Can you call God your Father if the church is not your mother?  Yes and no.  Of course one could be saved without being a member of a local church (as Greg said).  One’s salvation is not dependent upon being baptized into membership by a local congregation.  I think of the thief on the cross and the Ethopian eunich baptized by Philip. 

Now for the YES.  Jude commands his readers to contend for the gospel that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  These saints should be a reference to all believers–the universal church.  The apostles received the gospel and teaching from Christ and have now passed this on to the church in their writings.  Whether one hears the words of Christ or reads them, they receive them because the church has delivered them.  In this way all the saints that precede us, especially the apostles who have authoratitively proclaimed them in their writings, NURTURE beleivers as their mother.  (Of course this is not the same as the RC interpretation of Mary representing the Mother Chruch as she becomes the mother of all beleivers through Jesus’ words to John (Jn 19:26-27).  Exactly?!) 

An example:  I was converted by reading my Bible alone.  First, I received the message of grace from the apostle Matthew.  Second, I was handed the Bible from my grandfather–a saint who contended for the gospel.  I realize I am indebted to all who have preceded me because they have been the ambassadors of Christ. 

What does this mean for the church–CONTEND FOR THE FAITH!!  Providing nurture to all the condemned sinners around you by proclaiming God’s truth with boldness.  God’s grace is soveriegn, still, his plan has included us to be the ambassadors and messengers of grace.

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