The Church’s Identity Crisis

The world is clamoring for answers. Everyone feels pressured to take sides; and yet, whatever side you choose will be offensive to those with opposing views. Opposing views create labels, or identifiers. Terms like racists, radicals, haters, homophobic, and unpatriotic are commonly used just to name a few. Your opinion determines your label, depending on which side of the aisle you stand. Our country is polarized, frozen between “truths” that politicians, activists and
the media has created. These truths are laced in fear. This is intentional.

Satan knows that if he can cause believers to walk in fear and not love, they will lack discernment and be ineffective.

The events of 2020 were extremely revealing and painful. Given the opportunity to be the light in the midst of great darkness and confusion, the church appeared to be just as divided as the world. Christian against Christian taking sides, armed with accusations and misunderstandings, unable to shine the light of Jesus Christ because of offense and the inability to learn from brothers and sisters across the aisle. We took on labels that God never intended us to have. We, as the Church, became more divided amidst the confusion.

How did we get here?

I am sure there are many reasons why we got away from Acts 2 in the New Testament to where we are today. Life happens, right? It may be easy to explain and even justify why we are divided in the church, but we cannot ignore the heartfelt prayer of Jesus in John 17. The real question remains, to whom does our true allegiance belong? Are we fully devoted to our political party, causes, opinions, and cultural norms, or are we loyal to
Jesus Christ? We can’t choose both. God’s holiness demands our single devotion to Him alone without a close second.

The roadmap to bringing peace and hope in society is outlined in scripture.

Therefore, we are not called to take on a label or any other identifier. We are called to influence society with the Word of God as our only plumbline of truth walking in complete unity by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no plan B.

In many ways, we have recognized John 17 as more of a nice gesture, rather than a heart cry from our Savior.

In other words, unity has not been seen as a real need. We have found a way to function successfully in our “camps” without ever working with other believers from different denominations, ethnicities or neighborhoods. We’ve built megachurches, TV ministries, and impressive outreach programs. Our quarterly reports confirm the effectiveness of our camp and the impact our camp is having in our communities and around the world. From our viewpoint, we are doing just fine without unity. Besides, it is not in our best interest to fellowship with the frozen chosen or the charismatics. After all, we must be faithful to grow our own ministries.

Unity is seen as important only within our individual churches, denominations, and those who think, look, and live like we do, but not outside of our camp.

Not only is this seen as unnecessary, but it’s uncomfortable. Basically, unity has been resigned as something that will happen in heaven, but not a necessity in this life.

I am in no way suggesting that our churches have been ineffective.

We have seen many souls saved in our camps and I am eternally grateful for this. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this mindset is keeping us from coming into full alignment with God and His word,

and now we are witnessing the fruit of our disregard for the vital priority of unity among all true believers.

There are times and seasons where God will wait for His children to obey and repent, but if we continue in our own ways, eventually we begin to see the fruit of our disobedience. God is speaking to the Church now. The fruit is evident, and the hour is late.
Perhaps culture plays a significant role in our complacency regarding division in the Church. Success in the world is defined by climbing the financial ladder of wealth, expensive cars, homes, and education. This requires a competitive mindset and self-promotion. Unfortunately, this mindset has crept its way into the Church.

Ministry leaders oftentimes find their identity and worth in the number of followers they have or how popular their messages are.

But God is the only one who can define us, and He calls us His own. Nothing in this world can compete
with this truth. Therefore, our success is found when we simply follow where Jesus leads us. We are successful when we love God and love others. It’s really that simple.

We are facing an identity crisis in the Church.

We have forgotten who we really are! The Word of God gives us our identity, not the world. 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV):

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light.

Unity with one another is our new identity!

The Word tells us that Jesus paid for our oneness on the cross! Ephesians 2:14-16 (AMP):

“For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made two groups, Jews and Gentiles, into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall of spiritual antagonism between us, by abolishing in His own crucified flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances which He satisfied, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace. And that He might reconcile them both Jew and Gentile, united in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.”

Unity with one another is central to the Gospel!

The world appears to be groaning for the manifestation of the children of God. The world is groaning, in need of proof that there is hope in Jesus Christ. We, the Church, are that proof. When we come together, allowing nothing to separate us, the world will see Jesus and will know that God loves them as He loves Jesus. (Note John 17:23.)

Our world is experiencing great distress and yet I believe that this can be our finest hour.

As we, the Church, align ourselves with God and commit ourselves to unity, love, and the Gospel of Jesus, we will see a great harvest of souls. I do not believe that the Son of God prayed a prayer that God the Father will not answer. Jesus prayed for our unity before dying on the cross, taking on the sins of the world. God will answer this prayer. Jesus will have a unified Church here on earth!

I am so thankful for The Sending Project (TSP) for responding to the prayer of Jesus Christ by uniting believers across Kansas City. TSP brings believers together from different backgrounds, denominations, and ethnicities, creating unity which happens organically as we learn to do life together. The natural result of this is love for one another. We begin to see one another through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, not labels created by the world.

Imagine what it would look like if we followed the pattern of the early Church where a diverse group of pastors and leaders came together, fasting and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:1-2:

“Now in the church that was Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Scholars believe that Niger and Lucius were from African descent.

Imagine a Church where racial justice AND protecting the unborn are both biblical issues (no label necessary).

Psalm 103:6:

“The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

Imagine a day where the world looks to believers as a roadmap for racial unity and peace.

Imagine a day when the Church turns the world upside down with the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not dependent upon political parties or activists, but only the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God! Imagine the Church walking in her true identity, nothing added. Imagine the Church as glory carriers. (Note John 17:22.)

“And the glory which you gave me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.”

I believe that we are alive in this hour to be carriers of His glory. As ambassadors for Christ, we must see through the eyes of Jesus, not the world. We can no longer allow ourselves to receive truth from any source but God’s Word. And we cannot allow our voices to co-mingle with voices of hatred on either side of the aisle. When we do, we use the Lord’s name in vain and we
misrepresent Him. God is holy. We must be, too. Therefore, we can no longer take on the world’s labels, taking sides, arguing with the lost, destroying the harvest with our words of accusations and hate. Instead, we are called to speak truth in love, never hate. We are His Body. We are identified with Christ. We are called to make His name famous!

Church, this just may be our finest hour, but it is up to us. I am sensing a move of the Holy Spirit uniting the Church here in Kansas City! I believe we are about to see a powerful move of God and I wait in expectation. Now is the time to prepare ourselves through repentance and a renewed devotion to the simplicity of the Gospel. Nothing added. The harvest is ripe!