(Jesus) "I have come to bring fire on the earth..."
Luke 12:49

Of the many qualities I admire about our Lord Jesus Christ and His life while here on earth, among the greatest was His ability to completely disregard the opinions and influences of people and to stick to pleasing God the Father.  He was never swayed by what people wanted, but rather always did what the Heavenly Father led Him to do.  The expectations of others had no impact whatsoever on His steadfast desire to do the right thing and to fulfill His mission here.  Would that we all were so focused and committed, and so discriminating in our living for God.  As far as the Church is concerned, the world expects -- and even demands -- that she act in such a way as to conform to the standards of the populace and culture.  It seems to make sense, doesn't it?  I mean, if we want the world to like us -- which we think is a requirement to their coming to accept our faith and Savior -- we need to do the things as a church which will meet its approval and imitate its practices.  Wrong! Jesus never did that.  He knew what was right, as well as how to do such.  And that is how He lived and worked.  So should we. We are not here to "please people" into following Christ.  Rather we are here to honor God and share the good news of Jesus Christ -- the way, the truth, and the life.  That involves confrontation (albeit in a gracious, kind way) with the world's mistaken mentality, and with the sin that separates people from God. We are not called to "appeal", but to "awaken" -- to awaken folks from the state of fallenness they are in without Christ, and to a life of God-fellowship and divine purpose. People-pleasing is a sign of failure for a church.  God-pleasing is a badge of honor.