And your right as well in saying that church doesn’t, and shouldn’t, have to be defined only to incorporate our modern congregational centers (certainly the early church, roman church, medieval church and renaissance churches looked and worshiped quite differently than todays do). There are a great deal of issues stemming from a powerful, institutionalized system that the church doesn’t seem to recognize or concern itself with.

But their are problems with a non-centralized religion as well. Problems that I’ve seen a great deal of people take for granted in an effort to rid themselves of the legacy of the structured churches.

I don’t mean to offend and I certainly don’t want to be accusatory. I’m merely providing a counter balance. I love your blog and look forward to more insightful, instructive posts!

Derek: Of course! I agree that community is essential, but attending the same event once or twice a week does not necessarily foster the sort of community we really need. It would be strange indeed for a follower of Jesus to live a life isolated from other brothers and sisters in the faith, but there are wonderful alternatives to the inherited traditions of the institutional church. Personally, I couldn’t do what you’re doing, although I completely understand the hunger for community that drives you.

However, if even the most austere monastics (Carthusians) who eat one meal a day, live without electricity or running water, wear burlap clothes and, oh yeah, don’t even speak to one another due to a vow of silence find the need to live in a community, then perhaps there is something essential to community.

the most uniquely Christian tradition of the Eucharist is, essentially, a meal shared with friends. I think this points to a group as being central to the nature of Christian worship.

I’m as averse to the seeker-centric mega-churches and the fundamentalist outlook that dominates every Church I’ve found, but I still go, not out of some sense of guilt if I don’t, but because maybe this week I’ll find the community that I can feel at home in and then we can grow together.