How central should the church be for Christian life?  Is the church a blessing or a curse?  We should be honest and self-critical about the church–and not make into something sacred.  However, Jesus’ agenda certainly placed the faith community as central to faithful living.

In my essay, “The Doctrine of the Church,” I consider the theology of the church in its biblical context, asking how we best think of the church in light of Jesus life and teaching, especially his command to love God and neighbor.

This essay is the ninth in a series that examines core Christian doctrines, consistently asking what shape they should take if they are articulated in light of Jesus.