[UntoHim]

Very interesting Igzy. And very applicable to our discussions I would think.

Do as Andrew Sullivan recommends and "forget about" the Church and just "follow Jesus."

Work within the Church, doing your best to contribute and be a positive influence in whatever flavor of the Church you find yourself.

Start your own "ideal Church," with special ways and rules, and which, by means of a rigid culture, is designed to drive away anyone who doesn't fit in. Strengthen the internal image of your church by claiming it is the true way and that all other groups are pretenders, rebels, Babylon, etc, etc.

In my experience and observation there are "shades" of areas in between these "extremes" (for lack of better term). For instance, there are people that involve themselves in parachurch organizations, and for all intents and purposes that is their "churchlife". I think I speak from a somewhat "educated" stance, since at one time or another, I could have considered myself as being in one of these three categories. I'm with Igzy here, I think number 2 is the healthiest place for the great majority of Christians. This is not to say that God does not call us individually, for he surely does. But to forget about the church is to forget about the Body of Christ.