How?

How can the church move forward when those who claim to be Christians don't act like Christians, especially those who are in leadership or serving roles?

Here are a few verses that instruct us on this issue.

Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Isaiah is saying that when Jesus returns to rule on earth we won't act like we do now, so why do we continue to do so.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Just in these 4 passages we see how direct God is in dealing with this issue. He instructs us to walk in His light, leave our former passions, live as a sacrifice, and strive for purity. None of these passages are suggestions, but commands.

Just from my observations over the years, one of the most critical issues is our surroundings. What I mean by this is, who or what we surround ourselves with. Here are a few examples:

1) Television/Media- shows/movies with foul language, sex, crime
2) Music- rap, rock, country that talks about killing, drugs, sex
3) Social Scene- bars, clubs, parties
4) Friends- people who are stumbling blocks for us (don't abandon them, but you may have to not hang out with them). Remember Jesus didn't come for the healthy: Mark 2:17, but he also says, to keep good company, 1 Corinthians 5:9-12.

I don't want to come off as some legalistic saying, don't do this or that, but check yourself on these issues. Can you as a Christian, move forward with your faith if you are constantly being filled with these controllable temptations? So instead of watching Gray's Anatomy, read your Bible or a spiritual book; instead of listening to songs about killing someone, rock out to Chris Tomlin or Jeremy Camp; instead of going to a bar or party, go serve the homeless; instead of hanging out with your old friends who want to get wasted every night, get involved with a small group at church.

Please don't think I'm standing on my soapbox, judging anyone. Most of this comes from my own experiences. Only over the past two years have I started to grow in my faith and I can attribute this to checking myself and changing my surroundings. By no means is it easy, but it is necessary to further the Kingdom.

I leave you with this. Jesus said in Luke 8:21 "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."