained to assist my father in ministry, but that is another story) — but I was also trained by people who were serious about God, serious about His Word, and serious about His People. Ministry wasn’t just a Sunday thing — it was life.
And over the years, I’ve seen a lot. The good. The bad. The ugly. The confusing. I’ve seen leaders who were supposed to shepherd God’s people turn the Kingdom into personal kingdoms — territories, realms, and virtual empires built on ego rather than service (1 Peter 5:2-3)... and I’ve seen the fallout from pride, manipulation, and selfish ambition (James 3:16).
Yes, doctrinal disagreements happen. But those can be worked out and worked through when the vision is clear and the heart is right. The deeper issues like lack of unity, broken trust, and poor preparation are what really hold us back (Ephesians 4:3, Proverbs 11:14).
These issues often lead to church hurt, and church splits. I don’t even have to reference what we see happening in the headlines among those who have positions and trust and yet abuse and neglect those under their care. All of these things are heinous and disastrous and damaging to the name of the Lord… but I’ve also seen glimpses of what could be and what should be when the Church wakes up and remembers who she is.
🌱 When the Church Is the Church
Revival and Transformation Through the Body of Christ
Global Ambassadors and Local Impact
When saints commit to the process and the product, when local congregations strive for health — not just numbers — when we engage society with the good news of the Kingdom, not just salvation (though that’s paramount), we begin to see real impact.
Yes, Scripture warns of a falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Apostasy will be rampant. The road is narrow (Matthew 7:14). But there’s also that story — a man walking along the beach, tossing starfish back into the sea one by one. Someone tells him, “You’ll never save them all.” He replies, “I made a difference to that one.”
And that's the heart of the Gospel. That’s Luke 15:4 — the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to find the one. That’s Matthew 25:40 — “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for Me.”
When every believer sees themselves as part of the Church — not just a local member but a global ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) — when pastors and leaders are truly committed, we’ll see transformation. Changed lives. Changed communities. A society truly lit up by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
🔥 What Do We Do?
Faith, Obedience, and Advancing the Kingdom of God
When true believers hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6), when we stop perpetuating the problem and start being part of the solution, revival can happen. When we pray, fast, and seek God’s face (2 Chronicles 7:14) — not just sit on the bleachers hoping things get better — we’ll start to move.
When we want to be changed, transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), and do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21), we’ll submit, and we’ll grow. We’ll act, and we’ll accomplish. We will advance the Kingdom of God.
And maybe — just maybe — we’ll hear those words: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
So I ask, Are you willing to grow? and Are you willing to truly let the Church be the Church?