The Gospel does not come to each of us in isolation. It comes to us through a particular book and through a particular fellowship….and that fellowship, like all human fellowships, has maintained its existence in history as a visible organization with visible tests of membership, with officers, rules and ceremonies. It is a false spirituality, divorced from the teaching of the Bible, which regards this visible and continuing Church as of subordinate importance for the life in Christ. ‘Those who have God as Father must have the church as mother.’
-Lesslie Newbigin, The Reunion of the Church, 29 (quoting St. Cyprian by way of Calvin, Institutes IV.1.1).
The Pastor's Study 