I have recently had somewhat of brief discussions through email on this topic of who and what is "Church". I asked some brothers in the faith what they thought about the "Unplugged" website without telling them that this is the route I have gone. Not to get into the full details of it I was disappointed in some of their responses. Some of them were responses as if I was lost and needed to keep seeking God's direction on this. I realized more than ever that people will prejudge without fully reading the site. Some people don't want to understand what we are doing because it would force them to question what they believe. This made me want to dig deeper so that I could be better prepared when this conversation comes up while also strengthening my faith. But it actually had some negative effects. I realized this started to take over my thoughts. I had to spend more time praying about this because although I was thinking about something Christ built it didn't mean that I was thinking about Christ himself. I really had to check myself on this.

After all this I realized that although the responses were disappointing I also realize that it took me some time to get here. This wasn't something that was going to change the mind of people who are very comfortable where they are. I also realize that it's all they know so anything outside of that will seem wrong or be misunderstood. I pray that God will show everyone who has a heart for Christ and what He built will get full understanding of what he meant about the Church. As for me I came to the conclusion that I may have stopped being the Church for that period. You see if I consume myself with telling people to be the Church instead of actually being the Church myself then I am no different than those leading the church structure. You know, the ones who are in the church structure telling people that they need to come to church. I need to spend more time continually transforming my mind and changing myself to be a better example. The example of the Church that Christ talked about. That's what it's all about. Not services, preachings, teachings, conferences and shows (although I'm not saying those things are bad). It's the old saying of leading by example or in this case leading by Christ's example.

Don't get me wrong; I will continue to talk about the going to Church vs. being the Church topic. I still strongly feel that the church structure enables people to use the Church as a crutch. It enables people to feel that they need that building to go to for their spiritual survival. That needs to stop. I do believe it can be a place for foundational teaching, restoration, an outlet for meeting other believers for relationships and for meeting each other's need. All those things are for a time and should never be permanent. What should be permanent is being the Church. The current church structure has a long way to truly be the Church that Christ talked about and if it doesn't change it will continue to see the same results; less and less people being the Church. This will be my main focus. Being the Church and to constantly try to love God with all my heart, soul and mind and love my neighbor as myself. That's the beginning and end of being the Church. Without that, nothing else matters.