The Importance of The Church

I'm recognizing that I've been reading Through The Bible: Through The Year by John Stott for at least a year now.  This is the introduction from Week 37: The Church in Jerusalem and I remember thinking the first time I read it that Stott's getting kind of cranky in his old age.  This might not sit too well with the current spirit of the age but his point is worth considering. -- drs  


Although I believe that my readers come from different churches or denominations,...we are all committed to the church. At least, I hope we are. I hope that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly -- an unchurched Christian -- for the New Testament knows nothing of such a monster!  No, we are not only committed to Christ, we are committed to the body of Christ. Indeed, we cannot be one without the other. For the church lies at the center of the purpose of God. God's purpose, conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, to be perfected in a future eternity, is not just to save isolated individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to call out a people for himself and to build his church. Indeed, Christ died for us not only to redeem us from sin but to purify for himself a people who are enthusiastic for good works (Titus 2:14). So, then, the reason we are committed to the church is that God is.