What's in A Name?

The migration of mission statments, name changes, and philosophy, all have been a part of the new world of ministry.  Here is the mission statement Jesus left for the Church. 

Matthew 28:19 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, There is nothing wrong in identifying why a specific ministry exists by a mission statement, or having a catchy new name to draw attention to the uniqueness of your vision. However, names and mission statements are a dime a dozen, and mean little if the organization doesn't have the blessing of the Lord upon it. Catchy names, nicely organized ministry plans, vision statements, and the like, all have their place in order to get other people to understand your play book for ministry.  But that's only a name tag, nothing more. Here is who war are, and this is what we do. Simple and clear, but is it true? However, there is more to a name than ideas, or plans, its about how we honor God through our name? Many ministries operate almost as if God doesn't exit, He is a silent partner in the process of ministry. Plans, ministry designs and the like are all done with the wisdom of men, not the wisdom of God. Over the years I can name hundreds of events that were a waste of time, they promoted an idea, make people feel good about an activity, and gave outreach statistics that were used for fund raising purposes, all in the name of the organization, but not in the name of God.  80% of ministries are in turmoil today, because there is personal upheaval in their ranks because of dishonesty among the leadership. This only breeds mistrust among the followers, which gives way to a lack of faith to believer questioning whether God can make a difference in our world, when He hasn't made a difference in His Church.  We have heard many prophecy teachers tell us in recent months that God is shaking the heavens and the earth, and He is shaking the church. You might be disturbed by my 80% in turmoil, but that is the truth. More leaders today are divoriced and remarried than ever before in the history of the Church. More leaders have been caught in immoral situations, not to mention the 60% of them being hooked on pornography on the internet. Then you have leaders who have inventive imaginations about God and pass it off as prophetic utterances. Should we mention the lack of truth being preached from pulpits today?  How many pastors have the guts to preach like a Jeremiah, Amos, or Joel?  Most leaders in my estimation are like the prophet Jonah, who have decided to go their own way concerning the truth, unwilling to do the hard work of telling the truth.  Harsh?  Judgmental?  Negative?   Okay, all of the above. But in our day unless you stimulate through shock, no one pays attention anymore. You have to have the blood and guts spilled out before you in such a manner that you can't ignore the crime. My question to you is: Where are the leaders to stand their ground in defending God and His Word? Many ministries want to go underground so no one really knows what they are about...keep it stealth. In some countires and cultures I understand that, but that may not apply to us in the West.   Where are the signs and wonders, miracles, and supernatural events that happened in the Book of Acts? Doesn't God have the power anymore? Isn't there a need among the skeptics today to see God work supernatural? Or is He only a God of the slick name and mission statement? Here is what I think for ministry leaders. Stop the hype, get a hold of God and start believing the Book. Stop the cleverness of marketing, and get real with your faith. Stop the conference circuit and go feed the hungry. Stop playing church, start being the church in your daily life.   Your name doesn't mean a thing if you treat people with disrespect, or lose your heart for God's mission, or get caught up with promotion rather than evangelism and discipleship. Your name in heaven will be known by God when you decide that He is more important to spent time with and obey. If you want more than just a slick name and some bullet points for a mission statement, then get your heart back to God, ask for forgiveness of keeping Him slient in your life, and begin to believe Him through His Word.  Keeping it honest and truthful...K