Identity Crisis in the Church: Are We Really Living Out Who We Are?

A Wake-Up Call for Us All to Reclaim Our Identity in Christ

Beloved friend,

Have you ever stopped to think about the phrase "we are the church"? I mean, really think about it. We know, or at least we say we know, that the church isn’t the building—it’s us, the people in it. But do we really live like we believe that?

I once heard someone joke that the choir is the devil’s workshop because of all the mess happening behind the scenes. Now, I don’t believe for a second that there’s some dark force lurking in the choir loft, waiting to turn choristers into agents of chaos. No, it’s about identity. It’s the fact that so many of us who are the church have lost sight of who we are in Christ, and as a result, the world has started to associate the church with things that have no business being part of our lives.

Friend, this isn’t just about the choir or any particular group in the church. This is a wake-up call for all of us. People throw around derogatory terms and slander the church so casually these days, and if we’re being honest, it’s because some of us in the church have allowed it. We’ve forgotten that we are supposed to reflect Christ in everything we do. We’ve forgotten that scripture that says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Instead of shining, we’re...well, let’s just say we’re doing the opposite and slowly pushing people away.

You see, the devil is already working overtime to destroy the church, so why are we making his job easier? There was a time when being a Christian on your CV was an asset. Employers would seek us out because they believed in our integrity. Now, I’ve heard stories of people refusing job offers from churches because, in their words, it’s worse than working in...well, let’s just say they’d rather work anywhere else.

I even saw a job ad the other day that explicitly said they didn’t want anyone “overly spiritual.” What does that even mean? I guess they’re tired of hypocrisy and drama in the name of spirituality. And can we blame them? Some Christians have been caught in compromising situations that even those who don’t know Christ would consider shameful.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This letter isn’t about attacking anyone; it’s a reminder for all of us, myself included. Somewhere along the way, we forgot our identity. We stopped living like the new creations we are, and we let ourselves blend in with the world rather than stand out like the city on a hill that Jesus talked about.

There’s this new trend among sisters (and even brothers) saying they’d rather not marry a "church person" because apparently, we’ve become too pretentious and wicked. Imagine that! People are now scared to trust pastors and spiritual leaders, opting to listen to random voices online instead of the shepherds they once looked up to. How did we get here? When did we lose touch with our true identity in Christ?

Vulnerability in the church is now a risk. People open up, hoping for healing, but instead, their stories get tossed around like hot gossip. They come to church for solace but leave more hurt and broken than when they arrived. It’s not always the leaders who fail them; sometimes it’s the members—people like you and me. We’ve become so quick to judge, so slow to offer grace, and we forget that Jesus came for the broken, not the perfect.

You’ve probably seen the videos online—people sharing their church hurt experiences. And sure, some will say, “They suffer worse in the world, why do they make such a big deal about the church?” Well, friend, it’s because the church is supposed to be different. We are supposed to be different. We’re called to a higher standard. When we fall, it’s not just a personal stumble; it damages the witness of the entire church.

I get it; none of us is perfect. We all have our struggles, and transformation doesn’t happen overnight. But if we are in Christ, we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). So why are we still holding on to old ways? Why do we allow ourselves to blend in with a world we were called to stand out from?

Maybe it’s time we stop and ask ourselves: Who am I in Christ? Do my actions reflect that? Am I living like the church I’ve been called to be, or am I just blending in, losing my identity in the process?

Let’s have this conversation, friends. What do you think? How can we, as the body of Christ, reclaim our identity and show the world what the true church is meant to look like?

Feel free to hit the comment section—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

With thoughts of kindness,
ABBA's Shofar