There is no getting around the fact that a Christian community is one that suffers. The pioneer of our faith suffered, the main symbol of our tradition is one of agony and death, and it’s no use trying to remove the cruciform marks from the hands and feet of the church. The mark of the gospel is not health and wealth, but nails and blood.13

Sadly, the still-imperfect nature of the church proves too challenging for some. They prefer to be “spiritual but not religious.” They embrace Jesus but ditch the church, oblivious to the fact that in so doing, they are creepily embracing a decapitated head.

Christianity would be a lot more comfortable if we could just keep to ourselves and mind our own business. But we are called to mission, to tirelessly serve others and evangelize, which is not easy.

When the Christian church is comfortable and cultural, she tends to be weak. When she is uncomfortable and countercultural, she tends to be strong.

The Spirit requires us to admit that our rationality isn’t enough. We can’t just think our way to spiritual growth and missional impact. We must rely on the Spirit, and that means taking seriously Paul’s commands for believers to “earnestly desire” the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31), especially the gift of prophecy (14:1).

Far from a symbol of shame, the cross is a symbol of victory for those who believe. We are victorious in Jesus (1 Cor. 15:57), more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37), led by Christ in triumphal procession (2 Cor. 2:14). The cross is victory over sin and deliverance from darkness (Col. 1:13); it destroys “the one who has the power of death” (Heb. 2:14);

submitting to the authority of community is a key part of the Christian life.

The church is necessarily plural. To say you “love Jesus but not the church” is to say you prefer a decapitated head. That’s creepy and doesn’t work biblically (see Eph. 5:23).

Churches must commit to loving and walking alongside same-sex-attracted people.