"There are Christians, of course, who never put their names down on a membership list; there are Christians who refuse to respond to the call to worship each Sunday; there are Christians who say, 'I love God, but I hate the Church.' But they are members all the same, whether they like it or not, whether they acknowledge it or not. For God never makes private, secret salvation deals with people. His relationships with us are personal, true; intimate, yes; but private, no. We are a family in Christ. When we become Christians, we are among brothers and sisters in faith. No Christian is an only child... If God is my Father, then this is my family.
So the question is not 'Am I going to be part of a community of faith?' but 'How am I going to live in this community of faith?' God's children do different things. Some run away from it and pretend it doesn't exist. Some move out and get an apartment on their own from which they return to make occasional visits, nearly always showing up for the parties and bringing a gift to show that they really do hold the others in fond regard. And some would never dream of leaving, but cause others to dream it for them, for they are always criticizing what is served at meals, quarelling with the way the housekeeping is done and complaining that the others in the family are either ignoring or taking advantage of them. And some determine to find out what God has in mind by placing them in this community called a church, learn how to function in it harmoniously and joyously and develop a maturity that is able to share and exchange God's grace with those who might otherwise be viewed as nuisances."
-Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society
