The just of this post really resignates with me. I have been think much, on the topic of the church in general, the one that spans history. The one with blood on it’s hands, the one that the state corrupted, that one was reformed, the one that was hope to some and at times death to others and some on and on. There has been times that I just wanted to ditch the church and Christianity…but for me it’s hard to let go of a heritage…that is where I came from. I can’t really explain it, but I can’t easily toss out the religion of my fathers. So I’ve begun to read about different streams of Christianity through out history, specifically Anabaptist and Mennonites. I want to see them(to borrow from avatar). Not to follow exactly in their foot steps but to try to pickup where they left off. I heard a quote some where, “The church is a whore, but she is our mother”

Ok I’ll stop my senseless rambling.

I agree that the institution of the church is not the same as Christ and that you can find Jesus outside of the four walled building. This is very frequently the case. I think we all agree that the church is not bricks and mortar, but a gathering of believers.

But what I thought this quote did was take the argument beyond the typical, “forgive the church because it has flawed individuals” argument. For me, I equate bad church experiences (whether in an informal house church or a structured, hierarchal church) with the leaders of that place. So, when I’ve been burned by church leaders, I find it hard not only to forgive those individuals, but the thing they were representing.

I like the focus this short quote brings to the struggle of community and togetherness. Church is messy no matter how you are gathering. I think the question becomes “Can you experience Christ without community?” I would say yes, you can, but you can not experience him to the fullest extent. Plus, if you are without community, who is there to put before yourself (i.e. who do you serve? What do you do with the greatest commandment?)?