[See "Tuesdays" post below first]
Tilde - "expect" is a double-termed word. In one (1) sense it indicates that we think a certain thing/event will happen. In another (2) sense, "expect" also has a connotation of a standard to be fulfilled.
I do not expect(2) that Christians will act in a way that dishonors Christ. In fact, I expect(2) that Christians will conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27). However, I also acknowledge that all have fallen short of the glory of God, all have sinned, none are righteous, etc. So, I expect(1) that there will be problems, abuses, and idiocy in any church filled with sinners (read: all of them). We always strive to achieve the Holy, perfecting ourselves in Christ, but we also must realize that when we don't - it's o.k. That is one facet of forgiveness. We are called over and over again in scripture to give our hearts to God - to humble ourselves, to practice forgiveness, to serve one another. We are to be a community of faith. We are to be like a fisherman's net - strands woven together in a way that makes all stronger. It is the hardest thing in the world to begin. In fact, when you add in that you can't kick out the losers it becomes impossible to work together as God intended. But we do not do this alone.
As those who have been redeemed by Christ, called as a called out people who have had the blindness of sin removed from our eyes, we have been given the power to achieve in Christ what God created us to be. We will often fail. I expect(1) that. But I think the distinction is important. My dream for the church - everything I train and work for - is to fulfill the expect(2)ation that we will live by the Spirit of Christ in a fallen, but redeemed, community of faith.