A True Church

There is an important difference between being a true church and being a mature church. The classic (and Biblical) definition of a church is the place where the Gospel is preached truly, the ordinances are celebrated truly, and spiritual-life training is happening. There are dozens of other problems that can plague a church, including indifference to the world, indifference to the poor, and indifference to local and global multiplication. And they are problems that all deserve fixing. But a true Christian church is just those three basic things. God has not given us the authority to add element upon element to the meaning of "true church" as a way of creating shame. That's no better than those who deliberately create shame and fear by preaching that only the totally-sold-out-to--Jesus are really born again.