First of all, I don't think that a healthy faith is explored alone. We need people! This is contrary to much of what we hear about spirituality. Faith, in the US, is often considered something explored individually. Part of the reason for this is our history. One of the core principles that our nation was founded upon was Religious Liberty, and that liberty was based within the context of individual conscious. Soul liberty is a good thing - even a great thing. Our faith should not be dictated to us by a government, society, etc.
However, when we throw the baby out with the bathwater, we miss out on one of the foundational elements of faith - loving one another. The Christian faith was established within the context of community and to be practiced in community. From Acts 2:
The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
Community was even an essential part of the Church's ordinances. The same words shared or sharing above was used in I Corinthians 10:16, which describes the Eucharist -
Isn’t the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Isn’t the loaf of bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?Community was an essential part of how God disseminates the Good News. In Ephesians 3:10 Paul states that the revelation of God's plan happens 'through the Church' and that utilizing the Church is a part of God's eternal purpose.
Lone Ranger spirituality is clearly not a part of the Christian experience. It is bound to fall short. But, there are many people who are no longer comfortable in the spiritual context of the traditional church. what are we to do with them(us)? The Lone Ranger way seems like the only route.
I think new spiritual communities are the only answer. The Church is not going to change. I don't even think it is capable of changing. Change has never been a part of its DNA. So, the change will have to come from the outside. Bands of outsiders will one day gather for what happens next, and that will be the key to the future.
What would such a band of people look like? What is spiritual community supposed to look like?
