As far as I can remember, there has never been one instance in my life as a minister when I didn't struggle with the church as an institution. I've never had an issue with the church as the Body of Christ, an organic entity. But the church as an institution is another issue all together.

People say that the church institution, after all, consists of people. The problem is, it consists of people who often lose their sense of balance in setting the interests of institutional policies against the wellbeing of their fellow neighbours. Policies and regulations are maintained for decades and centuries with no re-examination of their ability to serve the wellbeing of other fellow humans. At its worst, instead of the institution serving people, people are made to serve the institution... and this is where I unequivocally move away from institutional goals in my efforts to keep placing people's wellbeing above my possible institutional ambitions. Of course, it may often make one look waywardly anti-establishment.

While some argue that institutionalisation is necessary in order for the church to function in an orderly manner, we cannot ignore the reality of structural evil. We also cannot ignore the reality that people are often made to serve institutions at the expense of other people's wellbeing. And most church institutions have little or no self-critical mechanisms to put this right. Or rather, it's too much of an inconvenience to try to set things right. People say it's unfair to criticise institutions, since God still works through institutions. But perhaps it's more a case of God working despite institutions rather than working through institutions.

Institutionalisation represents the human need for control and regulation. It represents the human inclination to want to feel in charge. At which point of institutionalisation do we no longer deliberately acknowledge the lordship of the God we claim to serve? The boundaries are too subtle.

Sometimes, out of impatience, we deliberately create discord within the institution just so we can help God do his work more efficiently. It just doesn't work that way. God needs no help. But when God begins moving despite the institution, move along. So if you are one of those who have become disillusioned with the injustice of institutional churchlife, don't be angry at the way things are. God allows it to happen anyway because it's no threat of hindrance to his eternal purpose. He's the Head of the organic entity and no institution can thwart his purposeful plans for the wellbeing of all creation.

Remember, the Lord died for his church - the people - not for an institution. Mother Theresa said this about caring for your neighbours: "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person". Because God works despite the institution.