That Thing You Do

Last night at TAB we started talking about the things we do as the Church and why it is that we as the Church do those things...

I brought up church membership--joining a church. Why is it that we do that? Why is it important? Is it just so there's a church out there that will do your funeral when you die? So you can get married there? So you can have a place--a "home?"

One of the things that came through our conversation last night that was pretty profound to me was the idea that we have a deep need to talk about the deep, mysterious, spiritual things as well as a deep need for community. I think that, among other things, that's what the Church is.

This brought us to a sadness that, in spite of the Church creating a kind of "unconditional support system," we often don't feel the permission to be real-to be broken among the Church. There are lots of reasons that people join churches. Lots of good ones, lots of superficial ones. May the Church continue to grow to be a place where "come as you are" is more than a dress code and "mission" is more than a business model.

What are some other things that the Church does that we should talk about? Why have you joined a church (or refused to join a church)?