“The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.”

— William Temple

As someone of a less mature faith who was very active in the church when I first heard this quote, I have to admit that, like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, I resented it. I’ve now come to see it as profoundly true. As Christ first reached out to us, even to those of us who were elder brothers, so we are called to reach out to all the world.