new class..so far..awesome!

I'm taking a class at the seminary by a Darrell Guder and a Christian Andrews. It's been a pretty cool class so far. One thing that I've been challenged with is the question: what is the function and the purpose of the church?

One phrase that continues to come up is the statement: The church is not meant for itself. It is probably the one organization out there that is not meant as a club to benefit its members. It is meant for those outside of its walls. But it is not merely a civic organization bent on doing good. The only thing that the church has to offer the world is the message that God has come to reconcile the world to himself.

When we reduce our faith to our being saved, we neglect that we are called to be worshippers of God and in being worshippers we are called to be witnesses. We are not saved simply for the sake of being saved, we are saved to be worshippers and witnesses.