Jason Folkert's posted comment is interesting. Of the three sermons in the "Fact or Fiction" series for June, Jason suggests that the last on the nature of the church is most significant. The three-part series, in response to questions rasied by "The DaVinci Code," declares Jesus is truly the Son of God, that the Bible is truly the Word of God, and that the church is truly the Body of Christ in the world today. These three issues appear to me basic to the nature of Christian faith.

What about the church? There are some that I know, including some pastors, who see the church as only an avenue to address the issues of life most important to them. It provides a venue, a pulpit, from which to speak and a salary. Beyond that the church seems problematic to them. The matter of church as Christ's Body seems not to enter in.

Here's a thought. Is it too much to ask that as believers we are not only servants of Jesus Christ but also servants of His Church? Does yielding to the church stand in opposition to yielding to Jesus? And does a valid definition of "church" include the oft suspicious "institutional" church? After all, how would we who believe today even have a gospel to believe if not for the church's centuries old institutional existence?

Food for thought. Any comments?

LM