When time rolls around for the State Fair to open, you can count on a rerun of the movie State Fair, made in 1961. One of the stars of State Fair was Pat Boone, who had reached "teen idol" status by that time. Pat Boone was one "star" who was a paragon of virtue and moral cleanliness. He had a fairly strict Church of Christ upbringing. His faith remained intact in the midst of his fame and fortune. In fact, he became a charismatic Christian whose piety and zeal that became almost legendary. It was reported that he began to baptize converts in his backyard swimming pool. At that point he stumbled into the pitfall that, in my estimation, lays in wait for many whose religious zeal becomes almost an obsession.

        I need to say, by the way, that baptism in a swimming pool does not invalidate God’s love. The main problem with that specific situation, or other private sacramental celebrations, is that it is based upon the notion that baptism is only for me. Many so-called evangelical Christians criticize infant baptism on the grounds that the baby isn’t aware of what is going on. They cannot fathom the notion that baptism is an act by and for the community of faith.

        Years ago I was dining in a restaurant with a group that included several teenagers. One young man picked up a roll turned to me, held it out, and said, "Would you like to share communion with me?" I don’t know that he was all that serious, but the incident represents the almost ludicrous nature of faith that is only for me.

        For the hyper so-called "evangelical" Christian, the church can become irrelevant. The definition of faith, the nature of God, the standards of righteousness, can begin and end in my relationship to God and what I believe God has revealed to me. Those prone to demagoguery are the ones who create the varieties of religious sects. And what a strange array of eccentricities has been lived out by those who find the totality of their insight and doctrinal standard within themselves. These people are around us today in abundance. They are always looking for the "perfect" church. They are involved up to the eyeballs somewhere today, then disillusioned and totally uninvolved next week, then back into another be all and end all group, all the while peddling their own brand of truth.

        The fourth "Great End of the Church" is the preservation of the truth. The Quaker theologian Elton Trueblood said that there are three tests for truth: the number of witnesses, the character of the witnesses, and the degree of agreement. Experience tells us that one individual’s perception can be flawed, but the combined experience of the group is more apt to be closer to reality.

        From earliest time, the faith community has held the memory of God’s mighty acts. For the Hebrews, the clearest defining moment of God’s love was the Exodus. A sacramental celebration was given to the whole nation. It was celebrated in individual homes, to be sure, but with a sense of whole nation together. When the southern kingdom fell in the early 6^th century BC and the people were exiled to Babylon, the faith community vowed to keep memory of Jerusalem alive. (cf. Psalm 137)

        During his earthly ministry, Jesus gathered around him a group of twelve disciples. When they had been in his company and heard much of his teaching, the time came for a pop quiz. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is." Peter answered for the group, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." To Peter, as representative of those who would through the ages come to same conclusion, Jesus said, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…" The body of disciples was entrusted with that Gospel¾ good news.

        To be sure, the church is composed of people, and people are fallible. The church may be charged with the preservation of the truth, but the truth can be warped. That is what we Protestants believe happened in the middle ages. But before we are too critical of medieval Roman Church, let’s remember that it kept the faith through the Dark Ages. If it were not for that church, there wouldn’t have been anything to reform.

        Some time ago, in fact it was in a former parish, a young adult wandered into my office late one morning. He said, "I was in church here last Sunday. You may not have seen me. I left as the offering began. I just had to get away to sort something out. I have been looking for the answer to a question for several years. I haven’t been in church much lately. I dropped out after Junior High. But last Sunday, during the sermon, the light dawned. I couldn’t believe it. I guess the answer was here all the time."

        The church is that place where insights are gathered and where they may be shared. It is the place where the pool of knowledge about God over the centuries reveals the truth. A great end of the church is the preservation of the truth. We live it out here again today. The defining moment of God’s love for us is found on the cross. The truth is celebrated in a sacrament¾ this do in remembrance of me. Today, on Worldwide Communion Sunday, especially we remember that the church around the world shares this moment. It is something made special because we do it together.