Church
"Many today react against the church as an institution, and some entirely reject it. This is often understandable, for the church can certainly be desperately old-fashioned and inward-looking. We need to remember, though, that the church is made up of people - sinful and fallible people. This is no reason to reject it, for all of us are sinful and fallible too.
We also have to bear in mind that not everyone who belongs to the visible church is necessarily a member of the real church of Jesus Christ. Some whose names are included on church rolls and registers have never had their names, as Jesus put it, 'written in heaven'. Although this is a fact to which the Bible often refers, it is not for us to judge, for 'the Lord knows those who are his'.
Those who declare faith in Christ are welcomed into the visible church through being baptized. But only God knows those who actually exercise faith, for only He can see the heart. There is certainly a considerable overlap between the two groups. But they are not identical.
The Holy Spirit is not only the author of the common life of the church, but is also the creator of its common love. The chief fruit of the Spirit is love. His very nature is love, and he gives it to those in whom he dwells. All Christians have shared the remarkable experience of being drawn to other Christians whom they hardly know and whose background may be very different from their own. [...] This love is not sentimental nor even necessarily emotional. Its essence is self-sacrifice; it reveals itself in the desire to serve, help and enrich others. It is by love that the divisive force of sin is neutralized, for love unites where sin divides, and brings together where sin pulls apart.
Of course, the pages of the church's history have often been spoiled by foolishness and selfishness, even by outright disobedience to the teaching of Christ. Still today some churches appear to be dead or dying, rather than vibrant with life; others are torn by divisions and plagued with lovelessness. We have to admit that not all those who call themselves Christians show either the love or the life of Jesus Christ.
Even so, the Christian should be part of the local Christian community and be committed to sharing in its worship and witness, however imperfect it may be. For the church is the place where we find the new quality of relationship which Christ himself gives to those who belong to him."
John Stott, Basic Christianity [pages 133-135, new ed 2008]
We also have to bear in mind that not everyone who belongs to the visible church is necessarily a member of the real church of Jesus Christ. Some whose names are included on church rolls and registers have never had their names, as Jesus put it, 'written in heaven'. Although this is a fact to which the Bible often refers, it is not for us to judge, for 'the Lord knows those who are his'.
Those who declare faith in Christ are welcomed into the visible church through being baptized. But only God knows those who actually exercise faith, for only He can see the heart. There is certainly a considerable overlap between the two groups. But they are not identical.
The Holy Spirit is not only the author of the common life of the church, but is also the creator of its common love. The chief fruit of the Spirit is love. His very nature is love, and he gives it to those in whom he dwells. All Christians have shared the remarkable experience of being drawn to other Christians whom they hardly know and whose background may be very different from their own. [...] This love is not sentimental nor even necessarily emotional. Its essence is self-sacrifice; it reveals itself in the desire to serve, help and enrich others. It is by love that the divisive force of sin is neutralized, for love unites where sin divides, and brings together where sin pulls apart.
Of course, the pages of the church's history have often been spoiled by foolishness and selfishness, even by outright disobedience to the teaching of Christ. Still today some churches appear to be dead or dying, rather than vibrant with life; others are torn by divisions and plagued with lovelessness. We have to admit that not all those who call themselves Christians show either the love or the life of Jesus Christ.
Even so, the Christian should be part of the local Christian community and be committed to sharing in its worship and witness, however imperfect it may be. For the church is the place where we find the new quality of relationship which Christ himself gives to those who belong to him."
John Stott, Basic Christianity [pages 133-135, new ed 2008]