Or should I say what is the purpose of church? I’ve heard talk recently that implied a tension between mission vs. worship as the purpose of church. So that got me thinking.

How can we define church? Perhaps as a community that attempts together to live according to the modeling and teachings of Jesus? It seems to me that church without a mission, a social justice element, has got problems. On the other hand, a church that doesn’t spiritually nourish people isn’t really a church. It’s no different than any other civic-ly minded non-profit organization. So, I think a church needs both, but for me the spiritual – worship, etc. – is what makes a church a church.