Does it seem to me that lately, the concept of the Church is becoming increasingly misunderstood? People see the Church as an institution (with all the negative connotations that the word 'institution' carries).

Just feel worried that the importance of the Church as a key ingredient in God's plan to save the world is becoming increasingly marginalized. Thing is, from what I understand so far, the Church IS called to be set apart. :) In the world, but not of the world (i.e. worldly thinkings, humanistic philosophies and so on).

Holier-than-thou? No lah... but different, yes. We can't help be different. We think different. We talk different. And yes, we do look different... =)

Maybe I'm going in the opposite direction, maybe I'm guilty of being idealistic, but it does seem very much to me that if we believe Jesus to be the Son of God, born of a virgin and raised from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven and will return to judge the living and the dead... then we really do march to the beat of a different Drummer! Extraordinarily too. Signs, wonders and miracles. Dreams, visions and prophecies. Faith, hope and love.

I can't but help recall the Acts church as being so extraordinary. Some people said they were drunk, others said they were weird, yet others said they were losers. Yet others called them disturbers of the peace, violaters of the social order, atheists and cannibals. For Christ's sake, they faced death all day long, they were considered sheep to be slaughtered.

But in the end, Jesus built His church and the gates of hell have not prevailed against it. And He will make sure that we, the Church, are blameless, beautiful and without blemish.