(26) Of the Communion of the Saints

The visible church is an institution. This organization has structure. It has leaders, doctrine, and rules for membership. As unpopular as it might be to say, Christianity is a religion (see ch. 25).

But Christianity is also essentially relational. And the religious and relational aspects of the church are not at odds. Within the God-ordained organization of the church is a living organism. Scripture calls the church a body; a living body has intimate connection between its various parts and the head as the command center. The church is a family; in any well-functioning body there is both a form of government and loving communion.

It isn't enough to belong to the organization of the church—to be a member of what the Apostles' Creed calls "the holy catholic church." We must also practice "the communion of saints."