I was discussing this with a friend of mine

[MacUser]

We try to keep God in tiny boxes only to find out ( whether walked slowly, dragged kicking and screaming, or given instant epiphanies ) that We are the one in HIS boxes.

Possible Real Answers for Phil:
Being 4th Gen ( seen effects on my kids 5th Gen ) and worked several leadership positions.. I've seen personalities overpower the Gospel. I've seen Clubs other than Churches. I've seen the word of God used to control rather than set the captives free. I witnessed the Future Generation neglected for today's fleeting security.


My Heartfelt Thoughts
The real Church is simply a group of Believers and has nothing to do with a building, organization or historical legacy. Our main, main, main goal should be spread the Good News or Gospel of Jesus Christ and explain over and over what that means to people's real problems today ( Lift HIM up via any vehicle that's running ) and not worry about or stress over keeping [ insert any organization name ] functioning as a museum.

We can't blame Society
We can't blame past Generation
We can't blame the current Generation
We can't blame the future Generation
We can't blame McDonald's or Wal-Mart
We can't blame [ insert it here ]

Regardless... Christ is the final answer.

[paul]

"MacUser"

My Heartfelt Thoughts
The real Church is simply a group of Believers and has nothing to do with a building, organization or historical legacy. Our main, main, main goal should be spread the Good News or Gospel of Jesus Christ and explain over and over what that means to people's real problems today ( Lift HIM up via any vehicle that's running ) and not worry about or stress over keeping [ insert any organization name ] functioning as a museum.
Regardless... Christ is the final answer.

This is what I know.

2Co 5:17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
18: But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
19: to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20: We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Thes are the elements of that the Divine Exchange.
I. JESUS TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT AND OFFERS US REMISSION OF OUR
SINS.
2. Forgiveness: When someone forgives us, he forgets about the things
we’ve done wrong.
3. Remission: When our sin is remitted, all evidence of its existence is
totally wiped out. That’s what the blood of Jesus does for us.
4. Jesus’ blood wipes out the evidence of all our sin.

II.JESUS TOOK OUR SICKNESS AND PAIN AND OFFERS US HEALING AND HEALTH (1 PETER 2:24; ISAIAH 53:4; MATTHEW 8:17).
1. The bad that went to Jesus: sickness and pains
2. The good that came to us: healing and health
3. Jesus is the Healer. (Jehovah Rapha: “I am the God who heals you.”)

III. JESUS TOOK OUR SIN AND OFFERS US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21)
1. This is what happened at the cross of Jesus.
2. God made Jesus to be sin for us.
3. God transmits the sins of the world onto His Son.
4. It is the imputed righteousness of Christ to us. It is not our self-
righteousness.
5. There will never come a time when you are more righteous than you are right now.

IV. JESUS TOOK OUR DEATH AND OFFERS US HIS LIFE (ROMANS 6:23)
1. When we come to Jesus, the divine life of God is transmitted into our
human spirit.
2. Our spirit comes alive with the very life of God.
3. John 1:4 The life of God in our human spirit is the light of God
in us. John 10:10 When we turn from sin, repent, and come to Christ
John 3:16. We receive the life of God into our human spirit.

This is what I know!
God took all the bad that was due to us because of our sin and laid it on Jesus. Then God took all the good that was due to the sinless obedience of Jesus and offers it to us, free of charge, when we put our faith in Christ. This is what the world must hear. More about the message and less about the messenger.

[Russell Roberts]

Macuser, that was a good statement. Loyalty to a denomination will not change the world. Loyalty to Jesus will.