I have faith that eventually the church, particularly the church in America, will one day BE the church that Jesus called us to BE! We’re getting there but ever so slowly. I don’t know if it will happen in my time. I do know though that I’m called, as we all are, to do whatever we can to move that cause a little further down the road. Remember, faith without works is dead! My faith is based on an historical perspective of the progression of the church as follows.
It’s hard to grasp what Jesus would do if He was alive in our time- 2006! Things such as wearing a bracelet with the initials WWJD is way too superficial to find the answers. Good intent only goes so far. To do the work of Jesus, we have to get down in the trenches, get our hands dirty, and give ourselves away to people we don’t like- maybe even hate! Remember Matthew 5:44!
Don’t forget that the church started out hating the Gentiles. Peter and Paul went round and round with that one until James stepped in and settled the matter. The church got it right! Welcome to the body of Christ all you righteous gentiles.
It took 1,900 years, but the church finally got it right on slavery: most of the church! The history of slavery in the church is repulsive to say the least. And it took about the same amount of time for the church to get it right on women: most of the church! There are still lots of things where the church is holding out on women. One day! 
How silly the church ahs been on such simple compassionate things. The church used to not allow mentally handicapped people within their walls! Left-handed people were demonized and put through various exorcisms. And many churches now treat divorced people with respect- even allow them to serve in the body, be near first class citizens. Imagine that! And people who commit suicide can now be buried on church grounds! I bet you’re relieved about that act of compassion!
So, hear’s the question. When will the next shoe to drop?
What is it that the church is now still against, that Jesus was not and would not want us to be repulsing? I could go down a long laundry list; however, I have enough battles to fight without adding a few more fronts to the war. I’m sure you can figure them out. But let me simply add a real big one that I think is dear to the heart of God.
The church needs to love more, judge less!
I agree. But it’s very difficult to go against a lifetime of programming. It’s not just de-programming, or de-constructing layers of data on the brain/harddrive, but it’s trying to weed out information that literally lives within our spirit. Out of everything, I have the most difficult time with the one thing that Jesus wanted the church to do…love. “I believe, but help me in my unbelief.”