While an active, healthy, dedicated church may have many things in common with other active, healthy, dedicated groups and organizations, it isn't just another organization or group. While church is certainly an association of heart and soul, where people reach out to God and can find fellowship with similar seekers, there's much more to church than warm association and fellowship. There is a spiritual dimension to church that transcends even the most beautiful elements of human character and relationships. This spiritual dimension is felt because of the actual presence of God that transforms hearts, character, and society itself.
Something of this divinity is described in favorite hymn:
Long hast thou stood, O church of God,
Long mid the tempest's assailing,
Founded secure on timeless rock
Rises thy light, never failing;
Shining that all may understand
What has been wrought by God's command,
O'er night and chaos prevailing. Christian Science Hymnal, No. 176 .
