Zero Sum Ecclesiology

In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which each participant's gain (or loss) of utility is exactly balanced by the losses (or gains) of the utility of the other participant(s).
Today we discuss "Zero Sum Ecclesiology". Our conversation was inspired by a phrase from Paul Zahl's wonderfully insightful book Grace In Practice: A Theology Of Everyday Life:
Grace in church politics is a "losing" proposition by definition. It is a losing proposition because it is solid with Calvary and the historic loss of all things undertaken by the Founder of the religion. If you have a "zero-sum" sum" ecclesiology, then you are safe from disillusionment with the core of the movement that predated and "founded" the visible church. If you have a higher ecclesiology than this, you will eventually go the way of atheists, for whom disenchantment with the church means disenchantment ment with God. A theology of grace, with its ecclesiology of sus