Church is functioning, not perfect community . . .

Paul’s statement of the local (or located) church’s reality is a universally relevant declaration of the church’s nature as community:

• “You will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

As community, the church is not merely the repository of correct doctrines, and exemplar of divinely desired human behaviors, it is a family of incarnation, interaction, and fallibility. She does not only hold to Spirit and scripture revealed truth, she realizes truth through interactive relationships which build up the life of Christ within an environment of community.

• “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:15-16.).

Church is functioning, not perfect community—being perfected, yes; perfected, not yet folks! How can I say that? Easy, I’m still in it, and so are you . . . cheers - JD