One thing is for certain.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Another point to consider is that it takes a spiritually mature person to understand doctrine.

Isaiah 28:9
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Perhaps what is most important is that many in the church have failed to recognize the correct true doctrine. Many believe that “the” doctrine is the unity or oneness of the body of Jesus Christ or the church. While the singularity of the church is scriptural, this fact is one that too many in the church cling to in an excessive and prideful manner. The sad point is that this is not “the” doctrine. The unity of the body is a foundation of truth; however, the main doctrine of the entire bible is LOVE.

Matthew 22:35-39
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The church is failing, in my opinion, because it has given far too much attention to the issue of the singleness of the church and not nearly enough on love. I mean to love God and hate sin, and especially how to love humanity beginning with other Christians. Many Christians are going to be told that they are strangers, not because they didn’t understand the singleness of the body of Christ, but because they did not understand and obey God enough to love Him (Matthew 25:32-46).

John 13:34-35
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The church should be known for its love for each other. It should be a beacon light on a hill that gives light to all below. We have reduced these great charters to one of being the vocal advocates of the singularity of the body. We have failed in many other areas of teaching and have far too many Christians that are stagnant and malnourished in their spiritual growth. Many of us live as enemies of the Cross because we have no knowledge of scripture and fundamental teachings.

We must demonstrate both our love for God and our faith in Him by becoming world changers. Where there is hunger we must feed; where there is pain and misery, we must minister and administer life-changing solutions; where there is fear, we must be fearless; knowing that we serve an Almighty God who is capable of keeping His promises made to His children. We must know and believe that we can greatly impact our communities for good and not be captive to the sanctuary on Sundays and Wednesday nights (amen).

When Jesus walked the earth, he was accused of being a wine bibber and a consorter of tax collectors and prostitutes. We have to engage drug addicts, fornicators, prostitutes, gang members, the imprisoned, the hungry, the homeless, etc. and provide them with solutions for BOTH physical and spiritual needs. This is the power of God demonstrated in love. It should go without saying that we must do these things for the down-trodden within our own midst.

We have become conformist to the world instead of being a peculiar, holy priesthood. We have copied instead of leading. We are into money and money-changing. Poor Christians can’t even participate in our register-first seminars and the like. It is truly sad that we charge for the gospel.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

God has never taken the strong position or numbers or any other advantage to deliver His Will. Quite the contrary, He has always chosen the weak position in order to show His true power and might. Scriptures are full of such accounts.

Gideon and his army of 300 was certainly no match for the enemy; alone. David was no match for Goliath; alone. Moses and a captive Hebrew nation were no match for Egypt; alone. Jesus Christ was surely defeated on the cross, where he died, had he been alone.

We can defeat sinful living, thwart the ravages of drugs, broken homes, poor education, gangs, felonies, and disease by trusting in God’s Word and carrying it out into our communities in a spirit of love. You see, we are more than conquerors!

One final point, and I too am not trying to debate or be confrontational. This notion of the African-American Church has to end; there is no such thing and never has been. Not even in the days of segregation; the church is beyond any physical boundaries and exists in the hearts of God's obedient children.

The church universal is primarily on three planes. We have those who are deceased and who will be the first to meet Christ in in the air upon His return. We are here on earth. Our head sits on His Majestic throne in Heaven on the Almighty's right hand!

We have to begin anew and rethink who we are and never forget that we have the POWER and the TRUTH. We are universal and neither black nor white, Gentile or Jew, etc.