Class Response: January 7, 2009

Today discussion about people movements, small communities and church was very interesting. The question that keeps popping into my head about our discussion as we compare these communities to church is what really constitutes the church? What critical elements are are nonnegotiable as far as what scriptures reveal to us of what church should look like or operate? If there isn't a solid understanding of the role or function of the church, it leaves open several opportunities for people to gather in groups of three in a bar, sharing in a beer and labeling themselves to be having 'church'. So what is the church?