"No Christian and, indeed, no historian could accept the epigram which defines religion as “what a man does with his solitude.” It was one of the Wesleys, I think, who said that the New Testament knows nothing of solitary religion. We are forbidden to neglect the assembling of ourselves together. Christianity is already institutional in the earliest of its documents. The Church is the Bride of Christ. We are members of one another." CS Lewis "Membership" The Weight of Glory.
Lewis mmediately offers the parallel understanding that solitude is important, is neglected by Christians, and is even discouraged in our current age. Both are true and are difficult every age of mankind. I write this knowing that some will object, believing they are let off from the fellowship requirement because other Christians have been irritating or destructive, or because some other arrangement seems more congenial.
Fellowship is necessary, even if done badly.
Solitude is necessary as well, even if done badly.
Good post. The fellowship requirement is the harder one for me, but not the less necessary.
ReplyDeleteIIRC Screwtape wrote about rhythm in life.
ReplyDeleteI've lost count of the number of people who've told me that their spirituality is what they experience alone while out fishing.
ReplyDelete